Constipation :
* This is a problem which everyone suffers during his/her lifetime at one time or the other.Instead of going into technicalities of how,when and why,we here discuss the prevention and home management of constipation.
* Our lifestyle today is largely responsible for this.Lets start from the wheat flour.The flour that most of us use is milled one and lacks fibre and roughage.The rice that we eat too is polished.There isn't enough salad in our diet.Fruit are even lesser in our diet.We prefer fast foods which lack fibre.Since fibre contributes to stool mass,lack of it causes constipation.
* Dietary causes apart,even our lifestyle today has changed a lot.White collar jobs have made us sedentary and thus our belly too.Jobs are strenous and tension is an important cause of constipation.
* A good walk daily helps to refresh both our body and mind by improving circulation.
* In hot weather conditions,excess loss of body water if not compensated can lead to constipation.Drinking plenty of water in summer helps prevent this.
* It is also important to name a few known diseases which can cause constipation.Hypothyroidism,irritable bowel syndrome,certain medicines,certain drugs,hirshsprung's disease,strictures,bowel obstruction;are few of them.
* Chronic constipation can itself lead to piles and rarely cancer.
Although there are numerous diseases which have constipation as their symptom,short term problem is usually not troublesome.However,if it continues for a longer time ,say more 3 weeks at a stretch ,one should definitely visit a doctor for an evaluation.
Drink plenty of water,eat enough salad and fruits,eat wholewheat and unpolished rice,donot skip your meals and donot smoke.Your bowel will be healthy and happy !
