Constipation what do

Your pharmacist may also ask questions about your diet, level of exercise and whether there have been any recent changes to your routines. If your pharmacist thinks you may have faecal impaction when dry, hard stools collect in your rectum , they may advise you to contact your GP for a physical examination.

See complications of constipation for more information about faecal impaction. A typical examination will begin with you lying on your back, while the GP feels your abdomen tummy. You'll then lie on your side while your GP carries out a rectal examination using a lubricated, gloved finger. Your GP will be able to feel for any stools that may have collected. An internal physical examination rarely needs to be carried out on a child.

Instead, the diagnosis can usually be made by feeling the child's tummy. If you're experiencing severe symptoms, your doctor may request further tests, such as blood tests or thyroid tests, to diagnose or rule out other conditions. As there's an increased risk of bowel cancer in older adults, your doctor may also request tests to rule out a diagnosis of cancer, including a computerised tomography CT scan or colonoscopy.

Treatment for constipation depends on the cause, how long you've had it and how severe your symptoms are. Changes to diet and lifestyle are often recommended as the first treatment for constipation.

In many cases, this will improve the condition without the need for medication. Read about preventing constipation for more ways to change your diet and lifestyle.

Laxatives are a type of medicine that help you pass stools. There are several different types of laxative and each one has a different effect on your digestive system.

Your pharmacist will usually start you on a bulk-forming laxative. These work by helping your stools to retain fluid. This means they're less likely to dry out, which can lead to faecal impaction. Bulk-forming laxatives also make your stools softer, which means they should be easier to pass.

Commonly prescribed bulk-forming laxatives include ispaghula husk, methylcellulose and sterculia. When taking this type of laxative, you must drink plenty of fluids, and don't take them before going to bed. It will usually be 2 to 3 days before you feel the effects of a bulk-forming laxative.

If your stools remain hard after you've taken a bulk-forming laxative, your pharmacist may prescribe an osmotic laxative instead. Osmotic laxatives increase the amount of fluid in your bowels. This softens your stools and stimulates your body to pass them. Commonly prescribed osmotic laxatives include lactulose and macrogols. As with bulk-forming laxatives, make sure you drink enough fluids.

It will usually be 2 to 3 days before you feel the effect of the laxative. If your stools are soft, but you still have difficulty passing them, your pharmacist may recommend a stimulant laxative. This type of laxative stimulates the muscles that line your digestive tract, helping them to move stools and waste products along your large intestine to your anus. The most commonly prescribed stimulant laxatives are senna, bisacodyl and sodium picosulphate. These laxatives are usually only used on a short-term basis, and they start to work within 6 to 12 hours.

According to your individual preference and how quickly you need relief, your pharmacist may decide to combine different laxatives. If you've had constipation for a short time, your pharmacist will usually advise you to stop taking the laxative once your stools are soft and easily passed.

However, if your constipation is caused by an underlying medical condition or a medicine you're taking, your GP may advise you to take laxatives for much longer, possibly many months or even years.

If you've been taking laxatives for some time, you may have to gradually reduce your dose, rather than coming off them straight away. If you have been prescribed a combination of laxatives, you'll normally have to reduce the dosage of each laxative, one at a time, before you can stop taking them.

This can take several months. Faecal impaction occurs when stools become hard and dry and collect in your rectum. This obstructs the rectum, making it more difficult for stools to pass along.

Sometimes as a result of impaction, overflow diarrhoea may occur where loose stools leak around the obstruction. You may have difficulty controlling this. If you have faecal impaction, you'll initially be treated with a high dose of the osmotic laxative macrogol.

After a few days of using macrogol, you may also have to start taking a stimulant laxative. If you're pregnant, there are ways for you to safely treat constipation without harming you or your baby. Your pharmacist will first advise you to change your diet by increasing fibre and fluid intake. You'll also be advised to do gentle exercise. If dietary and lifestyle changes don't work, you may be prescribed a laxative to help you pass stools more regularly.

Lots of laxatives are safe for pregnant women to use because most aren't absorbed by the digestive system. This means that your baby won't feel the effects of the laxative. Laxatives that are safe to use during pregnancy include the osmotic laxatives lactulose and macrogols. If these don't work, your pharmacist may recommend taking a small dose of bisacodyl or senna stimulant laxatives. However, senna may not be suitable if you're in your third trimester of pregnancy, because it's partially absorbed by your digestive system.

Read more about constipation and other common pregnancy problems. If your baby is constipated but hasn't started to eat solid foods, the first way to treat them is to give them extra water between their normal feeds. If you're using formula milk, make the formula as directed by the manufacturer and don't dilute the mixture. You may want to try gently moving your baby's legs in a bicycling motion or carefully massaging their tummy to help stimulate their bowels.

If your baby is eating solid foods, give them plenty of water or diluted fruit juice. The best fruits for babies to eat to treat constipation are:.

Never force your baby to eat food if they don't want to. If you do, it can turn mealtimes into a battle and your child may start to think of eating as a negative and stressful experience. If your baby is still constipated after a change in diet, they may have to be prescribed a laxative.

Bulk-forming laxatives aren't suitable for babies, so they'll usually be given an osmotic laxative. However, if this doesn't work, they can be prescribed a stimulant laxative. For children, laxatives are often recommended alongside changes to diet.

Osmotic laxatives are usually tried first, followed by a stimulant laxative if necessary. As well as eating fruit, older children should have a healthy, balanced diet , which also contains vegetables and wholegrain foods, such as wholemeal bread and pasta. Try to minimise stress or conflict associated with meal times or using the toilet. It's important to be positive and encouraging when it comes to establishing a toilet routine. Allow your child at least 10 minutes on the toilet, to make sure they've passed as many stools as possible.

To encourage a positive toilet routine, try making a diary of your child's bowel movements linked to a reward system. This can help them focus on using the toilet successfully. Constipation rarely causes any complications or long-term health problems. Treatment is usually effective, particularly if it's started promptly. However, if you have long-term chronic constipation, you may be more at risk of experiencing complications.

In some cases, bleeding is the result of a small tear around the anus anal fissure , but it's more often caused by haemorrhoids piles. Piles are swollen blood vessels that form in the lower rectum and anus. As well as bleeding, piles can also cause pain, itching around the anus, and swelling of the anus. The symptoms of piles often settle down after a few days without treatment. However, creams and ointments are available to reduce any itching or discomfort. Long-term constipation can increase the risk of faecal impaction, which is where dried, hard stools collect in your rectum and anus.

Once you have faecal impaction, it's very unlikely that you'll be able to get rid of the stools naturally. Faecal impaction makes constipation worse because it's harder for stools and waste products to pass out of your anus, as the path is obstructed. Faecal impaction is usually treated with laxative medication, although suppositories medication inserted into the anus and mini enemas where medicine in fluid form is injected through your anus may sometimes be used. There are a number of things you can do to prevent constipation, including making diet and lifestyle changes.

Including enough fibre in your diet can significantly reduce your chances of developing constipation. Most adults don't eat enough fibre.

Some people who have chronic constipation have an imbalance of bacteria in their gut. Consuming more probiotic foods could help improve this balance and prevent constipation. A review found that taking probiotics for 2 weeks can help treat constipation, increasing stool frequency and stool consistency They could also help treat constipation by producing short-chain fatty acids.

These may improve gut movements, making it easier to pass stools Alternatively, try a probiotic supplement. Some studies have found that people started to feel the benefits of these supplements after 4 weeks Try taking probiotic supplements, which are available online , or eating more probiotic-rich foods to see if this helps with constipation. Prebiotic foods include:. Bottom line: Probiotics may help treat chronic constipation.

Try eating probiotic foods or taking a supplement. A person can speak to a doctor or pharmacist about choosing an appropriate laxative. Different types have varying methods of action, but all are effective for constipation 40 , However, people should not take most of these laxatives on a regular basis without speaking to a doctor. Bottom line: Laxatives are effective for relieving constipation.

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist about the best ones to use. Constipation can be a symptom of IBS. The diet involves limiting high FODMAP foods for a period of time before reintroducing them to determine which ones the body can tolerate Such people will probably need to pay attention to other aspects of their diet, such as getting enough water and fiber, to experience relief from their symptoms 46 , However, that alone may not provide sufficient relief.

Glucomannan is a type of soluble fiber from the roots of the konjac plant. Some research suggests that it is effective against constipation 48 , As well as improving bowel movements, glucomannan may act as a prebiotic to improve the balance of good bacteria in the gut. However, another controlled study found no significant effects Glucomannan supplements are also available.

They vary in their benefits by brand, so it is best to compare brands before making a purchase. Glucomannan supplements are available online. Bottom line: Glucomannan may help treat constipation in some people. Sources include supplements and shirataki noodles. Prebiotics are an indigestible carbohydrate fiber. Prebiotics include oligosaccharide and inulin. Although dietary fibers reduce constipation by improving the consistency and bulk of stool, prebiotics have their effects by improving digestive health.

Prebiotic fibers improve digestive health by feeding the beneficial bacteria in the gut, which boosts probiotics and improves the balance of the gut bacteria 37 , In fact, some prebiotics may help increase the frequency of bowel movements, as well as make stools softer Bottom line: Foods that contain prebiotic fibers can improve digestive health and the balance of beneficial gut bacteria.

Prebiotics may help relieve constipation. Magnesium citrate is a popular home remedy against constipation. It is a type of osmotic laxative that people can buy over the counter or online.

Taking moderate amounts of magnesium supplements can help relieve constipation. Doctors use higher dosages to prepare and clean out the bowel before surgery or other medical procedures 54 , Bottom line: Taking magnesium citrate, an over-the-counter supplement, can help relieve constipation.

Prunes may be the most accessible natural solution available. In addition to fiber, prunes contain sorbitol. This is a sugar alcohol that has a laxative effect 56 , Some studies have shown that prunes may be more effective than fibers such as psyllium 58 , The effective dosage may be around 50 g, or seven medium prunes, twice per day Learn more about prune juice for constipation and other juices for constipation here. Bottom line: Prunes contain the sugar alcohol sorbitol, which has a laxative effect.

Prunes can be a very effective remedy for constipation. If someone suspects a dairy intolerance, they can see their doctor for diagnosis. The doctor may recommend temporarily removing dairy from the diet, while increasing other calcium-rich foods , to see if it improves the symptoms. Bottom line: Dairy or lactose intolerance may cause constipation in some people.

In these people, removing dairy from the diet can help relieve symptoms. If you're caring for someone with dementia, constipation may be easily missed. It's important to be aware of any changes in their behaviour that might mean they are in pain or discomfort, although it's not always easy.

Read more about dementia behaviour changes. Constipation in adults has many possible causes. Sometimes there's no obvious reason. Constipation is also common during pregnancy and for 6 weeks after giving birth. Making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle can help treat constipation. You may notice a difference within a few days. Sometimes it takes a few weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep to a regular time and place and give yourself plenty of time to use the toilet.

To make it easier to poo, try resting your feet on a low stool while going to the toilet. If possible, raise your knees above your hips. They can suggest a suitable laxative.