Constipation might be very uncomfortable and even painful, and you might be trying to find quick relief. Constipation is when you will have less frequent bowel movements or those which might be difficult to pass. It has many causes, including weight loss plan, lifestyle, medication unwanted side effects, and underlying health issues.
Fortunately, you need to use home remedies, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and other self-care methods to search out fast constipation relief.
This article covers tips on how to relieve short- and long-term constipation, suggestions and residential remedies for quick relief, and when to contact a healthcare provider.
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How to Relieve Constipation Quickly
If you might be experiencing constipation symptoms like infrequent bowel movements and hard stools which might be painful to pass, you might be likely on the lookout for ways to alleviate constipation fast, similar to the next:
Exercise
Research has found that exercise is an efficient treatment for constipation. Compared to inactive people, physically energetic people have a lower prevalence of constipation. Good exercises for constipation are aerobic activities like walking, jogging, mountain climbing, biking, and swimming.
Researchers do not know why exercise helps with constipation, but they believe that exercise has the next effects:
- Intestinal movement
- Vagus nerve stimulation (the nerve that regulates digestion and other critical body functions)
- Blood flow to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
- Good hormone release
- Abdominal muscle contraction
Together, these actions help move stool into the rectum. Plus, your body wants to interchange the calories it burned exercising, which could lead to you eating more fiber (one other constipation treatment).
Try a Fiber Supplement
Fiber supplements are one other solution to quickly relieve constipation. Research has found that fiber supplementation effectively improves constipation.
In the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, fiber supplements are a first-line treatment for constipation. Fiber increases stool bulk and makes stools softer, making them easier to pass.
Eat Foods for Constipation
The best foods for constipation are foods high in fiber, similar to:
- Whole grains: Whole wheat bread, rolled oats, and whole-grain cereals
- Legumes: Lentils, black beans, kidney beans, peanuts
- Fruits: Berries, apples, oranges
- Vegetables: Carrots, broccoli, green peas
- Nuts: Almonds, pecans, walnuts
Drink More Water
In addition to fiber, one other dietary fast-acting relief for constipation is drinking enough fluids. Water, fruit juice, and broth are all great fluids for constipation. Fiber absorbs water, so drinking enough works with fiber in helping make your stool softer and easier to pass.
Use a Squatting Position to Poop
Squatting while having a bowel movement can contribute to a more comfortable bowel movement. When in comparison with sitting, squatting helps with the next:
- Improves the angle of the rectal canal
- Reduces strain
- Increases sensation of adequate bowel emptying
- Decreases time related to defecation
Try Colonic Massage
Abdominal massage is a protected, noninvasive method to treat constipation. Research has found that it might probably improve chronic constipation. Massage helps constipation by reducing colonic transit time (the time it takes substances to maneuver through your colon).
Abdominal massage may fit in the next ways:
- Activating intestinal stretch receptors
- Stimulating reflexes to provide rectal waves
- Stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system (accountable for digestion), reducing abdominal muscle tension
- Increasing digestive tract muscle exercise capability
- Increasing digestive tract secretions
- Relaxing digestive sphincter muscles to advertise bowel movements
Use a Stool Softener
Stool softeners are medications that act on the surface of stools to attract more fluid into the stools and make them easier to pass. They can be found with or with out a prescription in capsule, tablet, and liquid formulations. Brand names include Colace, Correctol Soft Gels, and Ex-Lax Stool Softener (docusate sodium).
Usually, people take stool softeners for one to a few days. You mustn’t take them for greater than every week unless a healthcare provider advises you to.
Take a Lubricant Laxative
Lubricant laxatives are a kind of laxative (medication that increases defecation) that coats the surface of stools to make them more slippery and simple to pass. These are typically suppositories that you simply insert into the anus. Examples include Colace Glycerin and Fleet Laxative Glycerin.
Take an Osmotic Laxative
Osmotic laxatives draw more fluids into the intestines, softening stools and making them easier to pass. Examples include Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) and Miralax (polyethylene glycol).
Milk of Magnesia may relieve constipation in as little as half-hour as much as six hours after taking it.
If you will have kidney disease, a magnesium-restricted weight loss plan, or nausea and vomiting, you must speak to a healthcare provider before using one of these laxative.
Take a Laxative Stimulant
Stimulant laxatives are the harshest type. These products cause the bowels to contract to squeeze out stool. They mustn’t be used for greater than a number of days because, when used long-term, they could cause the bowels to lose their tone and functionality.
Examples include Correctol or Dulcolax (bisacodyl), Dulcolax Pico (sodium picosulfate), and Senokot (senna).
Try an Enema
You may additionally consider an enema to alleviate constipation fast. Enemas help send liquid from the rectum to the intestines. Enemas aren’t often a primary alternative but could also be used if laxatives and other less-invasive measures don’t work.
Other Natural Remedies
Some people find that home remedies for constipation also help. These include:
- Probiotics (strains of bacteria normally present in a healthy gut)
- Herbs like rhubarb, senna leaf, and aloe
- Teas specially made for constipation relief
Constipation Relief for Children
Constipation in children is common—about 1 in 20 healthcare provider visits are for constipation. While some treatment methods for constipation in children are much like those in adults, not all are the identical. Talk to a healthcare provider before giving laxatives or other OTC medications to children to treat constipation at home.
Measures which might be protected to try at home include increasing fiber and water and ensuring your child gets enough physical activity. If those don’t work, talk over with a healthcare provider. They may recommend laxatives or enemas. However, don’t give these unless a healthcare provider has instructed you to achieve this.
Constipation Relief for Pregnant People
Constipation can also be common while pregnant, especially in the ultimate trimester. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends eating loads of fiber to fight constipation while pregnant. Other standard lifestyle changes—increasing fluid intake and getting enough physical exertion—are also protected.
There will not be enough evidence to evaluate whether other treatments for constipation in pregnancy are protected. Before you reach for an OTC or herbal treatment, ask a healthcare provider for guidance.
How Occasional vs. Chronic Constipation Is Treated
Nearly everyone experiences an occasional bout of constipation, but chronic constipation could also be attributable to a health condition, including:
While it is commonly fantastic to treat occasional constipation with the treatments mentioned above, they might not be appropriate for chronic constipation. Some treatments, like laxatives and enemas, carry risks when used too often.
In addition, in chronic constipation, identifying the underlying cause and treating it could higher resolve the condition.
Treatment for Severe Constipation
Chronic or severe constipation can result in complications similar to:
In these cases, specific treatments to assist with complications, in addition to treating constipation, could also be obligatory. For example, the next could also be utilized in treating severe cases of constipation:
- Prescription medications
- Digital disimpaction (manually removing stool from the rectum)
- Surgery (to remove or repair an obstruction or correct prolapse)
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If your constipation doesn’t reply to at-home treatment, you must see a healthcare provider. In addition, seek medical attention in the next situations:
Summary
Constipation is common, and, fortunately, you’ll be able to do plenty to alleviate it. From lifestyle modifications, like weight loss plan, exercise, and drinking more fluids, to taking medications, most individuals can resolve their occasional bouts of constipation quickly.
