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About
Laxatives And Constipation
Constipation is infrequent evacuation of the
bowels, with difficulty and sometimes pain from
passing hard stools.
Constipation is prevented by a diet high
in vegetables and fibre. Failure to
empty the bowels (defecate) at least once a day
does not in itself pose any danger to health.
Many entirely healthy people defecate only once
every two or three days, and some at even longer
intervals. Some people have a bowel motion three
times a day. All are normal. Constipation can be
defined as the passage of hard stools less
frequently than normal.
Symptoms
Constipation causes symptoms that may include a
sense of fullness, headache, furred tongue, loss
of appetite, nausea, fatigue and depression.
Because stools are hard, passing them becomes
an effort.
Causes
In a high proportion of cases the cause is purely
dietary. However, there are other possible causes
of constipation, including:
- Painful conditions affecting the anus and
discouraging bowel-emptying, for example,
piles
- Colon obstruction from a disease such as
cancer
- Medication, including iron, codeine, some
antacids with aluminium and opiate painkillers
- Depression
- Thyroid gland underactivity
- Lack of physical activity
- Inadequate fluid intake
- Pregnancy.
Note that iron pills will make the stools very
black, as will bleeding from high in the
intestine.
If constipation comes on for no obvious reason
after a long period of normality, see your doctor
without delay.
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