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Why You Shouldn't Ignore Constipation
When you’re having trouble having a full bowel movement, there’s a good chance you’re suffering from constipation. Nearly everyone has experienced constipation before, but if it becomes a regular occurrence, it can make it hard to go about your day and indicate further health problems.
With the help of Thomas Nguyen, MD and the rest of our skilled and caring team at Nguyen Medical Group in Boynton Beach, Florida, a treatment plan can ease your constipation and treat any underlying issues causing it. Find out more about why you should never ignore constipation.
Defining constipation
Constipation occurs when you aren’t able to have a bowel movement or have a difficult time passing bowel movements. Traditionally speaking, constipation is defined as having three or fewer bowel movements per week, but you could also be suffering from constipation if you’re having fewer bowel movements than is typical for your body’s unique pattern.
As constipation builds up in your body, it often becomes worse over time. This is because the longer you go between bowel movements, the more difficult it becomes to have one.
Symptoms of constipation
Along with having fewer bowel movements than usual, other signs you’re experiencing constipation include:
- Painful, difficult bowel movements that require straining
- Hard and dry stools
- A feeling of abdominal fullness
- Abdominal pain
Bowel movements might also take you longer than usual when you have constipation.
Reasons you shouldn’t ignore constipation
Occasional constipation isn’t typically a cause for concern, but you should make an appointment with our team if it goes on for longer than a week, for the following reasons.
Constipation is usually treatable
Although constipation is often unpleasant, it’s usually very treatable once our team has diagnosed and addressed the underlying cause. To determine why you’re having constipation, our team performs a full diagnostic evaluation.
Often, you get constipation because of an underlying imbalance in your gut bacteria. Diet, the aging process, pregnancy and childbirth, repeatedly ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement, and medication can all be causes of constipation.
To combat these issues, our team gives you a personalized health and lifestyle plan to bring your gut bacteria into balance and heal your constipation.
Prolonged constipation can lead to further health issues
Over time, the repeated straining required to pass a bowel movement when you’re constipated can cause further health problems. These include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and urinary incontinence.
Prompt treatment of your constipation helps you avoid developing more severe and permanent problems down the road.
Constipation can indicate other underlying problems
Sometimes, constipation can be a symptom of a more serious medical problem. Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), intestinal obstruction, and colon cancer all have constipation as a symptom.
Our evaluation of your constipation includes evaluating you for additional medical issues, which means you receive treatment as early as possible once diagnosed.
Bowel movement problems like constipation and diarrhea can feel embarrassing to discuss, but our compassionate team will help you feel comfortable and give you the best treatment available. Contact us now to make an appointment for solutions to your constipation.
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