Having a tough time passing stool? Maybe you’ve developed constipation. A condition which affects your bowel movement and makes it difficult to pass the stool a quite common condition. It can be caused by many factors. However, it can be easily manageable with home remedies and medications. Learn about constipation symptoms in this article. You can contact us by visiting our clinic or visiting our website at https://doralhw.org/.

Causes

Constipation can be caused by many factors:

1. Lifestyle factors:

The most common lifestyle factors of constipation are:

• Not consuming enough fiber.
• Not staying hydrated.
• Not physically active.
• Changes in your routine like traveling or eating at different placesor sleeping inconsistently.
• Consume too many dairy products like milk or cheese.
• Resist the urge to have a bowel movement.

Besides these factors, some people develop problems in the pelvic floor muscles or rectum.

Pelvic floor muscles are muscle groups that hold organs at the bottom of the torso. These muscles help to pass to the stool from the rectum by relaxing their muscles. If your pelvic floor muscles get weakened or coordination issues in these muscles, then it causes chronic constipation.

In case you get any damage or changes in the tissues of the colon or rectum it can block the passage of stool. If the stool remains too long in the colon, it can become hard and difficult to pass. Additionally, tumors in the colon, rectum, or nearby tissues are the very reasons that cause a blockage.

2. Certain medications:

Certain medications can cause constipation as a side effect, including:

• Strong pain medications like narcotics containing codeine, oxycodone, and hydromorphone.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include – ibuprofen and naproxen.
• Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine or tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline.
• Antacids contain calcium and aluminium such as tums.
• Iron pills.
• Allergy medication such as antihistamines.
• Certain blood pressure medicines include calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers.
• Psychiatric medications like clozapine.
• Antiseizure medications such as phenytoin and gabapentin.
• Antinausea medication like ondansetron.
• Diuretics

If you are experiencing constipation after any of these medications, you should contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a solution or alternative.

3. Medical conditions:

Certain medical conditions can cause constipation, including:

• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Colorectal cancer.
• Endocrine conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, uremia, and hypercalcemia.
• Obstructed defecation syndrome:Unexplained causes may prevent you from pooping normally.
• Intestinal pseudo-obstruction: Sometimes, the motor system of the colon can become temporarily paralyzed causing constipation.
• Neurologic disorders such as spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke.
• Intestinal obstruction
• Structural defects in your digestive tract like fistula, colonic atresia, imperforate anus, or malrotation.
• Multiple organ diseases, such as lupus, and scleroderma.
• Pregnancy:During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through many changes in hormones, diet, physical body, and physical activity which lead to constipation.
• Celiac disease.

Managing these conditions can improve your constipation.

Symptoms

While each person’s bowel patterns are different, some go 3 times a day while others may go 3 times a week. However, you may feel constipation if you experience these symptoms, including:

• Fewer than at least 3 bowel movements a week.
• Passing lumpy, hard, or dry stools.
• Feeling pain or strain during bowel movements.
• Feel fullness after having a bowel movement.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), if your symptoms don’t improve or you notice the following, you should seek medical help:

• Blood in your stool.
• Persistent abdominal pain.
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Unexplained weight loss
• Rectum bleeding
• Lower back pain
• Sudden change in bowel movements

Your healthcare professional can carry out tests to rule out more serious conditions such as colorectal cancer or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

If you need help with constipation, visit our gastroenterologist in Brooklyn clinic for professional medical treatment. You can schedule an appointment with Doral Health and Wellness Gastroenterology Center’s best gastro doctors in Brooklyn. If you are looking for treatments, you can also talk to our specialists and inquire with them. To schedule an appointment, please visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call 1-347-384-5690.