Can Constipation Be Dangerous?

Constipation affects different persons differently; some persons with very obstinate constipation feel no inconvenience even though the bowls do not move more than once or twice a week, while others are worried and upset if the regular daily movement does not take place. The general health may not be affected for some time, and apart from a bad taste in the mouth and furred tongue there may be no other inconvenience, but if continued for long it are a feeling of distension of the stomach after food, belching, yawning, foul breath, apathy for any kind of physical or mental work, irritability, sleeplessness, a state of anxiety and unnecessary worries.

Muddiness of the skin, acne, pimples and boils may also be present. But all these symptoms are not present in all cases. In asthmatic subjects it often brings on an attack which is relieved by a purgative. The constant presence of hard lumps of facial matter in the intestine causes irritation, as a result of which a small quantity of thick mucus and a little facial matter are frequently, evacuated which simulates dysentery. Piles, fissure, ulceration or chronic inflammation of the colon or rectum may result from it.

The first step in the treatment of constipation is to remove the cause and adopt a diet containing a sufficient quantity of solid residue to simulate the intestinal muscle. For this purpose the diet should contain a liberal quantity of whole wheat bread, bran cooked in different ways, oatmeal, unpolished cereals, green vegetables, fresh fruit and nuts. The quantity of meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and other concentrated foods, should be limited.

Fresh vegetables contain, in addition to indigestible residue, vitamins, iron, calcium, phosphorus and other minerals necessary for the maintenance of health. Canned vegetables and fruit are not so wholesome as most of these elements deteriorate in the process of canning. Of the fruits papaya, guava, figs, and mangoes have a laxative action. The food should be eaten slowly and well masticated, the mouth and teeth kept clean and water or other liquid taken in sufficient quantity, especially after sweating and in hot weather.