DOCSLIB.ORG

Constipation • • Include: Time, Transit by Altering Stool

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Constipation • • Include: Time, Transit by Altering Stool Constipation It is normal to have a bowel movement (defecate) colon cancer, diabetes, stroke, hypothyroidism, anywhere from three times a day to three times or Parkinson’s disease), a week, as long as the stool (fecal matter) is soft • functional disorders, such as irritable bowel and comfortable to pass. A person experiencing syndrome, intestinal obstructions or strictures constipation has hard or lumpy stool, which is resulting from surgery, and difficult to pass. Chronic constipation affects 15- • diet and lifestyle choices, such as consuming 30% of Canadians, and is commonly found in young a diet too low in fibre and fluid, insufficient children and the elderly, occurring more frequently physical activity, and chronic use of laxatives, in females than in males. suppositories, or enemas. Transit time is the duration between when food enters the mouth and when leftover waste finally passes out as stool. A meal could take anywhere from Symptoms/Complications 12-72 hours to travel through the digestive tract. Each The increased length of time during which stool person is unique; a normal bowel movement pattern remains in the colon causes increased pressure on for one person may be very different from those of the bowels, leading to abdominal cramping and family members or friends. Some individuals have bloating. Bowel movements may occur infrequently, an irregular pattern, never knowing what to expect. resulting in hard, lumpy, dry stool, looking like Usually, before food enters the colon, most of the either many small pellets or one solid, hard, sausage- nutrients have been absorbed into the body and the shaped piece. Rectal pressure or fullness, bloating, colon’s role is to remove water. If someone has a long abdominal pain, and a sensation of incomplete transit time, meaning food passes slowly through the evacuation are common symptoms of constipation. colon, then too much water is absorbed, hardening the The slowdown in the digestive tract may also cause stool. poor appetite, back pain, and general malaise. Factors that can contribute to constipation, often Most complications result from the intense straining by altering transit time, include: needed to pass stool. These include hemorrhoids, anal • medication side-effects (e.g., some narcotics, fissures, diverticular disease, bright red streaks on antidepressants, codeine, calcium or iron the stool (rectal bleeding), and a condition in which supplements, and medications that affect the the rectal wall pushes out through the anus (rectal nervous system), prolapse). Ask for our pamphlet on Hemorrhoids, if • diseases in which there is a physiological you need more information on this topic. change to some tissue or organ of the body (e.g., radiation therapy, inflammatory bowel disease, style-photographs © Photo Bigstockphoto.com | www.badgut.org Crohn’s Disease GI Society 1 Diagnosis Food Guide, available from Health Canada, A panel of experts developed the main diagnostic and maintaining an adequate fluid intake, is the criteria for functional constipation, and update them recommended approach to prevent and manage regularly. Below are the current, Rome III, diagnostic constipation. (For more information on fibre, contact criteria*. our office.) 1. Must include two or more of the following: b. Straining during at least 25% of defecations Exercise c. Lumpy or hard stools in at least 25% of Exercise helps to move food through the colon defecations more quickly. Aerobic exercise, such as brisk d. Sensation of incomplete evacuation for at walking, accelerates your heart and breathing rates, least 25% of defecations and helps to stimulate the natural contractions of e. Sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage intestinal muscles. for at least 25% of defecations f. Manual manoeuvres to facilitate at least 25% Physiotherapy of defecations (e.g., digital evacuation, support Pelvic dysfunction physiotherapy may include of the pelvic floor) bowel retraining, electrical stimulation, and posture g. Fewer than three defecations per week correction. 8. Loose stools are rarely present without the use of laxatives 9. Insufficient criteria for irritable bowel syndrome Medication Therapy (IBS) *Criteria fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom If constipation does not improve with diet and onset at least 6 months prior to diagnosis lifestyle changes, then there are supplements and medications available. A physician may order a number of tests, including blood analysis, to check for abnormal levels of Bulk Forming Agents such things as thyroid hormone, electrolytes, or These are made of indigestible fibre, which glucose, and a stool sample to examine for hidden absorbs and retains fluid and helps to form a soft, (occult) blood. Other tests include a sigmoidoscopy bulky stool (e.g., Metamucil®, Prodiem®). While or colonoscopy, which are examinations with an not quick-acting, they are safe for longterm use. Add instrument that allows a physician to see the inside these to your diet gradually and increase your fluid of the rectum and colon. Colorectal screening is intake at the same time. recommended in persons older than 50 years of age. It is important to differentiate between temporary Enemas (acute) constipation and chronic constipation, as the An enema involves insertion of a liquid, usually treatments and recommendations may differ. water, into the rectum via the anus. Typically, after holding the liquid in place for a few minutes, there is an intense urgency to move the bowels. Management Always check with your healthcare provider Stool Softeners before making major changes, to be sure these These products work by holding water in the stool actions won’t interfere with other conditions you (e.g., Colace®). They are safe for long-term use and might have. for pregnant women and the elderly. Lubricants Dietary and Lifestyle Modifications Lubricant laxatives coat the colon and stool in a waterproof film, allowing it to remain soft and Diet slip easily through the intestine, usually within 6-8 Eating regular well-balanced meals and snacks hours. Don’t use these products for longer than a with high-fibre content, as outlined in Canada’s week, as some have been shown to cause vitamin 2 GI Society Crohn’s Disease www.badgut.org deficiencies and medication interactions. An Enterokinetics example of a lubricant laxative is mineral oil. Not Prucalopride succinate (Resotran®) works recommended for pregnant women or for persons by targeting the serotonin (5-HT4) receptors in who have difficulty swallowing. the digestive tract to stimulate motility (muscle movement) and has Health Canada approval for Stimulants the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation in These laxatives increase muscle contractions to women for whom laxative treatment has failed to move food along the digestive tract more quickly provide relief. Resotran® usually produces a bowel (e.g., Ex-lax®, Dulcolax®, castor oil, senna tea, and movement within 2-3 hours and then spontaneous Senokot®). Use only for very short-term situations complete bowel movements typically begin and under the recommendation of a physician or occurring within 4-5 days of starting treatment. Side pharmacist, because repeated use could cause the effects may include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal digestive tract to become stimulant reliant. Not pain, and headache, mostly following the initial dose recommended for pregnant women. and then subsiding with ongoing treatment. Hyperosmotics Guanylate cyclase-C agonist Osmotic laxatives encourage bowel movements Linaclotide (Constella®) works by increasing by drawing water into the bowel from nearby tissue intestinal fluid secretion, which helps ease the (intestinal lumen), thereby softening stool. Some passage of stool through the digestive tract, relieving of these laxatives can cause electrolyte imbalances associated symptoms, and has Health Canada if they draw out too many nutrients and other approval for the treatment of chronic idiopathic substances with the water. They can increase thirst constipation in men and women. In clinical trials, and dehydration. There are four main types of Constella® showed a statistically significant hyperosmotics: improvement compared with placebo for complete Saline laxatives are salts dissolved in liquid; spontaneous bowel movements. The results occurred they rapidly empty all contents of the bowel, usually within the first week, often on the first day, of dosing working within 30 minutes to 3 hours. Examples and were sustained over the 12-week treatment of saline laxatives are citrate salts (e.g., Royvac®), period. Diarrhea is the most commonly noted side magnesium preparations (e.g., Phillips’® Milk of effect. Magnesia), sulfate salts, and sodium phosphate. Not intended for long-term use or for pregnant women. Lactulose laxatives are sugar-like agents that Outlook work similarly to saline laxatives but at a much Constipation can occur for many reasons, so slower rate, and are sometimes used to treat chronic treatment often requires trial and error. An individual constipation. They take 6 hours to 2 days to produce may experience a short bout of constipation and results. return to a normal routine, or it may be an ongoing Polymer laxatives consist of large molecules that health issue. With diet and lifestyle changes, and the cause the stool to hold and retain water. They are proper use of supplements and medications, most usually non-gritty, tasteless, and are well tolerated forms of constipation are manageable. If your bowel for occasional constipation. Results can
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Similarities and Differences 2 www.ccfa.org IBD Help Center: 888.MY.GUT.PAIN 888.694.8872 Important Differences Between IBD and IBS Many diseases and conditions can affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which is part of the digestive system and includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine. These diseases and conditions include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBD Help Center: 888.MY.GUT.PAIN 888.694.8872 www.ccfa.org 3 Inflammatory bowel diseases are a group of inflammatory conditions in which the body’s own immune system attacks parts of the digestive system. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Inflammatory bowel diseases are a group of inflamma- Causes tory conditions in which the body’s own immune system attacks parts of the digestive system. The two most com- The exact cause of IBD remains unknown. Researchers mon inflammatory bowel diseases are Crohn’s disease believe that a combination of four factors lead to IBD: a (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD affects as many as 1.4 genetic component, an environmental trigger, an imbal- million Americans, most of whom are diagnosed before ance of intestinal bacteria and an inappropriate reaction age 35. There is no cure for IBD but there are treatments to from the immune system. Immune cells normally protect reduce and control the symptoms of the disease. the body from infection, but in people with IBD, the immune system mistakes harmless substances in the CD and UC cause chronic inflammation of the GI tract. CD intestine for foreign substances and launches an attack, can affect any part of the GI tract, but frequently affects the resulting in inflammation.
    [Show full text]
  • Constipation
    Constipation Caris Diagnostics Health Improvement Series What is constipation? Constipation means that a person has three bowel movements or fewer in a week. The stool is hard and dry. Sometimes it is painful to pass. You may feel‘draggy’and full. Some people think they should have a bowel movement every day. That is not really true. There is no‘right’number of bowel movements. Each person's body finds its own normal number of bowel movements. It depends on the food you eat, how much you exercise, and other things. At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated. In most cases, it lasts for a short time and is not serious. When you understand what causes constipation, you can take steps to prevent it. What can I do about constipation? Changing what you 4. Allow yourself enough time to have a bowel movement. eat and drink and how much you exercise will help re- Sometimes we feel so hurried that we don't pay atten- lieve and prevent constipation. Here are some steps you tion to our body's needs. Make sure you don't ignore the can take. urge to have a bowel movement. 1. Eat more fiber. Fiber helps form soft, bulky stool. It 5. Use laxatives only if a doctor says you should. is found in many vegetables, fruits, and grains. Be sure Laxatives are medicines that will make you pass a stool. to add fiber a little at a time, so your body gets used to Most people who are mildly constipated do not need it slowly.
    [Show full text]
  • Food and Ibd Condition Your Guide Introduction
    CROHN’S & COLITIS UK SUPPORTING YOU TO MANAGE YOUR FOOD AND IBD CONDITION YOUR GUIDE INTRODUCTION ABOUT THIS BOOKLET If you have Ulcerative Colitis (UC) or Crohn’s Disease (the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease - IBD) you may wonder whether food or diet plays a role in causing your illness or treating your symptoms. This booklet looks at some of the most frequently asked questions about food and IBD, and provides background information on digestion and healthy eating for people with IBD. We hope you will find it helpful. All our publications are research based and produced in consultation with patients, medical advisers and other health or associated professionals. However, they are prepared as general information and are not intended to replace specific advice from your own doctor or any other professional. Crohn’s and Colitis UK does not endorse or recommend any products mentioned. If you would like more information about the sources of evidence on which this booklet is based, or details of any conflicts of interest, or if you have any feedback on our publications, please visit our website. About Crohn’s and Colitis UK We are a national charity established in 1979. Our aim is to improve life for anyone affected by Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. We have over 28,000 members and 50 local groups throughout the UK. Membership costs from £15 per year with concessionary rates for anyone experiencing financial hardship or on a low income. This publication is available free of charge, but we © Crohn’s and Colitis UK would not be able to do this without our supporters 2015 and 2016 and members.
    [Show full text]
  • Therapeutic Enema for Intussusception
    Therapeutic Enema for Intussusception Therapeutic enema is used to help identify and diagnose intussusception, a serious disorder in which one part of the intestine slides into another in a telescoping manner and causes inflammation and an obstruction. Intussusception often occurs at the junction of the small and large intestine and most commonly occurs in children three to 24 months of age. A therapeutic enema using air or a contrast material solution may be performed to create pressure within the intestine and "un-telescope" the intussusception while relieving the obstruction. This exam is usually performed on an emergency basis. Tell your doctor about your child's recent illnesses, medical conditions, medications and allergies, especially to barium or iodinated contrast materials. Your child may be asked to wear a gown and remove any objects that might interfere with the x-ray images. An ultrasound may be performed to help confirm the diagnosis. What is a Therapeutic Enema for Intussusception? What is intussusception? Intussusception is a serious disorder in which one part of the intestine slides into another part of the intestine, similar to a collapsing telescope. The intestine becomes inflamed and swollen and can cause an obstruction or blockage. Symptoms can include severe abdominal pain, fever, vomiting or abnormal stools. Intussusception may occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract; however, it often occurs at the junction of the small and large intestine. The condition most commonly occurs in children three months to 24 months of age. Intussusception is a medical/surgical emergency. If your child has some or all of the symptoms of intussusception, you should call your physician or an emergency medical professional immediately.
    [Show full text]
  • Management of Gastrointestinal Disorders in Rett Syndrome
    Management of gastrointestinal disorders in Rett syndrome Jenny Downs & Helen Leonard Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia What is meant by gastrointestinal disorders? The three most common gastro-intestinal problems affecting girls and women with Rett syndrome are: constipation, Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease or Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GORD/GERD or reflux) and abdominal bloating. Constipation occurs where stools are dry, hard and difficult to pass. Constipation can cause considerable discomfort and pain. Reflux occurs when the muscle at the lower end of the oesophagus does not close properly after food has passed through to the stomach. As a result, stomach contents can pass back up the oesophagus which can be painful, and in extreme cases, damage to the oesophagus lining. Acid may also flow back into the oesophagus when the stomach doesn’t empty properly. This is known as delayed gastric emptying. Abdominal bloating describes the swelling of the abdomen, accompanied by feelings of tightness, fullness, discomfort and pain. Why do gastrointestinal disorders occur in Rett syndrome? As the digestive system operates alongside other systems in the body (the nervous, circulatory, muscular -skeletal, respiratory and endocrine systems), disruptions to any of these systems can affect the healthy operation of the digestive system. • Reduced intestinal motility, physical activity and some side effects from various medications may cause individuals with Rett syndrome to suffer constipation. • Reflux is likely to occur in individuals with restricted mobility and/or scoliosis. • The tendency to hyperventilate, breath hold and swallow air can cause abdominal bloating. Pain, anxiety and excitement may exacerbate these issues and increase discomfort.
    [Show full text]
  • When to Seek Medical Attention
    When To Seek Medical Attention The Signs & Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease There is no doubt that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a serious medical condition. During flare-ups and when the disease is active, symptoms can be troublesome, distressing, and downright embarrassing. Most people with IBD will need to take medications on an ongoing basis, even during periods of remission, to keep the inflammation in check and prevent flare-ups. There might be times where you will need to be in hospital—for example, if you become severely dehydrated or develop a complication. At some point you might also have to face the prospect of surgery, either to treat the disease itself or for complications associated with your condition. But the good news is that IBD is manageable: it will not necessarily take over your entire life, and the life expectancy of those with the disease is normal. With the current range of treatment options available, most people are able to lead full and productive lives, complete with family, career, leisure activities, and travel. However it is important to be aware of any change that may indicate a flare-up, a worsening of the condition, or that a new problem has developed so that prompt action can be taken. Typical signs & symptoms include: • frequent, watery diarrhoea • sense of urgency to have a bowel movement • crampy abdominal pain • a feeling of ‘blockage’ • fever during active stages of disease • rectal bleeding (if the colon is involved) • loss of appetite • tiredness and fatigue • weight loss. The signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease can vary considerably among those who have the condition, depending on the location and severity of the inflammation within the GI tract.
    [Show full text]
  • (IBS) Constipation Contents
    helping you better... Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Constipation Contents What is IBS constipation? 3 Dietary advice for constipation 4 Dietary Fibre 5 Fluid 10 Exercise 11 Relaxation 12 What about probiotics? 12 Day to day 13 Ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner 13 Foods to avoid or limit 14 Keep in mind 15 Recipes 16 Muesli 16 Chicken and Root Vegetable Stew 17 Prune Juice Mocktail 18 Bean Salad 19 Pizza 20 Prune Juice and Live Yogurt Smoothie 21 Spelt Bread 22 Oatcake 23 2 What is IBS constipation? Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a disorder of gastrointestinal (GI) function without any obvious inflammation or damage. Symptoms occur quite frequently and are often triggered by changes in diet and the effect of stress and life changes on the way the gut works. Common recurrent symptoms include abdominal pain or discomfort, often reported as cramping, along with changes in bowel habits. IBS has been subcategorised based on the symptoms as: IBS with diarrhoea; IBS with constipation: or mixed, which includes both diarrheal and constipation traits. The definition of IBS with constipation (IBS-C) may include: fewer than three bowel movements a week, the passage of dry, hard or small stools, the need to strain to pass stools, and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowel. In IBS, constipation is often associated with bloating, abdominal distension, and abdominal pain, and may occasionally alternate with diarrhoea. 3 Dietary advice for constipation The causes of IBS are not well understood, however dietary and lifestyle changes can help to alleviate symptoms. Eating a healthy diet, with the right balance of foods from the four main food groups is a good first step towards reducing symptoms.
    [Show full text]
  • Rectal Prolapse: an Overview of Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Patient-Specific Management Strategies
    J Gastrointest Surg (2014) 18:1059–1069 DOI 10.1007/s11605-013-2427-7 EVIDENCE-BASED CURRENT SURGICAL PRACTICE Rectal Prolapse: An Overview of Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Patient-Specific Management Strategies Liliana Bordeianou & Caitlin W. Hicks & Andreas M. Kaiser & Karim Alavi & Ranjan Sudan & Paul E. Wise Received: 11 November 2013 /Accepted: 27 November 2013 /Published online: 19 December 2013 # 2013 The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Abstract Rectal prolapse can present in a variety of forms and is associated with a range of symptoms including pain, incomplete evacuation, bloody and/or mucous rectal discharge, and fecal incontinence or constipation. Complete external rectal prolapse is characterized by a circumferential, full-thickness protrusion of the rectum through the anus, which may be intermittent or may be incarcerated and poses a risk of strangulation. There are multiple surgical options to treat rectal prolapse, and thus care should be taken to understand each patient’s symptoms, bowel habits, anatomy, and pre-operative expectations. Preoperative workup includes physical exam, colonoscopy, anoscopy, and, in some patients, anal manometry and defecography. With this information, a tailored surgical approach (abdominal versus perineal, minimally invasive versus open) and technique (posterior versus ventral rectopexy +/− sigmoidectomy, for example) can then be chosen. We propose an algorithm based on available outcomes data in the literature, an understanding of anorectal physiology, and expert opinion that can serve as a guide to determining the rectal prolapse operation that will achieve the best possible postoperative outcomes for individual patients. Keywords Rectal prolapse . Management . Surgery . ’ . Liliana Bordeianou and Caitlin W. Hicks are co-first authors.
    [Show full text]
  • Biofeedback for Constipation Dawn E
    13 Biofeedback for Constipation Dawn E. Vickers Constipation, with its associated symptoms, is Biofeedback Defined the most common chronic gastrointestinal com- plaint, accounting for 2.5 million physician visits Schwartz et al9 define the biofeedback process as per year1 with a prevalence of 2% in the United “a group of therapeutic procedures which utilize States population.2 Rome II diagnostic criteria electronic instruments to accurately measure, for a diagnosis of constipation are specified in process, and feed back to persons and their ther- Table 13.1.3 After identification and exclusion of apists, meaningful physiological information extracolonic or anatomic causes, many patients with educational and reinforcing properties respond favorably to medical and dietary man- about their neuromuscular and autonomic activ- agement. However, patients unresponsive to ity, both normal and abnormal, in the form of simple treatment may require further physio- analog, binary, auditory and/or visual feedback logic investigation to evaluate the patho- signals.” This process helps patients develop a physiologic process underlying the symptoms. greater awareness of, confidence in, and an Physiologic investigation generally includes increase in voluntary control over physiologic colonic transit time study, cinedefecography, processes.This result is best achieved with a com- anorectal manometry, and electromyography petent biofeedback professional. Employing (EMG),4 which allows for definitive diagnosis of biofeedback instruments without proper cogni- treatable
    [Show full text]
  • Diarrhoea and Constipation
    INFORMATION SHEET DIARRHOEA AND CONSTIPATION INTRODUCTION Diarrhoea is a common symptom of Crohn’s and Colitis, also known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD. Some people also experience constipation. You may continue to experience diarrhoea or constipation even when your IBD treatment is keeping your other symptoms under control. This information sheet looks at why this might happen, and contains suggestions to help you manage your diarrhoea or constipation. CONTENTS HOW DO I KNOW IF MY STOOL IS NORMAL? 2 WHAT IS DIARRHOEA? 3 WHAT CAUSES DIARRHOEA? 4 WHAT TREATMENT CAN I TAKE? 4 CAN CHANGING WHAT I EAT AND DRINK HELP? 5 SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT DEHYDRATION? 6 HOW CAN I MANAGE DIARRHOEA WITH A STOMA? 7 HOW CAN I MANAGE URGENCY? 7 HOW CAN I MANAGE BOWEL LEAKAGE? 7 HOW CAN I MANAGE SORE SKIN? 7 HOW CAN I GET RID OF SMELLS? 8 WHAT IS CONSTIPATION? 9 WHAT CAUSES CONSTIPATION? 9 HOW CAN I TREAT CONSTIPATION? 9 HOW CAN I MANAGE CONSTIPATION WITH A STOMA? 10 WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT THE OTHER SYMPTOMS WHICH MAY COME WITH CONSTIPATION? 10 HELP AND SUPPORT FROM CROHN’S & COLITIS UK 11 OTHER ORGANISATIONS 12 1 Crohn’s & Colitis UK | www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk DIARRHOEA AND CONSTIPATION HOW DO I KNOW IF MY STOOL IS NORMAL? The Bristol Stool Form Scale below illustrates the types of stool (poo) a person may pass. If your stool resembles Types 1 or 2, you probably have constipation. Types 3 and 4 are considered healthy stool, with Type 5 progressing towards diarrhoea. If your stool looks like Types 6 or 7, you have diarrhoea.
    [Show full text]
  • Low Fructose Diet
    Low Fructose Diet What is fructose? Fructose is a simple sugar found naturally in certain fruits, vegetables, and sweeteners. It is also added to some processed foods and is a component of regular table sugar (sucrose). What is fructose malabsorption? Some people cannot completely absorb fructose in the small intestine. When fructose is not absorbed it is quickly consumed by the bacteria that normally live in the gut. The result is abdominal bloating, cramping, gas, diarrhea, and/or constipation. Fructose malabsorption can occur in people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. It is diagnosed with a fructose hydrogen breath test and the treatment is a low fructose diet. What foods should I avoid? You do not have to avoid all foods that contain fructose, only those that are high in excess fructose listed below. Excess fructose means that the food has more than half of its natural sugar as fructose. Glucose is the other simple sugar found in these foods which helps absorb fructose in the small intestine. The more glucose than fructose in a food, the more “gut-friendly” it is. Avoid these high fructose foods: Fruit: apple, pear, Asian pear, watermelon, fig, mango, cherries Vegetables: artichokes, sugar snap peas, asparagus Sweeteners: honey, agave, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), fruit juice concentrate of the above fruits, and large amounts of sucrose (white or brown sugar) UMHS Division of Gastroenterology - 1 - Beverages: juices of the fruit listed above, regular soda and drinks that are sweetened with fructose or HFCS, rum General guidelines: Read labels and avoid products that contain fructose, crystalline fructose, HFCS, honey, agave, and fruit juice concentrates (i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • Nutrients and Constipation: Cause Or Cure?
    NUTRITION ISSUES IN GASTROENTEROLOGY, SERIES #61 Carol Rees Parrish, R.D., M.S., Series Editor Nutrients and Constipation: Cause or Cure? Lawrence R. Schiller For over 100 years diet has been postulated as the major cause for constipation and improvement of diet has been the major lifestyle recommendation for the management of constipation. The basic evidence supporting low fiber intake as a cause for constipa- tion and other bowel problems goes back to epidemiological observations in the 1960’s. More recent evidence suggests that low calorie intake and perhaps food sensitivities may play a role in the pathogenesis of constipation. Modification of diet has been touted as a cure-all for constipation, but the evidence base in support of this is weak. In fact, some suggested modifications, such as increased fiber intake, may be counterproduc- tive in some patients, and others, such as the use of probiotics or prebiotics, lack much scientific evidence of efficacy. Nevertheless, patients with constipation want to know what they ought to do about their diets and certain guidelines can be recommended. INTRODUCTION functional constipation which can be used for research onstipation is a common affliction said to be pre- and clinical purposes (Table 1) (2). sent in 15% of the population (1). It is most com- While constipation is most likely related to several Cmonly defined as difficulty with defecation inciting factors, the concept of inadequate dietary fiber characterized by infrequency or dyschezia (painful, intake has assumed a place of prominence as the etiol- hard or incomplete evacuations) (1). The Rome Com- ogy of constipation among both the lay population and mittee, a group of experts in functional gastrointestinal physicians.
    [Show full text]