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OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT

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OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT A Holistic Approach To Healthcare As we navigate the complexities of healthcare, it's essential to acknowledge the multifaceted nature of treatment. While medical interventions are crucial, various factors can hinder or facilitate the healing process. Let's delve into the key obstacles to effective treatment and explore strategies for overcoming them. Common Obstacles to Effective Treatment: Non-Adherence to Treatment Plans : Failing to follow doctor's instructions, hiding or not taking medication as prescribed, and discontinuing treatment prematurely can significantly impede the healing process. Lack of Trust and Communication : Inadequate communication between patients and healthcare providers can lead to misunderstandings, misdiagnoses, and ineffective treatment. Polypharmacy and Medication Interactions : Taking multiple medications or combining them with other substances can lead to adverse interactions, exacerbating health con...

CONSTIPATION AND TREATMENT



WHAT IS CONSTIPATION?

Chronic constipation is infrequent bowel movements or difficult passage of stools that persists for several weeks or longer.

Constipation is generally described as having fewer than three bowel movements a week.

Though occasional constipation is very common, some people experience chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to go about their daily tasks. Chronic constipation may also cause excessive straining to have a bowel movement and other signs and symptoms.

Treatment for chronic constipation depends on the underlying cause. Though, in some cases, a cause for chronic constipation is never found.

SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of chronic constipation include:

*Passing fewer than three stools a week

*Having lumpy or hard stools

*Straining to have bowel movements

*Feeling as though there's a blockage in your rectum that prevents bowel movements

*Feeling as though you can't completely empty the stool from your rectum

*Needing help to empty your rectum, such as using your hands to press on your abdomen and using a finger to remove stool from your rectum

Constipation may be considered chronic if you've experienced two or more of these symptoms for the last three months.

When can I see a doctor?

Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience unexplained and persistent changes in your bowel habits.

CAUSES

Constipation most commonly occurs when waste or stool moves too slowly through the digestive tract, causing it to become hard and dry. Chronic constipation has many causes:

*Blockages in the colon or rectum

Blockages in the colon or rectum may slow or stop stool movement. Causes include:

*Anal fissure

*Bowel obstruction

*Colon cancer

*Narrowing of the colon (bowel stricture)

*Other abdominal cancer that presses on the colon

*Rectal cancer

*Rectocele

*Problems with the nerves around the colon and rectum

Neurological problems can affect the nerves that cause muscles in the colon and rectum to contract and move stool through the intestines. Causes include:

*Autonomic neuropathy

*Multiple sclerosis

*Parkinson's disease

*Spinal cord injury

*Stroke

*Difficulty with the muscles involved in elimination

Problems with the pelvic muscles involved in having a bowel movement may cause chronic constipation. These problems may include:

*Inability to relax the pelvic muscles to allow for a bowel movement (anismus)

*Pelvic muscles don't coordinate relaxation and contraction correctly (dyssynergia)

*Weakened pelvic muscles

*Conditions that affect hormones in the body

Hormones help balance fluids in your body. Diseases and conditions that upset the balance of hormones may lead to constipation, including:

*Diabetes

*Overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism)

*Pregnancy

*Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

RISK FACTORS

Factors that may increase your risk of chronic constipation include:

*Being an older adult

*Being a woman

*Being dehydrated

*Eating a diet that's low in fiber

*Getting little or no physical activity

*Taking certain medications, including sedatives, narcotics or certain medications to lower blood pressure

COMPLICATIONS

Complications of chronic constipation include:

*Swollen veins in your anus (hemorrhoids). Straining to have a bowel movement may cause swelling in the veins in and around your anus.

*Torn skin in your anus (anal fissure). A large or hard stool can cause tiny tears in the anus.

*Stool that can't be expelled (fecal impaction). Chronic constipation may cause an accumulation of hardened stool that gets stuck in your intestines.

*Intestine that protrudes from the anus (rectal prolapse). Straining to have a bowel movement can cause a small amount of the rectum to stretch and protrude from the anus.

PREPARING FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

You'll likely first seek medical care for constipation from your family doctor or general practitioner. You may be referred to a specialist in digestive disorders (gastroenterologist) if your doctor suspects a more advanced case of constipation.

Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of information to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared.

TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS

Tests and procedures used to diagnose chronic constipation include:

*Examination of the rectum and lower, or sigmoid, colon (sigmoidoscopy). In this procedure, your doctor inserts a lighted, flexible tube into your anus to examine your rectum and the lower portion of your colon.

*Examination of the rectum and entire colon (colonoscopy). This diagnostic procedure allows your doctor to examine the entire colon with a flexible, camera-equipped tube.

*Evaluation of anal sphincter muscle function (anorectal manometry). In this procedure, your doctor inserts a narrow, flexible tube into your anus and rectum and then inflates a small balloon at the tip of the tube. The device is then pulled back through the sphincter muscle. This procedure allows your doctor to measure the coordination of the muscles you use to move your bowels.

*Evaluation of how well food moves through the colon (colonic transit study). In this procedure, you'll swallow a capsule containing markers that show up on X-rays taken over several days. Your doctor will look for signs of intestinal muscle dysfunction and how well food moves through your colon.

*An X-ray of the rectum during defecation (defecography). During this procedure, your doctor inserts a soft paste made of barium into your rectum. You then pass the barium paste as you would stool. The barium shows up on X-rays and may reveal a prolapse or problems with muscle function and muscle coordination.

TREATMENTS

Treatment for chronic constipation usually begins with diet and lifestyle changes meant to increase the speed at which stool moves through your intestines. If those changes don't help, your doctor may recommend medications or surgery.

Diet and lifestyle changes

Your doctor may recommend the following changes to relieve your constipation:

*Increase your fiber intake. Adding fiber to your diet increases the weight of your stool and speeds its passage through your intestines. Slowly begin to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables each day. Choose whole-grain breads and cereals.

*Your doctor may recommend a specific number of grams of fiber to consume each day. In general, aim for 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories in your daily diet.

A sudden increase in the amount of fiber you eat can cause bloating and gas, so start slowly and work your way up to your goal over a few weeks.

*Exercise most days of the week. Physical activity increases muscle activity in your intestines. Try to fit in exercise most days of the week.

*Don't ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. Take your time in the bathroom, allowing yourself enough time to have a bowel movement without distractions and without feeling rushed.

Laxatives

Several types of laxatives exist. Each works somewhat differently to make it easier to have a bowel movement.

Examples of laxatives include:

*Fiber supplements. Fiber supplements add bulk to your stool.

Stimulants.

*Osmotics. Osmotic laxatives help fluids move through the colon. Examples include milk of magnesia, magnesium citrate, lactulose, polyethylene glycol (MiraLax) and sodium phosphate enema (Fleet Enema).

*Lubricants. Lubricants enable stool to move through your colon more easily. 

Stool softeners. Stool softeners moisten the stool by drawing water from the intestines. 

Other medications

Prescription medications used to treat chronic constipation include:

*Medications in clinical trials. Several new medications for treating chronic constipation are being studied in clinical trials. Talk with your doctor about whether any of these medicines may benefit you.

Training your pelvic muscles

Biofeedback training involves working with a therapist who uses devices to help you learn to relax and tighten the muscles in your pelvis. Relaxing your pelvic floor muscles at the right time during defecation can help you pass stool more easily.

During a biofeedback session, a special tube (catheter) to measure muscle tension is inserted into your rectum. The therapist guides you through exercises to alternately relax and tighten your pelvic muscles. A machine will gauge your muscle tension and use sounds or lights to help you understand when you've relaxed your muscles.

Surgery

Surgery may be an option if you have tried other treatment and your chronic constipation is caused by rectocele, anal fissure or stricture.

For people who have tried other treatments without success and who have abnormally slow movement of stool through the colon, surgical removal of part of the colon may be an option. Surgery to remove the colon is rarely necessary.

TREATMENT AVAILABLE HERE

HERBAL MEDICINES BY DR MTONGA N. ISAAC THE HERBALIST

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Email: mtongaisaacpharmacy@gmail.com,

Tel: +260974272433/+260966399444,

Lusaka, Zambia.

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