Conquering Your Constipation
Constipation is a fairly common medical problem that can have many different causes. If you’re having infrequent bowel movements or difficulty moving your bowels, then you’re likely suffering from constipation. Discomfort, pain, and frustration are other common effects of this medical issue.
While it may be uncomfortable to talk about, ignoring the symptoms of constipation will not make it go away. Instead, discussing symptoms you may be experiencing with a medical professional can help you pinpoint the problem and get treatment recommendations. With the right treatment, you can start feeling better faster.
Common Causes of Constipation
In addition to infrequent or difficult bowel movements, there are a few other symptoms of constipation to watch out for. These include overly hard stools, an inability to completely empty your bowels, and consistent straining. If you experience any of these symptoms more than one fourth of the time for several months, then you’re definitely suffering from constipation. You may also experience pain or swelling in your abdomen or vomiting.
Sometimes the treatment is as simple as knowing the cause. Here are the common causes of constipation:
- Not consuming enough water or fiber
- A drastic change in diet or eating too much dairy
- Certain medications, such as antidepressants or pain medicines
- Weakened bowels from an overuse of laxatives
- Exercising too infrequently
- Suffering from depression, an eating disorder, or stress
- Medical conditions like colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, or hypothyroidism
- Waiting too long to move your bowels
- Pregnancy
Treating Constipation
A lifestyle change may be the best treatment for constipation. Treating constipation may be as easy as introducing more fiber into your diet, start gradually and work up to 20-35 grams a day. Some great sources of fiber include:
- Bran and whole grains (such as cereal, bread and rice)
- Fibrous veggies like split peas, artichokes, broccoli and brussels sprouts
- Fresh (raspberries, blackberries, pears) and dried (prunes, raisins, apricots) fruits
- Beans
A medical professional can go over your medical and personal history carefully and help you with a treatment plan. He or she can also rule out any more serious causes of constipation.
Some other common treatments include:
- Changing your diet or exercise routine
- Taking laxatives or stool softeners
- Staying away from foods high in fat and low in fiber like dairy products, processed foods and meat
- Taking a prescription medication.
Don’t suffer alone through the pain and discomfort of constipation. Come by your neighborhood FastMed Urgent Care walk-in clinic today. Our experienced medical professionals strive to get each patient in and out within one hour of walking through the door. We want to make sure you get the care you need fast so that you can start feeling better.
Find a FastMed near you, and follow us on Twitter to get daily health tips and advice.
About FastMed
FastMed is a leading provider of high-quality, convenient, affordable, and compassionate healthcare in 34 counties across North Carolina. FastMed serves both urban and rural communities across the state with a wide range of care options, including preventive, telemedicine, occupational health, and primary and urgent care. FastMed is one of the few urgent care providers in the nation that has earned The Joint Commission’s coveted Gold Seal of Approval® for quality, safety, and infection control in ambulatory healthcare. For more information, visit www.fastmed.com.