Constipation in Older Adults: What You Need to Know

Constipation is one of the most common problems older adults face. In fact, research suggests that 26% of women and 16% of men of 65+ age face constipation challenges. The rate increases with increasing age; that is, 34% of women and 24% of men suffer from constipation at 84+ age.

Generally, constipation relief pills can reduce the problem. However, if your constipation is severe, you should consult your doctor. Another way to manage constipation is to know more about it. So, let's read more about constipation in this blog.

What is constipation?

Having three or fewer bowel motions in a week is referred to as constipation. It can also be used in circumstances in which you are unable to empty your bowel entirely. In fact, a lot of individuals even consider themselves constipated when they have to struggle and strain to pass stool.

Anyone who has ever suffered occasionally or suffers from it regularly can tell that constipation can seriously impair one's quality of life and general well-being.

Chronic constipation is more prevalent in older adults. This illness may result in consequences including blockage, bleeding, or dehydration in addition to pain and discomfort. In such cases, you can get help from our 15 day cleanse and detox. It is a highly effective formula that will regularize bowel movements and help you take control of your life.

Types of constipation in older adults

• Primary constipation

Primary constipation, often referred to as functional constipation, is a condition in which the source of your problem is your bowel movements rather than any other illness or drug.

• Normal transit constipation: This is the major constipation subtype that is most prevalent. Here, patients report difficulties removing feces, even when it is flowing through the colon at a normal rate.
• Slow transit constipation: This type is more prevalent among women. There's a lack of urgency, irregular bowel movements, or straining to pass stool. Also, the colic motions are slow.
• Disorders of defecation: Defecation diseases result from abnormalities in the rectum's muscle, which suppresses the need to pass stool and builds up feces in the colon.

One can have more than one of these constipation types at once, for which you will need to invest in the best pills for constipation.

• Secondary constipation

The term "secondary constipation" refers to intestinal issues that arise from a different medical, physical, or structural issue. It can also be caused by medicine or therapy. For example:

• Using over five different prescription drugs on a daily basis
• Suffering from a chronic illness
• Experiencing mental health issues 

What are the symptoms of constipation?

The frequency of bowel movements is different for different people. Adults typically experience three bowel movements per day to three bowel motions per week. 

However, symptoms of constipation include:

• less than three bowel movements every week
• clumpy, hard, or dry stools
• strained or painful during defecation
• a feeling that stool is not completely defecated 
• a feeling of blockage in the rectum
• the need to pass stool using a finger

Other symptoms include the following:

• Nausea
• Abdominal pain or cramps
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling bloated, which can be relieved by pills for bloated stomach

What causes constipation in older adults?

Many things change in people as they age. Their body system and metabolism slow down and lose efficiency. Their living habits and situations change, along with their diets. This change often leads to constipation in older adults. Some common causes of constipation in older adults include the following:

• Chronic illnesses
• Reduced mobility
• Not drinking enough water 
• Not eating enough food

Also, we must understand that our body structures change as we age, which might include the following:

• The rectum bulges into the vagina (Rectocele)
• Motility disorders
• Colon thickening
• Loss of abdominal strength
• Stenosis of the anus
• Bowel obstructions or perforations 
• Hemorrhoids 

How to prevent constipation in older adults?

• Increase fiber intake

Fiber is insoluble and does not get absorbed in the blood. Instead, it mixes with food, moves through the GI tract, and facilitates smooth bowel movements, especially when combined with proper hydration. 

Along with constipation relief pills, fibrous foods like pear, Avocado, Banana, chia seeds, barley, porridge, whole wheat pasta, and lentils can help you achieve your goal of regular bowel movements. Also, make sure you consume 20-30 gm of fiber daily for effective results.

Please note: If the cause of constipation is a muscle or nerve problem, your doctor will recommend you decrease your fiber intake. So, consult your doctor for the correct diagnosis and the right advice.

• Drink more water

Drinking enough water throughout the day is yet another way to keep things moving in your body. Women should drink around 11 cups of water, and men should drink around 15 cups of water.

• Take supplements

After a certain age, your body does not work properly, even if you try a plethora of things. This is where supplements like the best detox cleanse pills come in. They can help cleanse your body and improve metabolism. 

When does constipation become an emergency?

Although stool blockages ultimately go away, constipation can occasionally get really bad. If you have stubborn and chronic constipation, consider taking the best pills for constipation before the situation worsens.

If you encounter any of the following signs, you should speak with a medical professional right away.

• Abdominal pain is a possible side effect of constipation. But when things get unbearably painful instead of just unpleasant, it is time to get treatment.
• Due to lumpy and hard stool, researchers discovered that long-term constipation may result in intestinal perforation or holes that form in the lining of your colon. Even if intestinal perforation is rare, it needs to be treated immediately.
• Seeking immediate medical attention is also necessary if you notice blood in your stool while passing it. Blood in your stool can signify a number of illnesses, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colon cancer.
• If gas is not passing through and you are constipated, you could have a bowel blockage.
• Stool hardens and stays in the rectum for an extended time if you have not defecated for too many days. It develops into a condition known as fecal impaction. The prevalence of fecal impaction is higher in older adults.
• If you are constipated and vomiting, it might mean that your colon has been severely obstructed by impacted stool.

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