| When you have irritable bowel syndrome and constipation is your biggest problem, there are several things you can do to relieve this problem. Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of the intestines that causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence and bloating. There is no concern that irritable bowel syndrome causes cancer or changes the intestines in any way but those who have irritable bowel syndrome know that this disorder can be very distressing and can affect a person's life in a very negative sense.
Changing the way you eat may be necessary not only to control irritable bowel syndrome but the constipation that accompanies this disorder of the bowel. Eating a diet rich in fiber, can help relieve the constipation. Fiber can be found in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grain breads and cereals. Your daily intake of fiber should equal approximately 30 grams per day.
You may have found that in order to effectively treat your irritable bowel syndrome you have had to cut out most of the dairy foods you have eaten in the past. This can be of benefit to you when dealing with irritable bowel syndrome and constipation also because dairy foods, like cheese, have been known to contribute to constipation.
Drink plenty of water, at least the recommended eight, 8 ounce glasses per day. Increased fluid intake will help your colon absorb the water it needs to relieve or even prevent constipation. Stay away from coffee and other caffeinated beverages because caffeine is what is called a diuretic and can have a drying effect on your body, therefore increasing the likelihood you will develop constipation.
Get regular exercise. All you need is 30 minutes of some type of aerobic exercise 3 times per week. You will be surprised how this small amount of exercise will make such a big difference in how you feel and when the constipation is relieved and you start having regular bowel movements you will feel even better. You do not need to go join a gym either, just start taking walks after dinner or if it works better for you then take your walk in the morning. Start your day out right.
If you find that your constipation does not get relieved by any of these methods then you may need to resort to medications to get relief. There are plenty of over the counter laxatives you can try. If the decision is too confusing though, get some advice from your doctor to find out what he recommends. You may only need to take a laxative one time so you have a bowel movement and clear up the problem. Then the other methods detailed above may work better for you. Always take your medications as directed or as prescribed by your doctor.
Once you start the above methods do not stop them abruptly. If you do then basically you will send your system into a type of shock and the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and constipation will return and may be worse than they were to begin with. |