My Vedic Life

• Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. The stool is often hard and dry. Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, and feeling as if one has not completely passed the bowel movement. Complications from constipation may include hemorrhoids, anal fissure, or fecal impaction.
• Constipation can have causes that aren't due to underlying disease. Examples include dehydration, lack of dietary fiber, physical inactivity, or medication side effects.

Constipation Symptoms:

Almost everyone has suffered from constipation at one time; however, symptoms from complications of constipation include

• Hard stools
• Anal fissures
• Anal tears
• Rectal bleeding
• Hemorrhoids
• Abdominal pain, discomfort, and swelling
• Bloating
• Aggravation of hernias

• The following are some common causes of constipation:

Lack of fiber in the diet:

• People with a high intake of dietary fiber are less likely to experience constipation.
• This is because fiber promotes regular bowel movements, especially when a person combines it with proper hydration.

High fiber foods include:

• fruits
• vegetables
• whole grains
• nuts
• lentils, chickpeas, and other legumes

Low fiber foods include:

• high-fat foods, such as cheese, meat, and eggs
• highly processed foods, such as white bread
• fast foods, chips, and other premade foods

Physical inactivity:

• Low levels of physical activity may also lead to constipation.
• Some past studies have found that physically fit people, including marathon runners, are less likely to experience constipation than other people, although the exact reasons for this remain unclear.
• People who spend several days or weeks in bed or sitting in a chair may have a higher risk of constipation.

Home Remedy:

• Indian Senna or Sonamukhi leaf (10 grams) + Sunthi (Dried Ginger) Powder (10 grams).
  Use it with Warm Water at night (At the sleeping time).

Some medications:

• Some medications can also increase the risk of constipation. These include:
• Opioid pain relief drugs: These include codeine (present with acetaminophen in Tylenol #3), oxycodone (OxyContin), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid).
• Tricyclic antidepressants: These include amitriptyline (Elavil) and imipramine (Tofranil).
• Certain anticonvulsants: Examples include phenytoin (Dilantin) and carbamazepine (Tegretol).
• Calcium channel blockers: These lower blood pressure, and certain types lower heart rate. They include diltiazem (Cardizem) and nifedipine (Procardia).
• Antacids that contain aluminum: These include Amphojel and Basaljel.
• Antacids that contain calcium: One example is Tums.
• Diuretics: These remove excess fluid from the body. They include hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril) and furosemide (Lasix).
• Iron supplements: Doctors prescribe these to treat iron deficiency anemia.

Irritable bowel syndrome:

• People with functional intestinal difficulty, such as irritable bowel syndrome(IBS), have a higher risk of constipation than people without the condition.

A person with IBS may experience:

• abdominal pain
• bloating
• distension
• changes in the frequency or consistency of stools

With IBS, constipation can fluctuate over time. When constipation is not present, there may instead be loose stools with diarrhea.

Aging:

• As people age, the prevalence of constipation tends to increase. Up to 40% of older people in the community and up to 60% of those in institutions may experience constipation.
• The exact cause of this remains unclear. It may be that as people age, food takes longer to pass through the digestive tract. Many people also become less mobile, which may also contribute to constipation.
• Medical conditions, medications, and a low intake of fiber or water may be other factors that lead to constipation with age.

Changes in routine:

• When a person travels, for example, their usual routine changes. This can affect the digestive system. In an article from 2008, scientists asked 83 people about the digestive changes they experienced while traveling outside of the United States.
• The results showed that 9% of people experienced constipation when they went to another country.
• Eating meals, going to bed, and using the bathroom at different times than usual could increase the risk of constipation.

Overuse of laxatives:

• Some people worry that they do not use the bathroom often enough, and they take laxatives to try to solve this problem. Laxatives can help with bowel movements, but regular use of certain laxatives allows the body to get used to their action.
• This may cause a person to continue taking laxatives when they no longer need them. The person may also need higher doses to get the same effect.
• In other words, laxatives can be habit-forming - especially stimulant laxatives. This means that the more a person depends on laxatives, the greater their risk of constipation when they stop using them.

Overuse of laxatives can also lead to:

• Dehydration
• An electrolyte imbalance
• Internal organ damage

Some of these complications can become life-threatening. For this reason, people should talk to a healthcare professional before they start using laxatives.

Not using the bathroom when necessary:

• If a person ignores the urge to have a bowel movement, the urge may gradually go away until they no longer feel the need to go.
• However, the longer they delay, the drier and harder the stool will become. This will increase the risk of fecal impaction.

Not drinking enough water:

• Regularly drinking enough water can help reduce the risk of constipation.
• Other suitable fluids include naturally sweetened fruit or vegetable juices and clear soups.
• It is important to note that some liquids can increase the risk of dehydration and make constipation worse for some people. For example, those who are prone to constipation should limit their intake of caffeinated sodas, coffee, and alcohol.

Colorectal problems:

• Some health conditions that affect the colon can impede and restrict the passage of stool, leading to constipation.

Examples of such conditions include:

• Cancerous tumors
• Hernia
• Scar tissue
• Diverticulitis
• Colorectal stricture, which is an abnormal narrowing of the colon or rectum
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Some methods of easing constipation without using medication include:

Increasing fiber intake:

• Adults should eat 25–31 grams of fiber every day. Fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as fortified cereals, have a high fiber content.
• Adding fiber-containing bulking agents to meals can help soften stools and make them easier to pass. One option is to sprinkle a tablespoon of wheat bran onto breakfast cereals or add it to yogurt or smoothie.

Drinking water:

• Water can help rehydrate the body and prevent constipation.

Getting regular exercise:

• This can help make bodily processes more regular, including the passing of stools.

Establishing a routine:

• Have a usual place and time of day to visit the bathroom without forcing a stool.

Avoiding holding in stools:

• Responding to the body’s urges to pass stools can help prevent constipation.

Elevating the feet:

• Some people find it easier to pass stools during a bowel movement if they place their feet on a low platform, such as a step, with their knees above hip level.

Complementary and alternative remedies:

• Other possible therapies include acupuncture, massage, herbal remedies, and moxibustion, which involves stimulating acupuncture points with the herb mugwort.

Mudra Therapy for Constipation:

• VAYU MUDRA + VATA NAASHAK MUDRA + SURYA MUDRA + VARUN MUDRA
• APAN MUDRA + APAN VAYU MUDRA (each 15 minutes in succession)