Contents:
- Medical Video: 12 Things Your Stool Says About Your Health
- Get to know the symptoms of constipation more closely
- It turns out constipation can be dangerous
- Hypothyroidism
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Diabetes
- Heavy metal poisoning
- Hemorrhoids (hemorrhoid)
- Constipation has something to do with vascular disease
- If constipation can be dangerous, how do I treat it?
Medical Video: 12 Things Your Stool Says About Your Health
For those of you who have felt constipation or constipation, you must know how uncomfortable it feels. Symptoms of constipation are usually characterized by defecation in a long time. When you are defecating, it can even hurt. However, what is the difference between constipation and people who are rarely defecated? Well, someone can be declared having constipation if defecating less than three times a week.
Constipation will usually heal if you change your lifestyle. However, chronic constipation is more difficult to treat. In fact, chronic constipation can also be a symptom of another medical condition. Check out the full information below.
Get to know the symptoms of constipation more closely
Almost everyone has felt constipation. Constipation that occurs once is normal and will heal by itself. The causes of constipation are usually due to food you eat, stress, or environmental differences. Chronic constipation is also quite common. However, constipation that you experience can also be a sign of other health problems that are more serious.
Signs and symptoms of constipation are usually difficult to defecate, hard stool so it is difficult to get out, defecate less than three times a week, stomach feels full, stomach ache, defecation as if not complete, until the chapter bleeds.
You will be called having chronic constipation if you have one or more of the above symptoms of constipation for three months or more.
It turns out constipation can be dangerous
A doctor of internal medicine as well as the Head of Gastroentology at Temple University in Philadelphia, United States (US), Dr. Benjamin Krevsky explains in Everyday Health about some serious things that can cause you to experience constipation.
Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland that produces thyroid hormone is responsible for regulating many things in your body. One of them is regulating the intestine. If your intestine has a problem, there could be a problem with your thyroid gland. The lack of glands that produce thyroid hormone or commonly called hypothyroidism is serious.
Hyperparathyroidism
Parathyroid is a gland located near the thyroid gland. The excess of this gland in producing parathyroid hormone (this condition is called hyperparathyroidism) can also cause you constipation.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Usually Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS in the intestine is associated with diarrhea symptoms. IBS is a disease that usually occurs in the large intestine. Muscle contractions in the large intestine, for example too many contractions, will cause diarrhea.
However, it turns out this disease can also be a cause of your constipation. Fewer muscle contractions can cause constipation. This case can be more serious in people with Crohn's disease, because it can lead to chronic constipation.
Diabetes
Chronic constipation can also be a symptom or a complication of diabetes. Most of these cases occur because of inflammation of the nerves along with diabetes. People who have diabetes are more prone to inflammation in their bodies.
So if constipation does not go away, you who have diabetes need to control your blood sugar levels and see a doctor immediately.
Heavy metal poisoning
Lead poisoning can be a cause of constipation. Lead poisoning can occur for example by inhaling the smell of wet paint. Lead can damage the nerves so that it can affect intestinal function. If you experience symptoms of other lead poisoning such as vomiting, stomach ache, and weakness, seek medical attention immediately.
Hemorrhoids (hemorrhoid)
Constipation is also a sign of hemorrhoids, or that people usually call hemorrhoids. Swelling and inflammation of the veins in the rectum (rectum) usually occurs due to frequent straining during defecation.
People who experience hemorrhoids feel pain in the rectum so that they unconsciously resist the urge to defecate so they don't feel any more pain. However, this actually results in constipation which will worsen hemorrhoids. If your constipation continues, it's a good idea to cure your hemorrhoids.
Constipation has something to do with vascular disease
Apart from the diseases caused above, there are other surprising facts related to constipation. Adolph M. Hutter, a professor from Harvard Medical School and director of the Cardiac Performance Program at Massachusetts General Hospital stated that constipation has a relationship with vascular disease, such as stroke.
This happens when you push (signed) BAB. Holding your breath when straining can cause changes in blood pressure in the head which suddenly becomes high. This is dangerous because the soaring blood pressure might trigger an aneurysm rupture (a thin and enlarged artery wall) that already exists. This is ultimately related to stroke.
If constipation can be dangerous, how do I treat it?
Constipation is basically harmless. You can cure it just by changing your lifestyle, such as:
- Exercise regularly
- Drink more water
- Increase fiber intake from vegetables
- Eating more fruits like papaya
If the above do not make your constipation improve, you can take laxatives (laxatives). Laxatives are drugs that will launch a bowel movement. This drug is usually sold freely.
However, you need to immediately consult a doctor if your constipation does not heal. You need to do this if you get the following symptoms.
- Constipation does not heal for two weeks
- Symptoms do not improve after treatment at home, for example with over-the-counter medicines
- Bloody bowel
- The weight goes down even though it's not on a diet
