The causes of constipation are many. According to the Brazilian Society of Coloproctology, regarding 30% of the population suffers from constipation and the symptom is more frequent among women. Constipation, whether chronic or not, poses serious health risks if left untreated.
Constipation occurs when there is difficulty in evacuating. It becomes a problem when the patient goes to the bathroom to defecate less than three times a week or when he has to make a great effort to do so. In such cases, it is necessary to seek medical help.
“The causes are usually related to food, but they can also be psycho-emotional, due to the use of specific medications or other illnesses”, lists gastroenterologist Ricardo Coutinho Nogueira, from Hospital Santa Marta, in Brasília.
Risks of not treating constipation
Constipation is usually resolved with multifactorial measures, which involve changing diet, increasing water intake, adopting physical activities and controlling anxiety and stress.
In cases of prolonged constipation, the patient should use medications such as laxatives. Constipation becomes chronic when the condition is persistent. In this case, there is a risk of the patient developing other health problems such as:
- Diverticulitis, intestinal infection caused by the accumulation of feces;
- Intestinal perforation;
- Malabsorption of nutrients;
- Chronic abdominal pain;
- Bowel obstruction;
- Nausea and vomiting.
“The treatment must be individualized, respecting the comorbidities and limitations of each person. The patient’s habits need to be studied to arrive at a treatment that works”, says gastroenterologist Brenda Aidar.
Patients who have a trapped intestine should seek medical help to check if there is any illness that justifies the symptom. Diabetes, depression, lupus, endometriosis and intestinal tumors are some of the diseases that have constipation as a symptom.
How to avoid constipation
Prioritizing a fiber-rich diet, taking care of water intake and exercising regularly help maintain intestinal health.
Among the foods rich in fiber and with a natural laxative function are:
- Fruits: fig, pear, apple and kiwi;
- Greens: lettuce, arugula, watercress, kale, broccoli, cabbage, eggplant and zucchini;
- Grains: oats, oat bran, wheat bran, corn, lentils and quinoa;
- Seeds: chia, linseed and sesame;
- Oilseeds: chestnuts, peanuts, almonds and nuts;
- Drinks: coffee, lemon balm tea and cascara sagrada.
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