Take a look at the side effects of many medications and one of the most common unintended effects that you will see is the ability of a given drug to stop you in your tracks. That is, it can cause you Constipation. And, it is not just drugs that can cause these often unpleasant and painful side effects either. Numerous medical conditions can also slow your flow or even bring it to a virtual stand still. Though Constipation problems are frequently treated lightly or not reported by patients, they a very real problem for many people.
Officially, Constipation is defined as having less than 3 bowel movements in a week. However, rather than counting how often we go to the toilet, its also important to consider just how difficult it is when we do go. Frequently feeling bloated with a full bowel, having to strain or experiencing pain when going are pretty good signs that a person is suffering from Constipation.
Not surprisingly, Constipation is a very common condition and one of the most common problems of the digestive system worldwide. In one study from 2005, researchers found that more than 1 in 8 people suffer from constipation several times annually. In Europeans, the number is less at 1 in 12. In the US, approximately 1.5% of the population suffers from the more severe chronic Constipation.
As for what causes the condition, in its simplest form, Constipation is the result of too much water being pulled out of the large intestine as the food being digested passes through it. This means that the end product is being overly dried making it hard and difficult for the normal muscle movements of the large intestine to push the waste material through the system. At a higher level, however, there are many different causes for Constipation to develop.
One of the most well recognized and understood causes of Constipation is diet. Too little fiber in the diet, drinking insufficient fluids, and high fat intake are all widely known to cause slowdowns in throughput. In many cases, people suffering from Constipation will attempt to adjust their diet to restore normal functioning of their digestive system.
However, diet is not the only culprit and the effects of both medications and medical conditions are important to understand.
In terms of drugs, numerous antidepressants and certain types of powerful painkillers can cause the condition. As well, some drugs for treating high blood pressure and others for treating high cholesterol are known to cause problems with bowel activity. Even certain antacids can cause the condition. Constipation is also a frequent problem amongst those on chemotherapy drugs. In general, if you are taking medications and suffering from Constipation, it is important to let your doctor know, as the medications might well be a part of the problem.
Aside from the effects of medications, having certain medical conditions can also lead to Constipation. While some may not consider it a medical problem, but rather a lifestyle consequence, obesity is one such cause of inhibited bowel activity. In efforts from 30 years ago, researchers found that those who were obese suffered from constipation more than 5 times as often as those considered to be normal weight. Similar numbers have also been shown observed in obese children based on a 2005 study from the University of Iowa. Clearly, problems with weight management can have serious effects on the normal behavior of the digestive system.
Likewise, while some may or may not consider it a medical condition, pregnancy is still another cause of Constipation. As many as 38% of women will experience problems in bowel movement during their pregnancy. As well, in one study by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 24% of women experienced continued constipation some 3 months after having given birth.
Other firmly defined medical conditions also contribute to the numbers of people who suffer from Constipation. Numerous research findings have identified that those who suffer from Diabetes have more than double the risk of experiencing Constipation as compared to the general population. As well, the intensity of the symptoms was observed to be worse for women than men and worse for those with more poorly controlled blood sugar.
Another medical condition that can cause individuals to develop Constipation is Parkinson's disease. In this case, the degeneration of brain nerve cells that happens with the condition results in less effective control of the food transportation through the digestive tract. The result is that there is more time for moisture to be extracted from the material, causing it to be over dried and more difficult to excrete. In different studies of those with Parkinson's between 43% and 58% of individuals have been found to suffer from Constipation, meaning this symptom is very common in these individuals.
Constipation is also common in a number of other medical conditions. Individuals with Lupus suffer the symptoms as do those with Celiac Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Hypothyroidism and the list goes on.
The key points to remember from all this is that if you are experiencing regular Constipation, you are certainly not alone and you should communicate your discomfort to your doctor. While some may think that is obvious, the 2005 GI Health Survey by RoperASW found that 87% of people with symptoms had not been diagnosed by their doctor because, in large part, they had not mentioned their symptoms. It is important to keep in mind that given how common the problem of Constipation is, there are dozens of medication that can assist and there is no point suffering in silence.
Related Links
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/constipation/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/44183.php
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7337751
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/116/3/e377
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19450328
http://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/2007/12000/Constipation_in_Pregnancy__Prevalence,_Symptoms,.22.aspx
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/161/16/1989
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7886972
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mds.20942/abstract
http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Doi=116810&Scope=archiv
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survey-finds-43-percent-of-americans-suffer-with-common-gi-disorders-54956417.html
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