14. CONSTIPATION

Constipation means that a person has three or fewer bowel movements in a week. The stool can be hard and dry. Sometimes it is painful to pass. At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated. In most cases, it lasts a short time and is not serious.₁

Constipation is a condition that happens a lot in the elderly for many reasons. Reasons mechanical, metabolic, endocrine, neurological, functional or pharmacological.

Constipation occurs more in women, like other geriatric syndromes such as falls

Is an adverse effect of many drugs, and the consequence of many diseases. Also it is sometimes a symptom of something in our body is wrong

The main complication of constipation are the fecal impaction.

I think the best way to prevent constipation is healthy living, eating fruits and vegetables, take fiber, white bread, etc..

In addition to drink 1-2 liters of water a day, and doing exercise. Don`t be sedentary.

But according to this study: Recommendations on treatment of costipation included an increase in dietary fiber of up to 25-30 g/day (grade C). No evidence was found to recommend measures such as exercise, increased water intake, or frequent visits to the toilet.₂

I disagree with this study, because the lead active, improves intestinal transit.

Instead, this study discusses the benefits of fiber and that if it is good for constipation.

URL:  http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?pid=S0212-16112006000500007&script=sci_arttext

Bibliography:

1. Medline. Constipation. Medline Plus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/constipation.html

2. Max Schmulson Wasserman, Carlos Francisconi, Kevin Olden, Luis Aguilar Paíz, Luis Bustos-Fernández, Henry Cohen, Maria do Carmo Passos, Marina Alejandra González-Martínez, Beatriz Iade, Guido Iantorno. Consenso Latinoamericano de Estreñimiento Crónico Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Volume 31, Issue 2, Pages 59-74