The affliction of persistent abdominal pain can be an ordeal, particularly when the root cause remains elusive. Often, these distressing discomforts don’t unfold in solitude, rather they are accompanied by a set of symptoms that serve as breadcrumbs to the underlying issue.
A familiar foe named constipation habitually surfaces as a culprit in these scenarios. This troublesome condition refers to the complications that arise during bowel movements, which could encompass issues such as the sensation of incomplete emptying, the production of hard or lumpy stool, rarity in bowel movement (below three instances per week), or strain while attempting to move your bowels.
When constipation lingers beyond the duration of three months, it is usually classified under chronic constipation. Practitioners typically regard this concern as relatively widespread, although the exact prevalence remains debatable depending upon the specifics of its definition. In diagnosing chronic constipation within the United States, medical experts adhere to the Rome IV criteria.
The attributes of chronic constipation include numerous symptoms, with abdominal pain or discomfort being chief among them. The potential symptoms that may help medical professionals narrow down the cause range from bloating, the presence of blood in your stool, lower back pain, to nausea, vomiting or rectal bleeding, and an impactful reduction in weight.
Chronic Constipation is primarily a functional bowel disorder, indicative of a malfunction within the bowel system whilst appearing normal in imaging results, thereby making the determination of an exact cause tough. Most often, the root cause of chronic constipation remains unknown, and such instances, known as Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC), constitute around 60% of all cases.
Another significant cause of chronic constipation is Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C). With CIC and IBS-C both coming under functional bowel disorders, the main point of contrast lies in the frequency of abdominal pain, which is more recurrent in the case of IBS-C.
Besides these functional disorders, certain medical conditions and medications, known as secondary causes, can trigger chronic constipation.
To subdue chronic constipation, the initial steps involve conservative measures, specifically modifications in lifestyle and diet. These could include increasing consumption of fluids, especially water, incorporating fiber-rich foods in diet, and ensuring regular exercise. While inculcating fiber in your eating habits, it is advisable to do so gradually to prevent bloating and gas, which could intensify abdominal pain.
In case conservative measures prove insufficient, medical practitioners might propose treatments such as laxatives, prosecretory drugs, or serotonin 5-HT4 receptor agonists, all of which enhance the movement of your intestines or increase water in your intestines.
Techniques based on mind-body connections, such as bowel training and biofeedback, might also provide relief for some. For information regarding these and other potential remedies for chronic constipation, consult with your doctor.
