Constipation - Penn State College of Medicine Research (2024)

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Constipation - Penn State College of Medicine Research? ›

Tips to reduce constipation

Sitting correctly on the toilet and using this technique can help you empty your bowel more easily. Lean forward on the toilet with your forearms resting on your thighs, your legs more than hip width apart and your feet raised up on a small foot stool. Repeat for up to 10 minutes only or until your bowel has emptied.

Stimulants. It's better to try these if your constipation is severe and other drugs haven't worked. They cause your intestines to squeeze so things get moving. Two of the more common ones are bisacodyl (Correctol, Ducodyl, Dulcolax) and sennocides (Senexon, Senokot).

Beneficial drinks for constipation include prune juice, lemon juice, apple juice, and cranberry juice. However, some constipation relief over-the-counter (OTC) medications can also come in a drink format.

Prunes (as a form of plant-based dietary fiber) and psyllium are well-regarded ways to treat chronic constipation. Not surprisingly, all participants were able to achieve the primary goal of increased bowel movements. It seems that kiwifruit achieved this benefit with fewer side effects.

Crouching on a chair

Sitting a certain way for seven seconds is not proven to help constipation. However, changing your body posture while on the toilet can make things easier. Place your feet on a stool to place your knees higher than your hips.

In the morning, drink warm water with lemon to stimulate bowel movement and hydrate the body. Consume fiber-rich foods such as whole grains and fruits to improve digestion and regularity. Probiotics can help to improve gut health and regulate bowel movements.

Good choices include water, prune juice, warm juices, decaffeinated teas and hot lemonade. A hot beverage may help to stimulate a bowel movement. To help lessen the amount of air you swallow while eating, try not to talk much at meals, and don't use straws to drink. Avoid chewing gum and carbonated drinks.

MiraLAX, also known as its active ingredient polyethylene glycol 3350 or PEG, is one of the most famous over-the-counter osmotic laxatives used to treat constipation in both children and adults.

The BRAT diet ― bananas, rice, applesauce and toast ― is one dietitians recommend for a range of digestive issues, and it can help with both constipation and diarrhea.

What not to do when constipated? ›

The nurse identified that one of the approaches was to give patients with constipation a “co*cktail” of warm prune juice, lemon juice, and Senokot liquid to facilitate the first postoperative BM.

Eat a yellow banana after your last meal of the day.

The soluble fiber from the banana will accompany your meal while it digests, making it easier to pass that night or in the morning.

Put your elbows on your knees and lean forward. Bulge out your abdomen and keep your spine straight. Please ensure you feel safe in this position and the box or stool is not a trip hazard. The brace and lift technique is used to help coordinate defecation.

How do you relieve constipation in 30 minutes? Try drinking warm liquids like herbal tea or water, which can stimulate bowel movements. Gentle abdominal massage or light exercise like walking may also help.

Fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, leafy vegetables and fresh fruits will add bulk to your feces and help stimulate the bowel to push food along.

Laxatives: You can drink a polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution or use an over-the counter (OTC) laxative to cleanse your colon. Surgery: If you have severe fecal impaction, your healthcare provider will perform surgery, especially to target symptoms of bleeding due to a tear in your bowel (bowel perforation).