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Introduction
Constipation
is not having a bowel movement as often as you usually do
or having a tough time going because the poop is hard and
dry. Normal poop is sort of soft and easy to pass, so it shouldn't
be too hard to have a bowel movement.
When you
poop, what ends up in the toilet is the last step of digestion.
After you chew and swallow food, it heads to your stomach.
From there it is on to the small intestine, then the large
intestine, and finally out of the body through the rectum
and anus.
All these
parts make up your digestive system. As food moves through
this system, your body soaks up water and nutrients it needs
from the food. What's left over comes out as poop.
Some people
think they are constipated if they do not poop every day,
but everybody's bathroom habits are different. So the real
sign of whether you are constipated or not is if you're going
less than you normally do.
Symptoms
Besides
not pooping as often as you usually do, you may feel full
and a little uncomfortable if you are constipated. Your belly
may feel stretched, too. When you do go to the bathroom, you
may feel like you have to work really hard to get the poop
out, and it may hurt a little to go.
If your
poop is hard and dry, pushing it out may cause tiny tears
in the skin of your anus. If this happens, you might see a
bit of blood on the toilet paper when you wipe. After you're
done, you may have only gone a little and may feel like you
still have to go.
Reasons For Constipation
Constipation
is pretty common, and different things can cause it. Some
reasons why kids get constipated include:
-
Unhealthy diet. If you fill your
diet with fatty, sugary, or starchy foods and do not eat
enough fiber, your bowels may slow down. Fiber, that is
found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can keep your
poop from getting hard and dry.
-
Not enough exercise. Moving around
helps food move through your digestive system.
-
Not enough fluid. Drinking water
and other liquids keeps poop soft as it moves through your
intestines. When you don't drink enough, the poop can get
hard and dry, and you might get stopped up.
-
Not going to the bathroom when you need to.
Sometimes persons do not go to the bathroom when they have
to. But if you make a habit of ignoring your body's signals
that it is time to go, that might make it harder to go later
on.
-
Stress. Many people may get constipated
when they are anxious about their works or activities.
-
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
It can act up when people are stressed or when they run
into certain triggers, like fatty or spicy foods. A person
who has IBS may have constipation sometimes and diarrhea
sometimes, as well as belly pain and gas.
Some medical
conditions like diabetes, lupus, or problems with the thyroid
gland can also cause constipation. If you're worried that
your constipation is a sign of something else, talk to your
doctor.
Treatment
If you
are constipated you probably will not need any special treatment.
Chances are you will soon start going regularly again on your
own. If your doctor decides you should come in for a visit,
he or she might suggest some medicine or something else to
get you going. It is better for a person to do not take any
medicine for your constipation unless your doctor recommends
it.
Other
than some medicine, the doctor might order an X-ray or other
types of tests that look inside your digestive system. But
usually constipation is just constipation. You eventually
poop and feel better.
Self-Treatment
You can
follow these steps when you have constipation and even when
you do not have:
-
Drink plenty of water. This can keep your poop from getting
too hard and dry.
-
Eat
more fiber. Fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, such as
oatmeal and popcorn, all add fiber to your diet. And fiber
can keep things moving.
-
Exercise.
Throw a ball with your friends, ride your bike, or shoot
a few hoops. Activity helps you go to the bathroom regularly.
In other words, if you get moving, your bowels will, too!
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