Many people have this question: Is it normal to have a bowel movement every day? Is it constipation if you don’t have a bowel movement for more than three days? In fact, under normal circumstances, if the stool is not dry or hard, and it is not difficult to defecate, then the frequency of defecation is normal from three times a day to once every three days. Constipation mainly refers to the difficulty in the process of defecation – straining to defecate, not smooth, taking a long time to defecate or feeling unclean, etc. It does not only depend on the frequency of defecation. Even if it is three times a day, as long as the bowel movement is difficult and there is a feeling of obstruction, it is also called constipation. However, if you do not have a bowel movement for more than three consecutive days, you should pay attention to whether you have constipation. Generally speaking, constipation is chronic constipation if it occurs for six consecutive months. How to prevent constipation: First: improve lifestyle habits: increase the intake of dietary fiber: constipation patients should be encouraged to eat 1-2 meals of coarse grains daily, at the same time, eat more vegetables and fruits with high fiber content, such as celery, leek, cabbage, rape, etc.. In addition, general constipation patients consume 5-10 grams of konjac daily also has a certain effect; it should be noted that the dietary fiber intake should be decided according to their gastrointestinal tolerance, gradually increasing from a small amount to avoid causing or aggravating abdominal pain and bloating. Encourage friends with constipation to drink more water. Drinking 1 cup of light salt water, or cow (yogurt) milk, or honey in the morning is a proven method for many patients with constipation; Second: you can increase exercise in moderation according to your physical condition to enhance the strength of the abdominal muscles, while improving the regulation of the intestinal tract by the plant nerves. Hundred steps after meals, the gastrocolonic reflex in the body after meals stimulates intestinal movements and produces a defecation response, and this reflex usually occurs 30 minutes after eating and drinking. It is recommended to increase physical activity by going to sports and exercise to help improve bowel habits, even if there is a regular walk after a meal in the afternoon will also improve; Third: do not eat irritating foods and condiments, such as chili peppers, curry, etc.; Fourth: moderate increase in the amount of cooking oil, such as soybean oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, etc., as intestinal lubricants to facilitate laxation. But for friends suffering from obesity, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, this method should be used with caution. Fifth: adjust the mood. Research shows that: gastrointestinal tract dysfunction and mental state, mood and irregular diet has a close relationship. Good mood helps the stool smooth, Chinese medicine believes that irritability and irritability easily hurt the liver, liver loss of drainage, qi is not smooth, the stool does not work. Patients with chronic constipation, after adjusting their lifestyle, still do not see good, what should I do? This is the time to consider drug treatment. Currently, there are two main types of medications for constipation: stimulant laxatives and laxatives. Stimulant laxatives: fast-acting, strong, drugs or their metabolic products can stimulate the intestinal wall, so that intestinal peristalsis increases. The main drugs in this category are: fruit guide, castor oil, rhubarb, senna, etc.. However, it should be noted that these drugs are mainly used for those who need rapid laxation and should not be used for a long time because they stimulate the intestinal mucosa and the nerve plexus of the intestinal wall, and may cause weakness of the large intestinal muscles and form drug dependence. We do not recommend long-term use of stimulant laxatives, but patients can try to take laxatives for a period of time. At present, laxatives mainly include volumetric laxatives, osmotic laxatives and prokinetic drugs. First, volumetric laxatives are suitable for patients with mild constipation Volumetric laxatives, also called bulking agents, mainly include soluble cellulose (pectin, oat bran, etc.) and insoluble cellulose (plant fiber, lignin, etc.). These laxatives are generally not absorbed by the body, and they can store a lot of water themselves, reducing the absorption of water in the intestinal tract from food residues, so that the final stool formed will not easily become dry and hard, and they can also increase the volume of stool and stimulate intestinal movement, thus playing a laxative role. This type of laxative is relatively gentle on the intestinal tract, so the effect is slower. However, they have fewer side effects and are relatively safe. Patients with chronic constipation with mild symptoms can choose to take volumetric laxatives, and some patients can get good treatment results. It is important to note that extra adequate amount of water should be taken during the medication. Second, osmotic laxatives may be more effective when taken on an empty stomach Osmotic laxatives include polyethylene glycol, lactulose, etc.. These laxatives cannot be absorbed by the intestine; in turn, they can also absorb water from the intestine into food residues, increasing the water content of stool, softening stool, and also increasing stool volume to promote defecation. If the patient’s constipation is not effectively relieved after two consecutive weeks of volumetric laxatives, osmotic laxatives can be considered. It is important to note that these drugs are more effective when taken before meals (on an empty stomach). Third, prokinetic drugs to help the intestine to do exercise Commonly used prokinetic drugs such as Prilucapride, these drugs can promote intestinal movement, increase the transmission power of the colon, thereby promoting defecation. The side effects are relatively small and can be taken for a long time under the guidance of a doctor. The effect on some slow-transmission stubborn constipation is more obvious. In general, the side effects of laxatives are relatively small, safe and stable. Doctors recommend long-term use of laxatives for patients. Under the guidance of doctors, most patients can eventually resume normal bowel habits through regular use of medication. However, long-term abuse of laxatives can cause relaxation of the large intestine, which, together with the extreme dependence of laxatives, can easily lead to stubborn constipation. This is mainly because the nerve cells in the intestinal wall are stimulated by the laxative-induced diarrhea and are regulated with reduced intestinal wall stress in order to combat the diarrhea and maintain normal human physiology. Once the laxative is stopped, the intestinal wall is stimulated and the bowel reflex is not induced in due time, which results in stubborn constipation.