Types of constipation
Different people experience constipation in different ways. It's important to understand the nature of the constipation you suffer, so that you can choose the solution that's best for you. You should consult your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your digestion, especially if you experience any unexplained changes, or if you are in pain.
The occasional problem: acute constipation
‘Acute’ constipation is temporary, occurs suddenly and is usually a reaction to a particular cause or an isolated incident.
The colon is a very sensitive organ and can react to many different external influences by temporarily slowing or stopping its normal peristaltic motion. This can happen when a change in lifestyle occurs, such as going on holiday or changing jobs. It can also happen when taking a new medication, as some medications can cause constipation as a side-effect. The colon also reacts to the body's own hormones, so women often experience constipation problems during pregnancy or around the menopause. Constipation also can occur as a result of a physical obstruction somewhere in your intestines.
If you are suffering from acute constipation, your body will very often be able to return to a normal rhythm within a few days. If you feel the need for support in bringing your colon back to its natural rhythm, Dulcolax® provides gentle, yet effective overnight relief from constipation by stimulating the natural movement of the bowels. Please refer to the Dulcolax® section of this website for more information.
If you are experiencing stomach pains, or if you see traces of blood on your stools, you should consult your healthcare professional immediately.
The persistent problem: chronic constipation
In many people, the colon is not able to fully perform its task of digesting and eliminating non-usable matter as it should and there can be a number of causes of this. The term ‘chronic’ should not be feared and in this instance means ongoing, as opposed to the temporary or ‘short-term’ type as seen with ‘acute’ constipation. Some diseases can cause chronic constipation and some illnesses need to be treated with long-term medication that can also slow the natural function of the colon therefore causing constipation.
If you find that constipation persists for a longer time, e.g. for more than two weeks, or returns soon after treating it, you should consult your healthcare professional straight away. It is important to understand why your colon is not eliminating non-usable matter as it should, and to find the best treatment. Your healthcare professional is best able to advise you about the right treatment for you.
Constipated or normal? Pseudo obstruction
Sometimes, people worry about being constipated, but in fact they are not constipated at all. It is a misconception that if you do not pass a stool everyday, you are constipated. What it is, is simply the body following its natural rhythm, which may include days of no bowel movements. This is perfectly natural and you should not be concerned if you do not move your bowels every day. Some healthy people only move their bowels three times a week.
It is important to remember that after taking a laxative, such as Dulcolax®, you will experience some time without needing to move your bowels. This is because the colon will be entirely empty of non-usable matter, after the laxative has taken effect. It will usually require one to two days before the colon will need to eliminate non-usable matter again.
