hi there,
am dr.surendran
nice to meet you here in HCMagic
The causes of constipation can be divided into congenital, primary, and secondary.The most common cause is primary and not life threatening. In the elderly, causes include: insufficient
dietary fiber intake, inadequate fluid intake, decreased physical activity, side effects of medications,
hypothyroidism, and obstruction by
colorectal cancer.
The main treatment of constipation involves the increased intake of water and fiber (either dietary or as supplements) The routine use of laxatives is discouraged, as having bowel movements may come to be dependent upon their use. Enemas can be used to provide a form of mechanical stimulation. However, enemas are generally useful only for stool in the rectum, not in the intestinal tract.
Laxatives
If laxatives are used,
milk of magnesia is recommended as a first-line agent due to its low cost and safety.Stimulants should only be used if this is not effective. In cases of
chronic constipation, prokinetics may be used to improve gastrointestinal motility. A number of new agents have shown positive outcomes in chronic constipation; these include prucalopride, and
lubiprostone.
Physical intervention
Constipation that resists the above measures may require physical intervention such as manual disimpaction (the physical removal of impacted stool using the hands; see
Fecal impaction).
hope i helped with your query,
with regards dr.surendiran [hcmagic]