Constipation

Constipation is a symptom of a number of diseases rather than a condition. Constipation means different things to different patients. The common symptom is a pathology in which the number of bowel movements is significantly reduced, every 2-3 days or longer, irregular, dry and hard feces, often accompanied by a feeling of difficulty in defecation. Introduction Since normal defecation habits vary greatly, the type of intake and habits, living habits, environmental factors, mental state, etc. can all influence defecation habits. Therefore, so far, it is difficult to give a precise definition of constipation. Constipation can be mild or severe in degree, and can be temporary or long-lasting in time. Because the causes of constipation are many and complex, therefore, once the constipation occurs, especially the more serious, longer duration of the constipation, such patients should be timely to the hospital examination, to find the causes of constipation, so as to avoid delay in the diagnosis and treatment of the original disease, and can be timely, correct and effective solution to the pain of constipation, do not abuse the laxative. Some normal number of genius defecation once, but no discomfort, this situation is not constipation. Constipation? Can be distinguished as acute and chronic two categories. Acute constipation caused by intestinal obstruction, intestinal paralysis, acute peritonitis, cerebrovascular accidents and other acute diseases; chronic constipation is more complex, generally no obvious symptoms. According to the onset of site classification, can be divided into two kinds: (1) colon constipation. Due to the mechanical obstruction of the colon inside and outside the constipation caused by mechanical constipation. The constipation caused by the weakening or loss of peristaltic function of the colon is called incompetent constipation. The constipation caused by intestinal smooth muscle spasm is called spasmodic constipation. (2) Rectal constipation. The accumulation of fecal matter in the rectum is caused by the weakening of the sensitivity of the mucosal receptors of the rectum. It is seen in rectal cancer, perianal disease and so on. Habitual constipation is mostly seen in middle-aged and old people and women with menstruation. Etiology Chinese medicine believes that constipation is mainly caused by dryness and heat, stagnation of qi, insufficiency of fluid and deficiency of spleen and kidney. 1, hot and dry internal knot: Chinese medicine believes that over-eating spicy thick thick, over-served warm tonic products can be caused by yang sheng burn yin; after the heat disease, the residual heat to stay in the stomach and intestines, depletion of fluids; or damp heat injection into the large intestine, so that the intestinal tract is hot and dry, injuring fluids and constipation, constipation, this constipation is also known as heat constipation. 2, gas stagnation: emotional discomfort, sadness and anxiety, sedentary less mobile, bedridden for a long time, etc. caused by gas stagnation, resulting in the large intestine conduction dereliction of duty, dregs of the internal stop, and become secret, that is, the so-called “gas within the stagnation of the things can not be”. The feces is not dry, but it is difficult to discharge the characteristics of this type, so it is also called gas constipation. 3.Insufficient fluid: prolonged illness, postpartum, old age and physical decline, deficiency of qi and blood; internal injury to the spleen and stomach, low water intake, insufficient chemical sources, too much sweating, diarrhea and injury to yin. Gas deficiency is the large intestine transfer powerless, blood deficiency and fluid loss is the large intestine moisturizing loss of nourishment, so that the intestinal tract is dry, stool line is difficult, so it is known as virtual constipation. 4, spleen and kidney deficiency and cold: high and long illness, kidney yang deficiency, yang qi is not transported by yin and evil condensation; or have spleen yang deficiency, and cold attack, resulting in spleen and kidney yang failure, warm light no right to cold condensation stagnation, intestinal transmission powerlessness, stool is difficult, known as cold constipation. (1) poor lifestyle habits: ① did not develop the habit of regular defecation, ignoring the normal intention to defecate, defecation reflex is inhibited, causing constipation over time. ② diet is too fine, less residue, lack of food fiber, due to the lack of fiber to reduce the volume of feces, viscosity increased, slow movement in the intestine, water is absorbed in excess and lead to constipation. Insufficient fluid intake. (4) Obesity, inactivity, especially because of the disease bedridden or wheelchair, lack of locomotor stimulation to promote the movement of feces, ingestion itself can not make feces forward, in the case of must rely on the help of health care personnel to cause the intention to defecate, such as the patient has the intention to defecate, can not provide the opportunity to defecate, defecation impulse disappeared, it is not easy to defecate. (2) The effect of drugs: mainly calcium-containing and aluminum-containing antacids, narcotic analgesics, anticholinergic drugs, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, barium sulfate, bismuth, diuretics, drugs for Parkinson’s disease, ganglionic blocking agents, blood replenishments, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, arsenic, aluminum, mercury, phosphorus, and other metal toxicity, muscle paralyzing agents or long-term abuse of laxatives. (3) the impact of certain diseases: systemic debilitating diseases; anal disorders (hemorrhoids, anal fissure, etc.) caused by local pain; colon lesions such as tumors, inflammation, stenosis or diverticular disease; neurological disorders such as paraplegia, hemiplegia, multiple sclerosis, cerebral vascular or spinal cord lesions; psychiatric disorders such as anxiety or depression, dementia; endocrine diseases, such as hypothyroidism; metabolic disorders, such as hypercalcemia, hypokalemia, dehydration caused by diuretics, diabetes mellitus, uremia and so on. (4) Changes related to aging: secretion of digestive enzymes in salivary glands, gastrointestinal and pancreatic glands decreases with age; abdominal and pelvic muscles are weak and sensitivity decreases; the muscular layer of the colon thins, intestinal smooth muscle tone decreases, intestinal reflexes decrease, and peristalsis slows down. Elderly people to simple constipation is more common, its occurrence is related to two factors: ① intestinal tone and peristalsis weakened, food in the intestines stay too long, excessive absorption of water. ② weakened gastro-colonic reflex, decreased sensitivity of the rectal mucosa, low muscle tone involved in defecation. The cause of constipation is often not a single one, and the causes of direct morbidity can be categorized into two types, i.e., colonic constipation caused by sluggish or spastic colonic motility and rectal constipation caused by sluggish rectal reflexes, also known as dyspareunia. Others categorize constipation into two types: hypotonic and hypertonic constipation. Specifically can be summarized as follows: (1) due to poor dietary habits, so that the mechanical or chemical stimulation of food is insufficient, or due to the intake of too little food, too fine, especially the lack of food left a large number of sediment, so that the intestinal stimulus to reduce the reflex peristalsis weakened and caused by constipation. (2) Changes in lifestyle, improper defecation posture, frequent use of strong laxatives and enemas, etc., can cause a decrease in the sensitivity of rectal reflexes, so that although the feces enter, but not enough to cause effective nerve impulses, so that the defecation reflexes can not be produced and cause constipation. (3) mental depression or too excited, so that the conditioned reflex disorder and cause constipation. (4) Poor living habits, lack of sleep, a high degree of mental tension, etc., can also cause peristalsis and spasmodic contraction of the colon and cause constipation.