Friday, November 21, 2008

Constipation

The frequency of moving stool varies from individual to individual, ranging from three times a day to twice a week. Constipation happens when this function is unduly delayed from the normal pattern. Occasional constipation is not serious but a long-standing disruption of this pattern, and changes in the appearance and consistency of the stool may be signs of a more serious disorder (eg intestinal cancer, hypothyroidism).
Symptoms
  • Delay or difficulty in bowel movement.
  • Pellet-like stool (small, dry, and hard).
  • Pain, which may come and go in waves.
  • Flatulence (excessive gas in the bowels) and frequent passing of air.
  • Abdominal distension and discomfort.
Common causes
  • Change of diet.
  • Insufficient fluid and fibre in the diet.
  • Too little exercise, causing the colon contractions that push the stool down to weaken.
  • Ignoring the urge to pass stool when busy.
  • Haemorrhoids (piles) or anal tissues (tears in the skin arround the anus), which cause pain when passing stool. (See PILES page 452).
  • Certain drugs and minerals (eg painkillers, iron tablets) and cough mixture with codeine.
  • Pregnancy, in which the fetus pushes down on the bowel.
  • Illness which causes loss of fluids, alters the diet, or hinders a person's mobility (eg paralysis).
  • In bottle-fed infants, feeding formulas that are too strong.
  • Aging process. The abdominal muscles gradually weaken with age.
What you can do
  • Eat plenty of fibre daily (eg four servings of cereals, fruits, and vegetables).
  • Drink 6-8 glasses of fluids a day.
  • Eat at regular hours.
  • Exercise everyday. Walk briskly for at least half an hour.
  • Consult a doctor if the measures listed above fail.
What your doctor can do for you
  • Rule out haemorrhoids, anal tissues, and the more serious causes of constipation (eg colon or rectal cancer).
  • Emphasize exercise and dietary strategy.
  • Prescribe a laxative.
  • Prescribe suppositories or an enema (passing fluid into the rectum through a tube inserted into the anus to induce bowel movement).
  • Treat the complications.
Prevention tips
  • Take plenty of fluids and fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Keep regular hours for your meals.
  • Follow a regular pattern for bowel movement. Do not ignore the urge to pass stool.
This article is reffered to Malaysia Healthcare Guide - The family health guide, MIMS, 2nd edition, 1997, page 280-281.

10 comments:

nida said...

x de pasal tonsil ke? Ni tonsil tgh bengkak sakan, x leh nak cakap ni. sampai telinga pun sakit. dah 2 hari x leh nak telan apa2. tunggu abe re balik keje nanti nak pi klinik. Sebelum kahwin mmg kerap tonsil, lepas kahwin terus tonsil stop...tup...tup.. tahun ni entah berapa kali dah kena serang tonsil dalam jarak yg dekat2..

Yasmin's Mummy said...

my SIL baru operate to remove tonsil sbb kerap bengkak2..

nida said...

Niat d hati nak operate tu ada maksu tapi tak de org nak minta tolong tengok2kan anak2

Ibu WA Alim said...

Nanti Cy check semula..ni tgh takdan..baru sampai balik dr Cherating/Kuantan 2.++ tadi..pegi Rabu 12.++ tgh hari tu..tak sempat nak beritahu sbb comp buat hal dr Selasa pagi..
Kalu nak minta tolong Cy jaga anak2..cuti sekolah ni blhlah hantar mari sini beberapa hari..kalu musim sekolah buka kan tak pasal2 kena tuang sekolah lak budak2 tu..wp esok Cy nak follow Ayah Chik pi Penang sampai 5 Dec..
Eh kome berdue dah tulis komen kat post yg keme blm taip apa2 ni ye..? Sbnrnya keme tersilap tekan je hari tu yg ternaik post kosong ni..dan keme saja je malas nak delete/simpan semula lagi..utk diisi dgn apa2 tajuk nanti..
Ym, mcm mana trial awak dgn Intra tu..ada apa2 petanda awal..?

nida said...

selamat bercuti...bestnyer dia, jalan2 ajer....jelesla cy..

Ibu WA Alim said...

Best juga..kali ni dpt berendam dlm kolam jakuzi..dan Alim dah mula pandai menyelam dan berenang dlm 4-5 kayuhan..seronok tgk tubuh kecilnya loklek2 d dlm air..
Sampai balik ptg tadi +- 4.30..tp terus ke Careforre..so sampai rumah +-6.30/6.45 pm jugalah..
Ingat nak ikut lagi gi JB 12-15 Dec ni..

nida said...

gilah cy jale, cuti sklh jah boleh bercuti sakan. de anak start sklh, payoh doh nok gi jale..

Ibu WA Alim said...

Cy ttolak gi Senai +-1.15pm Jumaat 12/12 dan sampai balik rumah +-7.30pm 15/12 slps singgah d HKL/Tingkat 5/Wad 27/Katil 8.. tgk Che Su..
Sblm itu, dlm 4.30pm singgah d Kajang beli air nyior muda..dan langsung makan satay Hj Kasmuri..

Anonymous said...

haji Kasmuri? bkn haji Samuri ke cikyah...? tempat favourite kak long nk mkan sate...masa ma nga papa mai kajang pn ktorg pi mkn kt situ la.sdap bangat...MISS U

Ibu WA Alim said...

Tak perase pulak Klong mari komen ni..I'm sorry..
Ya la Cy ssalah tulih tu..Hj. Samuri la tu..
Cy lbh suka sate Kelate jugak..nasik lemak Kelate jugak..I'm sorry..
(Tiru gaya Amir Raja Lawak Astro Musim ketiga..)