Correct Chronic Constipation

Dear Dr. Mirkin: What can I do to correct chronic constipation?
Check with your doctor who will usually order thyroid
tests and a barium enema to rule out obstruction. Most of the
time, these tests will be normal and you suffer from a faulty diet.
The pain of constipation is usually caused by gas stretching your
colon where it has been blocked by hard stool. Food is turned
into a soup in your stomach and remains that way until it reaches
your colon, where water is absorbed and stool is formed. If you
don't drink enough fluid or eat enough fiber, the stool rapidly
turns into hard pieces that are difficult to pass. Low-fiber foods,
such as breads, rolls, pastries, bagels, pretzels, noodles and
pasta cause hard stools, while eating fiber-rich foods, such as
fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans, keep everything soft.
If you drink lots of water and eat lots of fiber and are still
constipated, you may have nerve damage and need to be
checked for diabetes or other causes. Laxatives and fiber
supplements offer little help, but your doctor may prescribe other
drugs, such as the antibiotic, erythromycin; the gout medicine,
colchicine; or the stomach medicine, Prevacid, which may be
helpful in some cases of chronic constipation.
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