Constipation of the feces in the intestines can be very annoying and has many causes. There are various options available to solve constipation. Constipation can be both acute and chronic, but the symptoms are often the same; an uncomfortable infrequent bowel movement with hard and dry stools.

A constipation/blockage in the intestines

Having constipation or blockage of the intestines is very annoying and sometimes painful. The cause of this blockage can vary greatly, but to resolve the constipation it is often necessary to determine the cause. Someone who suffers from constipation has difficult bowel movements that are slow. The constipation can be both acute and chronic. Acute means that the complaints appear suddenly and are clearly palpable. Chronic constipation can develop slowly. The complaints are often not even palpable at first, but become increasingly noticeable over the months and years.Because constipation can be very annoying, painful and sometimes even dangerous, it is important to resolve the constipation as quickly as possible. In order to remedy constipation, it is important to determine the cause of the constipation. Constipation can have the following causes, among others:

Delayed bowel movements

A delayed bowel movement means that the stool does not pass through the intestines normally. This delayed bowel movement is usually in the large intestine. Under normal circumstances, water is taken back from the feces in the large intestine for the body. However, with delayed bowel movements, too much water is removed from the stool (the stool remains in the large intestine for longer), causing the stool to become hard and dry. For this reason it is easy to imagine that this can be painful during excretion. There are several reasons why feces does not pass through the large intestine at a normal speed. Common causes for delayed bowel movements include:

• Insufficient exercise
• Medication use
• Inactive thyroid gland
• Hypercalcemia
• Parkinson’s disease
• Diabetes
• Poor blood supply to large intestine
• Nerve damage
• Dehydration due to insufficient drinking
• Coloninertia
• A deficiency of fiber
• Closure of the large intestine (for example by a tumor)
• Spastic pelvic floor syndrome
• Aging
• Psychological complaints

What are the complaints of constipation?

The signs and symptoms of constipation are often clearly recognizable. Complaints of constipation/blockage are:

• Pain in the abdomen
• Pain when defecating
• Cramps
• Rectal pain

Hemorrhoids can easily develop due to hard stools due to hard straining. Diverticles can develop in the intestinal wall itself. Diverticula are small sacs in the intestinal wall that can become blocked and inflamed.

Solutions for constipation/blockage

Resolving constipation is not always easy and depends on the cause. Always take constipation seriously and don’t let it hang around for a long time. Constipation can be very dangerous. If constipation persists for a long time or becomes increasingly worse, it is always advisable to consult a doctor. If you suffer from temporarily difficult bowel movements, the following remedies can help to resolve this:

• More movement
• High fiber diet
• Drink enough
• Use of laxatives

A laxative can be a treatment for constipation as well as a preventive effect. Take this into account when choosing the laxative. Excessive use of laxatives can lead to dehydration, cramps and diarrhea.