Constipation is often part of living a fast paced lifestyle with many healthy - and some not so healthy - food choices available. It is not at all unusual for an average person to now and then suffer from temporary bouts of constipation. Unfortunately, there is a chance temporary constipation may turn into a condition of chronic fecal impaction, which requires decisive action to forestall any systemic far reaching consequences.
When seeking to counteract fecal impaction and temporary constipation, it is wise to begin with an examination of eating habits. While many Americans are now trying harder to eat healthy and ideal food options are readily available, there is a good chance that it might not necessarily be what you eat. Instead, the focus might be more on how you eat it. Remember, digestion actually begins in the mouth where proper masticating permits enzymes to begin the breakdown of nutrients. Therefore, rather than virtually “inhaling” food, it is crucial to take the time to chew.
Choosing what you eat is critical in warding off constipation. If you have constipation more often than usual, you may be eating too much fat or sugar. You likely need more fiber and can get it through supplements and the addition of vegetables to your meals.
Proper hydration is a vital component of maintaining a healthy digestive system and avoiding fecal impaction. Remember, coffee and sodas don’t properly hydrate. The main purpose of the digestive process is the increase of nutrients and the reduction of bodily waste. Thus, if you increase your fiber levels you must consequently increase your water consumption to avoid clogging your intestines.
Those individuals who are doing everything right as far as nutrition is concerned will need to take a look at their vitamin intake. Some vitamins may actually cause constipation, even if they are dosed correctly. Perhaps the most well known culprits are iron supplements.
To further counteract constipation or even fecal impaction you may choose to undergo a colon cleanse. It is wise to discuss this option with your physician as this is not a treatment for everyone, especially if you have some medical conditions that have put you under a doctor’s care. In some cases your physician may advise you to try a round of prune juice drinks after meals before resorting to a colon cleanse.
A child who is constipated should be carefully looked upon by the parents. Fecal impaction should be avoided by careful observation and action. Often parents can easily look back over the child’s diet and backtrack to find a change and cause of constipation.
If nothing has changed, you may wish to take a small child to the pediatrician for further examination. Small children are notorious for swallowing a plethora of items and one or more have become lodged in the child’s intestinal tract. Left untreated the obstruction could become life threatening and since a simple x-ray will quickly prove or disprove this theory, it is well worth the expense.