Minggu, 27 Mei 2012

Irregular Bowel Movements: A Simple Guide

By Morgan Lee


The elimination of waste products from the body is vital to optimum functioning. A problem with irregular bowel movements can cause the sufferer both mental and physical distress. Those afflicted may also be reluctant to discuss the problem with a health practitioner due to embarrassment about the subject. The problem may be quite easily remedied however. Here are a few of the most common causes and some simple cures.

Constipation is very often caused by a diet that does not contain enough fiber. These days, most people`s diets consist of highly-refined foods such as white bread and pasta. They may not eat enough fresh, raw fruits and vegetables which have a high fiber content. Pack as many of these into your diet. Examples of high fiber fruits and vegetables are beans; broccoli and spinach. Also try to select whole wheat bread and pasta and whole grain rice whenever possible.

Another common cause of irregular bowel movements is dehydration. Not drinking enough fluids causes water to be reabsorbed from the feces making the stool hard and difficult to pass. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Warm liquids, like herbal teas for constipation or hot water with lemon, can also bring some relief.

Lack of exercise might also result in difficulty passing stools. Just a half an hour of aerobic exercise a few days a week may stimulate the digestive system enough to help relieve this problem. Excellent exercises for this include brisk walking; swimming or cycling.

Constipation is very common during pregnancy. In order to prepare itself for childbirth, the body releases hormones which relax all the smooth muscles. This includes the muscles in the intestines. Also, many pregnant women suffer an iron deficiency and the supplements prescribed for this may worsen the difficulty with passing stools. Women with this problem are advised to eat a healthy diet that is high in fiber; to drink lots of water and to follow an exercise regime approved by their doctor.

There may be many other factors that can affect the performance of the digestive system. These can include stress; a busy lifestyle or the effects of medication. Some foods, for example prunes; raisins and other dried fruit, are known to have a stool softening effect. If none of the remedies suggested above provide any relief it may be best to ask your doctor to prescribe a mild laxative. You should always consult a physician if the onset of constipation is sudden; if it is severe (less than one movement per week); becomes worse or is accompanied by other symptoms such as weight loss.

Constipation is medically defined as less than three bowel movements a week. The average should be one bowel movement a day and yet this only true for about 50% of people! In other words, almost everybody will suffer from this at one point or another. Such a common problem has many common and simple cures. Try a few of those mentioned above to get irregular bowel movements regular again!




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