The Ravages of Constipation on Your Body
Constipation is a major pain - for anyone who has ever experienced it, you'll know what I mean.
You see all that sweating, pushing, grunting and grimacing could set you up for a whole host of embarrassing problems.
Scientists claim constipation may lead to hemorrhoids, anal fissures and much, much worse.
Reporting their findings in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, researchers say 63 million Americans suffer from constipation, with the cost of treating constipation totaling $235 million each year.
And, people with chronic constipation often develop colonic conditions, urologic disorders and prolapsed rectum. Experts say a well-balanced diet and exercise helps prevent constipation.
Now, if you're backed up and looking for a natural away around it, try acupuncture. Believe it or not, they stick the needle in your thumb, not your butt.
Via HealthDay News.
OK, that picture is just too much!!! :-) That acupuncture thing is interesting! With so many out there with IBS too, something to check out. I eat healthy & do all the right things & still have probs so this was interesting to me!
ReplyWhile on chemo a few years ago I had the same "probs", but I found that prune juice and/or black mission figs completely did the trick. Good luck - I hope they work for you, too.
ReplyI never have issues with this, but my husband does. Probably because he like, NEVER eats veggies or fruit. Or fiber of any kind, for that matter. And he has the hemorrhoids to prove it, which is bad. I'm always trying to sneak veggies into his diet.
This post is actually pretty timely...just last week, I wondered if he would like guacamole, so I bought some avocadoes and stuff and made a bowl of it. He ate the ENTIRE batch in one sitting, so a couple of days later I made another batch. I've been whipping up batches of the stuff all week! And my husband told me that he's never been more "regular" in his life, lol. The key is fiber, fiber, fiber and water, water, water....you will have no more problems. I get between 30-35 grams of the stuff every day, and I'm always regular.
ReplyI used to have problems on and off in that department. :) When I do, I switch from my usual oatmeal for breakfast to a cereal called All-Bran. It's made by Kelloggs and I don't know whether you have it in the US, or something like it.
It has 29.5grams of dietary fibre per 100grams, which is a lot of fibre to kick start the day. So, for 3/4 a cup or 45 grams you get 13.3 grams of fibre.
It isn't the yummiest breakfast you can eat, so I tend to add almonds and fruit, or yogurt to it. A few days of All Bran breakfasts and I am back on track. :) It also has a bit too much sodium for me, but its a good breakfast to have around.
ReplyAll Bran works -- I often mix 1/3 C of All Bran and 1/3 C of my wife's homemade, no sugar granola. 4-5 servings of fruit per day (not fruit juice) helps. Regular exercise helps. Staying well hydrated also helps.
ReplyI find it odd that you recommend acupuncture, but don't mention eating fiber. There's nothing like a few servings of veggies or brown rice to get things moving.
ReplyFor some reason, constipation is one side effect of chemotherapy that no one warns you about beforehand - but for me, it was hands-down the worst thing. Worse than being so fatigued I couldn't hold up a book to read, yes. No amount of fiber would help, and senna-based laxatives only gave me different but just as painful problems. Miralax (which was prescription-only then, but is now OTC) was the only thing that helped, and it was STILL one of the worst experiences of my life - the Miralax just made it bearable.
I wish I'd thought of acupressure - I would have tried ANYTHING to end that hell. I'm going to suggest it to my cancer email list!
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