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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Constipation?

I have not had a normal bowel movement for several days and have some minor discomfort in my lower abdomen. I took a laxative that helped for a few days but now it is back to nothing for a few days since. Otherwise, I feel okay. This happened suddenly within hours of eating a piece of chicken that might have been too old. Could there be a connection?
Fri, 8 May 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi
Thanks for posting your query on HCM.
I appreciate your concern for the constipation.

Constipation can be due to so many causes:

Sedentary life style, foods lacking dietary fiber (vegetables, fruits, etc), not drinking enough water, use of carbonated sweetened soft drinks, stress, frequent travelling, etc.

Diseases of the colon & certain medications.

Constipation can be prevented/treated by:

Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fiber. Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole-grain bread and cereal (especially bran). Fiber and water help the colon pass stool.
Drink plenty of water.
Avoid caffeine and corbonated sweetened soft drinks which seem to have a dehydrating effect until your bowel habits return to normal.
Exercise regularly.
Avoid delaying the urge to defecate.
Use laxative SOS, if the above measures are not found to be effective.

Consult a doctor if you have additional symptoms like blood in the stool, weight (loss without dieting), abdominal distension or pain for proper evaluation and relevant lab tests to find out the exact cause of constipation.

Hope these suggestions could be useful to you in getting the treatment of constipation.
A feed back is appreciated if you are convinced.
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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Constipation?

Hi Thanks for posting your query on HCM. I appreciate your concern for the constipation. Constipation can be due to so many causes: Sedentary life style, foods lacking dietary fiber (vegetables, fruits, etc), not drinking enough water, use of carbonated sweetened soft drinks, stress, frequent travelling, etc. Diseases of the colon & certain medications. Constipation can be prevented/treated by: Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fiber. Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole-grain bread and cereal (especially bran). Fiber and water help the colon pass stool. Drink plenty of water. Avoid caffeine and corbonated sweetened soft drinks which seem to have a dehydrating effect until your bowel habits return to normal. Exercise regularly. Avoid delaying the urge to defecate. Use laxative SOS, if the above measures are not found to be effective. Consult a doctor if you have additional symptoms like blood in the stool, weight (loss without dieting), abdominal distension or pain for proper evaluation and relevant lab tests to find out the exact cause of constipation. Hope these suggestions could be useful to you in getting the treatment of constipation. A feed back is appreciated if you are convinced.