Bowel movements are an essential part of your overall health. You have chronic constipation if you strain to go to the toilet or have less than three bowel movements in a week. You can seek help from Anchorage Pioneer GI Clinic and have specialists evaluate and treat your stomach issues.
If your constipation is not advanced, you can manage the situation at home by using home remedies to help you pass stool regularly.
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Causes of constipation
- Not enough fiber in your diet
- Certain medications
- Lack of exercise
- Dehydration
- Ignoring the urge to pass stool
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Pregnancy
What methods can you incorporate into your daily routine?
The remedies you will use include changing or adjusting your lifestyle habits like diet and exercise. If there are foods that increase your probability of constipation, it is best to reduce their intake. Before you make drastic changes to your lifestyle, talk to your doctor.
Drink more water
Hydration is key for smooth digestion. Digestion becomes tasking when your body is dehydrated. Depending on your age and needs, drink the recommended amount of water. Two liters of water in a day is a great remedy. You can include other soothing drinks like smoothies or soups. Check with your doctor for what you can include in your soups and smoothies for maximum hydration.
Add fiber to your diet
Soluble dietary fiber will help immensely with bowel movements. The fiber helps the waste from your body travel smoothly in your intestines, ready for evacuation. Ensure every meal that you eat contains fiber. Include foods like beans, peas, and apples containing soluble dietary fiber.
Exercise regularly
Exercise after an hour of eating to ensure that your gastrointestinal tract is in optimal digesting condition. Exercise increases blood flow in your body. Exercising immediately after eating will likely cause bloating and constipation since you will reduce the blood volume in the GI tract, which is essential for the smooth movements of your intestines.
Start slow and increase your exercise time gradually if you don’t usually exercise. You can incorporate exercises like running, walking, jogging, swimming, yoga, and stretching.
Use the bathroom when you have the urge
When your body urges you to use the bathroom, it is important to honor that call. When you delay having a bowel movement, you make it easier for your stool to lose water resulting in the hard lumpy stool. The hard stool might be painful and difficult to pass.
When to see a doctor
Although you might experience occasional constipation, you should always be aware of your bowel movements. You can use laxatives to help before you see a doctor. Monitor your frequency of bowel movements, and visit your doctor if you experience the following symptoms:
- Straining when passing stool
- Hard or lumpy stools
- Bloody stool
- You feel like you cannot empty your bowels
If you have constipation, visit Pioneer GI Clinic and experience qualified and friendly staff ready to help. The center will offer you a personalized treatment that can help minimize or eliminate your symptoms. Call or book an appointment online today.
