Relieve constipation naturally

No one likes to talk about being constipated, but it’s not a secret you have to live with.

Constipation has a variety of causes, and it’s worth talking about with your doctor, says Dr. Rockford G. Yapp, a gastroenterologist at Digestive Health Services in Downers Grove, Ill.

“There are a whole bunch of things that can cause it,” Yapp says. “It can be dietary related. It can be lifestyle. It can be water intake. It can be functional and anatomical problems like strictures (narrowing) or inflammation, or in some cases, cancer. ”

About 63 million Americans suffer chronic constipation, according to the National Institutes of Health. The problem affects all age groups, but can be especially troublesome for seniors, stopping up anywhere from 20% to 40% of the older population, Yapp says.

“It can affect all ages, but in general as you get older constipation becomes a more common problem,” he says. “It affects both sexes, but tends to be a little more common in women.”

Medications for blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and other issues, can also cause constipation, Yapp says.

A sedentary lifestyle can also cause constipation. Exercising can help. But most often, constipation is simply caused by not getting enough fiber or not drinking enough water.

“The first step is make sure you are well hydrated, getting lots of fiber, and eating a good diet,” Yapp says. “Fiber—fruits and vegetables, and the foods your mother told you to eat—those all help the colon, make your G.I. function better.”

Constipation alone is a common problem and not usually serious, he says. However, it’s important to talk to a doctor if you have other symptoms, such as weight loss, blood in stool, severe abdominal pain or a family history of colon cancer. Constipation may be a red flag for other issues like thyroid problems, heart disease, menopause or possibly colon cancer.

“We often look for an underlying cause,” Yapp says. “In patients older than 50 we want to make sure. We recommend they have screening exam for colon cancer—one of the most common killers in the country and a cause of constipation.”