Constipation - one of the most urgent problems of the elderly population due to the characteristics of age - is a violation of bowel movement in the form of a lack of stool every day, its frequency is less than three times a week. She is accompanied by:
- feeling of incomplete cleansing;
- tension, taking at least a quarter of the time of the act of releasing the rectum (defecation);
- dense consistency of feces and a small amount of it.
Causes of constipation in the elderly
In old age, the occurrence and aggravation of constipation may be due to:
natural age-related changes: progressive wasting of the pelvic floor muscles, decreased sensitivity of the anal sphincter and tissue repair (healing) rate, hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the body);
- typicaldiseases of the elderly: parkinsonism, atherosclerosis, depression, hypercalcemia (increased concentration of calcium in the blood);
- insufficient intake of wholesome food and liquids in the amount of less than the daily allowance;
- abuse of laxatives;
- sharp muscle weakness (adynamia);
- low thyroid activity (hypothyroidism);
- progression of existing diseases (multiple sclerosis, diabetes, spinal disorders);
- use of drugs to treat existing diseases;
- sedentary lifestyle, low physical activity, contributing to inhibition of intestinal motor function;
- psychological reasons.
Constipation treatment: where to start?
The treatment of constipation in the elderly is aimed at normalizing the consistency of the stool and achieving a systematic bowel movement, so it should begin with the use of a complex of non-drug methods.
First of all, it is the normalization of the nutritious diet and water balance. Elderly people often do not indulge themselves in tasty and he althy food and eat mainly cereals, potato dishes and pasta, which is insufficient for the body to fully perform its functions, because such food does not contain the proper amount of vitamins and dietary fiber (natural ballast substances).
It is they, being in a liquid medium, that stimulate peristalsis andincrease the volume of intestinal contents. Therefore, dietary fiber must be present in food, subject to the condition of fluid intake of at least one and a half liters per day. Otherwise, they will act as sorbents, that is, absorb fluid from the intestines, leading to increased constipation.
A good laxative that an elderly person should accustom himself to is a morning glass of water, drunk on an empty stomach (a kind of "internal" shower that starts the bowels).
Vegetable oils are effective laxatives
To induce normal bowel movements, you can use oils (olive, vaseline, almond, fennel, paraffin); the action of laxatives is aimed at softening and promoting feces. Reception is required to be done on an empty stomach (it can be 5-10 minutes after drinking water) for an incomplete tablespoon. The urge to empty comes within a few hours. As a side effect, irritation in the perianal region can be observed. The use of oils should be short-term; abuse can lead to damage to the intestinal mucosa, liver, digestive organs.
A side step towards getting rid of problems with bowel movements is to increase physical activity: dosed gymnastics, physical exercises to the extent that a person is able to perform them due to their age, walks in the fresh air.
Combined with the observance of the daily regimen, physiotherapy procedures that stimulate peristalsis,and superficial massage of the abdomen, this complex is able to save an elderly person from problems with bowel movements.
Laxatives for constipation for the elderly
Constipation can be a side effect of an underlying disease (eg, hypothyroidism, diabetes) and may be caused by medications taken. In this case, the negative impact of drugs for the underlying disease should be reduced, although this does not guarantee the full elimination of problems associated with defecation.
Most retirees believe that laxatives for constipation for the elderly are widely advertised and affordable drugs available in every pharmacy. Of course, this is the easiest way to solve the problem, only this solution is of a one-time nature, and the relief received will only be temporary. The constant intake of laxatives, to which the majority of the elderly population is prone, considering this the most effective measure to eliminate constipation, is addictive and the development of an "inert" (otherwise - "lazy") intestine. That is, when receiving fast-acting drug laxatives, the intestines refuse to work on their own, which as a result leads to a lack of urge and to cope with the need in a natural way. A person becomes addicted to laxatives, because without taking them, bowel movements do not occur.
For whom are laxative medications recommended?
Laxatives for the elderly (drugs) are prescribed by a doctor when other methods fail. Such funds arethe best option for people who are contraindicated in the increase in intra-abdominal pressure during straining due to existing aneurysms, venous thrombosis, hernias, rectal fissures, myocardial infarction, hemorrhoids, severe arterial hypertension, rectal prolapses.
Strong laxatives are also prescribed if it is impossible to stop constipating drugs prescribed by a doctor (antidepressants, antiparkinsonian drugs, opiates for chronic pain). Short courses of laxatives may also be recommended in preparing the bowel for examination, as well as in the pre- and postoperative period. For other categories of older people, the appointment of laxatives is carried out with the ineffectiveness of non-drug methods; the choice of remedy must be carefully justified.
Types of medical laxatives
According to the mechanism of functioning, fast-acting laxatives can be divided as follows:
Fillers that increase the volume and pressure of feces on the intestinal walls by drawing water from the intestinal lumen, resulting in emptying. The basis of such drugs are indigestible components: bran, methylcellulose, flax seeds, seaweed and other ingredients
Osmolytics, which contain substances that retain fluid in the intestine due to the formation of osmotic pressure. By retaining the water that comes with food and preventing it from being absorbed into the intestinal walls, such drugs help to thin the feces and increase their volume, whichfacilitates emptying. Such laxatives are not addictive, but they should not be used for longer than 3 months, because this is fraught with electrolyte disturbances in the body and cardiovascular problems. Osmolytics include Karlovy Vary s alt, polyethylene glycol, fortrans, magnesia
Irritants, the principle of which is based on chemical irritation of the intestines in order to enhance its peristalsis (contraction of the intestinal walls, contributing to the movement of its contents down to the anus). The main component of irritants are components of plant origin that have laxative properties: joster fruits, rhubarb root, buckthorn bark, senna leaves. Based on these plants, drugs such as Dulcolax, Guttalax, Regulax, Elimin are produced
Prebiotics are the most suitable laxatives for constipation among the elderly. These are oligosaccharides, lactulose, inulin, containing the necessary bifidus and lactobacilli and replenishing their shortage in the intestine. They help to restore the bacterial balance of the intestinal flora and improve digestion
Unfortunately, these laxatives, reviews of which are obsessively positive and heard in all the media, do not eliminate the problem at the root, but are part of a complex treatment in combination with other drugs, the action of which is aimed at irritating the intestinal wall or increasing the volume of its contents by retractingwater. Defecation occurs after about 2 hours after taking the drug. Most common remedies:
- "Duphalac";
- "Lactusan";
- "Prelux".
Prebiotics, the most harmless laxatives for constipation in the elderly, can be used for a long period, so they are prescribed for chronic and acute constipation. At first, flatulence is possible, which eventually disappears. The advantage of prebiotics is the absence of side effects, stimulation of the activity of beneficial flora and peristalsis, as well as a long-term positive effect. The disadvantages include the incomplete elimination of problems with bowel movements.
In any case, before using a quick laxative, you must definitely read the annotation for dosing and restrictions.
Products that speed up bowel cleansing
The desire to get rid of constipation in a quick way is normal, but you should not grab on to potent laxatives, reviews of which are extremely positive due to hyped advertising. So you can only harm the body. Better is a soft and gradual approach, in which proper nutrition should be preferred. Older people who are prone to stool retention should develop the habit of eating foods - laxatives for cleansing the intestines, which contain a large amount of pectins, coarse fibers and vegetable fiber. This is:
- prunes, grapes,plums;
- fresh apples, kiwi (preferably on an empty stomach, 2-3 pieces);
- kombucha drink;
- fresh vegetables: cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, lettuce;
- apple, carrot and plum juice;
- seaweed;
- bran mixed with any food in the amount of 30 grams.
Kefir is the most affordable and useful medicine
Kefir is an affordable remedy, the use of which is also recommended to be introduced into a habit. A glass of kefir in combination with a spoonful of vegetable oil, drunk before bedtime, will correct the work of the intestines in the right direction. Important: the product must be fresh (ideally if it is homemade). Three or four days of yogurt can cause a reverse, fixative reaction.
For defecation disorders, before using advertised pharmaceutical preparations, you should try folk laxatives for constipation, recommended even by medical specialists, because most medicines are based on old, time-tested recipes. The advice of a doctor in this case would be desirable, since the effectiveness of the medicine depends on the type of constipation.
Healing decoctions of laxative action
You can get rid of problems with bowel movements with the help of decoctions and infusions that have a calming and stimulating effect.
- Affordable and easy to prepare raisin decoction is a good laxative that tastes good. A spoonful of raisins should be poured with 300 ml of boiling water, insisted in a thermos and drunk daily for 100 ml. The preparation and use will be similar.gooseberry decoction.
- Cowberry infusion is an equally effective laxative. Berries should be covered with sugar, left for 3-4 weeks. It is required to add alcohol to the syrup formed during this time (in a ratio of 500:25 ml). Before use, the infusion must be diluted with water and drunk on an empty stomach every morning. This is an excellent tool for restoring the independent work of the digestive tract.
- Prune drink is a herbal laxative that has a pleasant taste and a high percentage of effectiveness in combating constipation in the elderly. To prepare it, you need to pour half a kilogram of this product into 3.5 liters of water and boil for half an hour on low heat, then cool, add 50 grams of buckthorn bark and boil again for 25 minutes. Cool, strain and add 200 grams of rosehip syrup - "Holosas" to the resulting composition. It is recommended to take the resulting composition before going to bed for half a glass.
- Laxatives for bowel cleansing - these are various decoctions. For example, from senna leaves (30 g), licorice root (10 g), anise fruits (10 g), buckthorn bark (25 g), joster berries (25 g). All components must be crushed, mixed, pour a glass of boiled water, leave for 20 minutes, then strain. Take 100 ml before bed.
- For a delicious cure for constipation, you can try the following dessert. Raisins, dried apricots, prunes, dates, figs, taken in 0.5 kilograms, need to be soaked in water, dried, grind through a meat grinder untilhomogeneous mass, to which add honey in the amount of 5 tbsp. spoons. The finished mixture should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed in the morning and in the evening, half a tablespoon.
- Flax seed, which contains soluble and insoluble fiber, fatty acids and mucus that helps relieve inflammation of the digestive tract, is an excellent remedy in the fight against constipation. It is necessary to brew a teaspoon of the seed in a glass of boiling water, insist for 4-5 hours. Before going to bed, the composition along with the seeds is required to drink. You can also take 2-3 times a day a tablespoon of seeds, washing them down with water diluted with a spoonful of honey. This is required to prevent the formation of heavy lumps.
Almighty aloe is a great helper in the treatment of constipation
An excellent result is shown by folk laxatives for constipation from aloe juice, especially if the defecation disorder is chronic. It is required to drink aloe juice for 1-2 tsp. half an hour before meals up to 3 times a day. The course of treatment is from 1 to 2 months.
In combination with honey, this medicine will be not only useful, but also tasty. To prepare it, you need to squeeze the juice from the leaves of the agave, which has not been watered for 2 weeks, and mix it with honey. Take the resulting composition on an empty stomach 2 times a day (in the morning and evening) with water.
The consequences of ignoring and not treating constipation can be chronic intoxication of the whole organism due to poisoning by toxic substances contained in the fecessubstances. At the same time, putrefactive bacteria multiply in the intestines, which causes the formation of gases and, as a result, bloating, shortness of breath, impaired blood circulation and the occurrence of heart pain.
Prevention of constipation in the elderly
For the prevention of constipation in the elderly, it is recommended to follow a balanced diet, a meal regimen (at the same time), drink at least a daily allowance of water (from 1.5 liters) and move more: walks in the fresh air are shown and exercise to the extent possible.
