Constipation Awareness Month: Symptoms and Treatments

We all know December as the cheerful month, bringing in joy and filling the air with coziness and happiness, holiday parties, and whatnot with the New Year in Sight. How lovely, isn’t it... to look forward to this month, every single year!

But, little do we know that December is designated as the awareness month, emphasizing “Constipation or Pebble Poop."

Since 2019, the month – of December, is being observed as constipation awareness month, launched by IFFGD (International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders), in an attempt to clear the dilemma surrounding constipation, also to increase public awareness regarding this most common yet misunderstood condition – constipation)

Most of us will be gorging on the heavenly festive feast and may experience mild bowel discomfort. Though it may seem to be occasional and one may brush it off, thee may, perhaps in the long run, one may have to face the consequences of a condition called constipation.

So, what exactly is this constipation??? The slight discomfort that I felt during the holidays…?

Nah!

Constipation, technically defined as a bowel dysfunction, resulting in infrequent bowel movements (<3 times in a week) hardening of faecal matter, which is passed out with extreme difficulty and excruciating pain.

A nationwide survey led by Abbott, has highlighted the prevalence of constipation among 22%of adults.  And that being said, a lot might be able to relate with the term constipation but in actual, only a third fit into the criteria of constipation. So what exactly are the criteria that constitutes constipation??

• Having bowel movements less than three times a week
• Straining and difficulty in passing stool
• Hard, lumpy and small quantity of stool
• Sense of incomplete bowel evacuation

As it happens to be too personal of an issue for anyone experiencing this, many do not open up about it and prefer not to talk about it at all! And to say, that’s where the issue starts to escalate. Not to forget about the fact that there exists a rudimentary understanding of medical conditions among the public.

There often subsists a communication gap between the physician and the patients. Hence, only “clear and concise” communication with doctors and healthcare professionals will pave the way for better diagnosis and treatment to be endured, to this life-altering condition.

So what sets this condition in an individual?

In general, grounds for constipation have been broadly classified into primary and secondary causes, as they vary from person to person.

Primary causes are multifactorial and majorly include physical inactivity, decreased liquid intake, a diet lacking fiber-enriched foods, and a surplus of dairy products, meat, processed foods etc..

Secondary factors include constipation resulting from the adverse effects of medications such as opiates, endocrine disorders and hypothyroidism, and obstruction resulting from colorectal and ovarian cancer.

Knowing these facts about constipation, one may have this question popping up:

“When to visit a doctor, and what is expected out of these visits?”

It is best advised to seek a doctor’s help when experiencing one or more of the following signs or symptoms, that affects daily routine:

• Change in frequency of bowel movements experienced.
• Abdominal pain (recurring or worsening)
• Pain associated with bowel movements
• Haemorrhoids
• Bloating
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Change in stool color
• Family history having Irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer, and other symptoms in addition to the above
• Symptoms recurring or persistent for two weeks or more
• The sudden onset of symptoms promptly requires a physician’s intervention
• When home remedies do not work, and symptoms recur

Diagnosis of constipation is carried out usually by physicians specializing in this field, and that includes a thorough physical examination to identify abnormalities, masses or impactions, trauma to the pelvic floor. Blood tests are also seldom taken in order to rule out causes such as thyroid, diabetes or anaemia, which may also present with constipation.

Knowing a bit about the causes and all, lets dive in and see how constipation is treated and managed!

• Home remedies: Water water water!!! Fiber Fiber Fiber!!! Yes, you read that right! A sufficient amount of liquid intake and fiber-rich food modulation is diet is definitely the key cure that can be very well tried from the comfort of home. The addition of probiotics (yogurt) and herbal laxatives (Senna) to our diet, during the uncomfortable period can do wonders in relieving constipation.
• Moderate physical activity – which may include walking, cycling etc., to keep us active and also to prevent such a condition from arising.
• Over-the-counter medications: administration of stool softeners, bulking agents, stimulants and osmotic laxatives, for relief.
• An enema
• Surgical procedures to relieve of any internal obstruction present.

Many people identify about constipation, but lack awareness about the underlying causes and the complications that may arise, when situation is ignored or taken on a lite note. As many studies indicate that constipation, most often occurs, as a result of the lifestyle led by an individual, and, hence, changing to a healthier lifestyle will let our bowels continue to do, what they do best.

On this note, with the arrival of December, let’s all take the initiative to enhance awareness and to improve knowledge about constipation and its repercussions. Let us do our bit in spreading the word and improve the quality and live a healthy life.