Constipation - Your Colon And You - By: Shannon Carvaldo

Constipation is definitely an ailment that isn't talked about too often in public. Given that it's the term for uncomfortable and infrequent bowel movements, it is understandable that it's not mentioned at a dinner conversation. However, it's a common condition.

Four million people in the United States suffer from constipation annually, and the causes of constipation vary across a large spectrum. So, what causes constipation? First, quick review of why people have constipation.

As food is processed through our digestive system, it's the job of the colon to extract water from the matter. This process works on timing. The matter regularly takes a standard amount of time to run the length of the colon, and the colon extracts water at a regular rate. Constipation occurs when this food matter takes too long to proceed through the colon.

The colon does not regulate the amount of water it extracts, so at the end there's nothing but a hardened stool. The real question of what causes constipation is what causes the food matter to crawl through the colon. Below are the most common causes.

Medication

There are so many prescribed drugs and over-the-counter medications available today that it is no surprise that they have all kinds of unwanted side effects. Constipation may also be caused by some medication. If this is the case with your condition, you should ask your doctor whether there are some alternatives to your medication in order to get relief from constipation.

Food Intake

One of the primary causes of many ailments is diet. The body is a machine, so it makes sense that what we fuel it with will have impact on how the body performs.

Foods which are overly processed or a diet high in dairy products can increase the chances of constipation. Altering your diet to include more fiber and adding fruits and veggies to your daily intake can often cure constipation.

Laxatives are meant to be a last-ditch effort, but are sometimes taken as a first attempt without fixing the root cause of the problem. Abuse of laxatives can increase the severity of constipation which can lead to a more invasive procedure to cure the ailment.

Ignoring the Urge

The body tells us when we must have a bowel movement. By consistently ignoring this impulse, we can self-inflict constipation on ourselves. By refusing to have a bowel movement, we back up the digestive track which leaves stool sitting in our colon. Since the colon does not stop removing water, the result is a dried and hardened stool.

The causes of constipation are usually solved with some simple natural home remedies for constipation. Fast fixes can lead to further complications down the road, so you will need to correctly address the issue at the root cause.

About the Author

What causes constipation? There are many causes of the condition, but fortunately there are also many natural home remedies for constipation. Find out more at Home-Remedies-for-Constipation.net.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Shannon-Carvaldo/182107

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