07:49 PM
Monday 03 October 2022
I wrote – Hoda Abdel Nasser:
Some people have great difficulty passing stools, due to many reasons, and with the retention of stool in the intestines and colon, the risk of a number of damages increases.
In the next release, the “Consulto” reviews the causes, symptoms, harms, and treatment methods of stool retention, according to the “Medical News Today” website.
Read also: The number of normal defecations – what indicates its abundance?
Causes of stool retention
There are many factors that cause slow bowel movement, which leads to suffering from stool retention in the body, including:
Eat a little fiber.
– Lack of exercise.
Dryness of the body.
– Getting old.
– pregnancy.
Bad eating habits, such as overeating.
Resist the urge to defecate.
Take antacids.
Excessive diuretics.
Take iron supplements.
Depression medications.
Gastrointestinal diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Intestinal obstruction.
Colon tumors.
Diabetes
Spinal cord and brain injuries.
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Symptoms associated with stool retention
When stool is retained in the body, a group of annoying symptoms begin to appear on the patient, which may last for more than 3 months, most notably:
Flatulence.
– stomach pain.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
– fever.
– The presence of blood in the stool.
Inability to get rid of gases.
– lower back pain.
Weight loss at an abnormal rate.
Feeling tired.
Hardening of the stool.
Change in stool size.
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Stool retention risks
Symptoms associated with stool retention may develop into more serious complications, including:
Anal fissures: small tears in the anus.
Hemorrhoids: swollen veins at the bottom of the rectum and anus.
Fecal impaction: the intestines are filled with solid, dry waste.
Rectal prolapse: falling from the anus to the outside of the body.
Death: A 2016 study confirmed that stopping the large intestine from functioning normally for a long time may increase oxidative stress, which threatens the patient with the risk of death.
Read also: When does constipation lead to death?
stool retention treatment
Stool retention can be treated in the following ways:
1- Eat fiber
Dietary fiber helps treat stool retention, and the reason is due to its great ability to improve bowel movement and facilitate digestion and excretion, so you should pay attention to eating foods rich in it, such as vegetables and fruits, or obtaining its nutritional supplements under the supervision of a doctor.
2- Moisturizing the body
It is important to drink plenty of water, ranging between 1.5 and 2 liters per day, because hydration facilitates the movement of stool in the small intestine.
3- Doing exercise regularly
Some studies have shown that exercise, such as walking. One of the beneficial habits for the health of the digestive system, as it plays a big role in improving bowel movement, provided that the exercise takes at least 30 minutes.
4- Take medication
In pharmacies, effective drugs are available in the treatment of stool retention, such as laxatives, but it is taken into account to consult a specialist doctor before taking them, to know the appropriate dose and when to obtain it and to determine whether there are contraindications to obtaining it, such as pregnancy or breastfeeding, or not.
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