You may be constipated for many reasons, and constipation may have more than one cause at a time. Causes of constipation may include. Medicines and dietary supplements that can make constipation worse include. Colonoscopy is a procedure that allows the doctor to view the entire length of the large intestine, and can often help identify abnormal growths, inflamed tissue, ulcers, and bleeding. It involves inserting a colonoscope, a long, flexible, lighted tube, in through the rectum up into the colon.
The colonoscope allows the doctor to see the lining of the colon, remove tissue for further examination, and possibly treat some problems that are discovered. A sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that allows the doctor to examine the inside of a portion of the large intestine, and is helpful in identifying the causes of diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, abnormal growths, and bleeding.
A short, flexible, lighted tube, called a sigmoidoscope, is inserted into the intestine through the rectum. The scope blows air into the intestine to inflate it and make viewing the inside easier. Colorectal transit study.
This test shows how well food moves through the colon. The patient swallows capsules containing small markers which are visible on X-ray.
The patient follows a high-fiber diet during the course of the test, and the movement of the markers through the colon is monitored with abdominal X-rays taken several times three to seven days after the capsule is swallowed. Anorectal function tests. These tests diagnose constipation caused by an abnormal functioning of the anus or rectum. Most often, constipation can be treated through dietary and lifestyle changes, which relieve symptoms and help prevent the condition. Treatment may include:.
Diet modifications. A diet with 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily helps in the formation of soft, bulky stool. While adding foods such as beans, whole grains, bran cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables is helpful in adding fiber to the diet. Limiting foods such as ice cream, cheeses, meats, and processed foods, which contain little or no fiber can also be helpful.
Laxatives may be prescribed after diet and lifestyle changes have failed to be effective. Biofeedback is used to treat chronic constipation caused by anorectal dysfunction. This treatment retrains the muscles that control release of bowel movements.
Lifestyle changes, such as increased water and juice intake, regular exercise, and allowing enough time for daily bowel movements can be helpful. Constipation can cause complications, such as hemorrhoids, which occur by straining to have a bowel movement, or anal fissures tears in the skin around the anus which occur when hard stool stretches the sphincter muscle.
If you still have trouble with constipation, a healthcare professional may prescribe medications to help, such as:. A healthcare professional may also advise that you stop taking certain medications that may cause constipation. Some studies have shown that adding probiotics can be helpful for people with chronic constipation.
If you add fiber supplements, remember to drink plenty of fluids. Fluids help fiber work more efficiently. If constipation persists, or if you have concerns about your symptoms, it may be time to see a healthcare professional.
They may recommend additional tests to identify the cause of your symptoms. Tests may include the following:. A marker study, also called a colorectal transit study, is used to test how food is moving through your colon.
Numerous abdominal X-rays will be taken over the next few days so the healthcare professional can visualize how the food is moving through your colon and how well your intestinal muscles are working. You may also be asked to eat a diet high in fiber during the test. An anorectal manometry is a test used to evaluate anal sphincter muscle function.
For this test, a healthcare professional will insert a thin tube with a balloon tip into your anus. When the tube is inside, they will inflate the balloon and slowly pull it out. A barium enema X-ray is a type of test used to examine the colon.
The actual test involves the insertion of a dye called barium into your rectum, using a lubricated tube. The barium highlights the rectum and colon area. This allows the healthcare professional to better view these areas on an X-ray. A colonoscopy is another type of test healthcare professionals use to examine the colon. In this test, a healthcare professional will examine your colon using a colonoscope. This is a tube fitted with a camera and light source.
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