Constipation & Diarrhoea Treatment in Dubai
Yugen Care offers treatment for patients with constipation and diarrhoea in Dubai and assists them in overcoming discomfort that interferes with daily living. Our gastroenterologists evaluate the current state of a patient’s gastrointestinal health to diagnose specific reasons for any issue and then develop a plan on how to fix it. We strive to achieve normalcy through diet modification, drugs, or physician’s advice on changing the type of life we are living. At Yugen Care, we believe in listening to the needs of each client and providing optimal long-term digestive care to every patient.
What is constipation?
Constipation is a condition in which a person has uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Generally, a person is considered to be constipated when bowel movements result in passage of small amounts of hard, dry stool, usually fewer than three times a week.
Procedure Info At A Glance
| Diagnostic procedures: | Ultrasound + Labs + colonoscopy + anal manometry and ultrasound |
| Is it painful? | No |
| Is there any downtime? | No |
| How many sessions are needed? | N/A |
| How long does the procedure take? | N/A |
| When can I see the results? | N/A |
Causes:
- Lifestyle causes
Slow stool movement may happen when a person does not:
Drink enough fluids.
Eat enough dietary fiber.
Exercise regularly.
Use the toilet when there’s an urge to pass stool.
- Medicines
Constipation may be a side effect of some medicines, particularly opioid pain relievers. Other medicines that may cause constipation include some that treat the following conditions:
Pain.
High blood pressure.
Seizures.
Depression.
Disorders of the nervous system.
Allergies.
- Problems with pelvic floor muscles
The muscles that hold up organs at the bottom of the torso are called the pelvic floor muscles. The ability both to relax these muscles and to bear down are necessary to pass stool from the rectum. Problems with weakness or coordination of these muscles can cause chronic constipation.
- Blockages in the colon or rectum
Damage or changes to tissues in the colon or rectum can block the passage of stool. Also, tumors in the colon, rectum or nearby tissues can cause a blockage.
- Other factors
A number of conditions can affect the work of muscles, nerves or hormones involved in passing stool. Chronic constipation may be linked to any number of things, including:
Irritable bowel syndrome.
Diabetes.
Multiple sclerosis.
Nerve dysfunction or damage.
Overactive thyroid, also called hyperthyroidism.
Parkinson’s disease.
Pregnancy.
Treatment:
- Diet and lifestyle changes:
Eat a high-fiber diet. Fiber adds bulk to stool and helps the stool hold fluids. These factors give stool the right shape and weight to move through the colon. Fiber-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole-grain bread, cereal and rice. Increase dietary fiber slowly to prevent bloating and gas. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 25 to 34 grams of fiber a day depending on recommended daily calories.
Drink plenty of water. Drink water and beverages without caffeine. This keeps stools soft and prevents bloating and gas that can happen with increased dietary fiber.
Exercise most days of the week. Regular physical activity helps improve the movement of stool through the colon. Try to exercise most days of the week. If you do not already exercise, talk with your health care professional about safe ways to start.
Use good bowel habits. Don’t avoid the urge to pass stool. Keep a schedule for passing stool. For example, try to pass stool 15 to 45 minutes after a meal because digestion helps move stool through the colon.
Prunes, also called dried plums, have long been used to treat or prevent constipation. Prunes are a good source of fiber, but they also have naturally present agents that draw fluids into the colon.
- Laxatives:
Laxatives are medicines that help move stool through the colon. Each laxative works somewhat differently. The following are available without prescriptions:
- Fiber supplements: Fiber supplements help stool retain fluids. The stool is then softer and easier to pass. Fiber supplements include psyllium (Metamucil, Konsyl, others), calcium polycarbophil (FiberCon, Equalactin, others) and methylcellulose (Citrucel).
- Osmotics: Osmotic laxatives help stool move through the colon by increasing the amount of fluids released into the intestine. Examples include oral magnesium hydroxide (Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia, Dulcolax Liquid, others), magnesium citrate, lactulose (Generlac) and polyethylene glycol (Miralax).
- Stimulants: Stimulants cause the walls of the intestine to tighten, forcing the movement of stool. These include bisacodyl (Correctol, Dulcolax Laxative, others) and sennosides (Senokot, Ex-Lax, Perdiem).
- Lubricants: Lubricants such as mineral oil enable stool to move through the colon more easily.
- Stool softeners: Stool softeners such as docusate sodium (Colace) and docusate calcium allow more fluids to be drawn into the stool.
Prescription medicines
Your health care professional may prescribe other medicines if other treatments don’t work. These include:
Lubiprostone (Amitiza).
Linaclotide (Linzess).
Plecanatide (Trulance).
Prucalopride (Motegrity).
If constipation is caused by opioid pain medicine, you may take a prescription medicine that blocks the effect of opioids on stool movement through the colon. These include:
Methylnaltrexone.
Naldemedine.
Naloxegol.
Pelvic muscle training:
Biofeedback training involves working with a therapist who uses devices to help you learn to relax muscles and coordinate the use of muscles in your pelvis, rectum and anus. These exercises may correct problems with chronic constipation.
Sensors in the rectum and on the skin provide feedback as sound or light on a device as the therapist helps you go through various exercises. These cues help train you to control the muscles needed to pass stool.
Surgery:
Surgery may be necessary to correct damage or irregularities in the tissues or nerves of the colon or rectum. Surgery is usually done only when other treatments for chronic constipation haven’t worked.
FAQ
What are the risk factors?
Factors that may increase your risk of chronic constipation include:
Being an older adult
Being a woman
Getting little or no physical activity
Having a mental health condition such as depression or an eating disorder
What are the complications?
Complications of chronic constipation include:
Swollen tissues around the anus, also called hemorrhoids.
Torn tissues of the anus, also called anal fissures.
Hard stools backed up into the colon, also called fecal impaction.
Exposed tissues of the rectum that have slipped out of the anal opening, also called rectal prolapse.
Prevention:
The following tips can help you avoid developing constipation.
Eat lots of high-fiber foods, including vegetables, fruits, beans and whole-grain foods.
Eat fewer foods with low amounts of fiber such as processed foods, dairy and meats.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Stay active and exercise regularly.
Don’t ignore the urge to pass stool.
Create a regular schedule for passing stool, especially after a meal.
When to see a doctor?
Make an appointment with your health care professional if you have constipation with any of the following conditions:
Symptoms that last longer than three weeks.
Symptoms that make it difficult to do everyday activities.
Bleeding from your rectum or blood on toilet tissue.
Blood in your stools or black stools.
Other unusual changes in the shape or colour of stools.
Stomach pain that doesn’t stop.
Weight loss without trying.