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Constipation Remedies - A Guide to Constipation Remedies and Their Use
Most people have suffered from constipation at least once in their lifetime. The problem is somewhat embarrassing, so a lot of sufferers are hesitant to ask about the constipation remedies they can take, when to take them and how. Use this guide to find out how to get treated and get complete relief.
Before you get to use any treatments, you need to make sure that you are actually suffering from constipation and that your problem does not lie somewhere else. Medically, patients are diagnosed with the condition when they have not had bowel movements for three days. Still, some people have bowel movement rarely, so for them this may not be a problem.
Usually, there are no other symptoms apart from the less frequent bowel movements. In this case, you can readily resort to home constipation remedies. They are simple and safe and totally inexpensive. Just make sure that you are not allergic to or have intolerance for any of the ingredients in the remedy. These often include different kinds of herbs and spices that you may have an adverse reaction to if you have never tried them before. Most home treatments are perfectly natural, so you should not experience any side effects, when using them sensibly.
Another option is to use a laxative or a stool softener. Most of these constipation remedies are available without prescription, so you can readily get one from the nearby drug store. Just make sure you use the medication in line with the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Generally, doctors recommend using a laxative or a stool softener for two weeks at the most. Otherwise, you may experience serious side effects and your problem may worsen. If you do not get relief with such a treatment in two weeks, you should stop using it and contact your doctor.
Most people do not get to experience any symptoms apart from infrequent bowel movements. However, if you have more serious accompanying symptoms, such as abdominal pain and swelling, pain and vomiting, you should see your doctor before resorting to self treatment. You may have a more serious problem that natural remedies and even laxatives may not be able to fix. Other symptoms that may signal a more serious condition are severe pain accompanying bowel movements, weight loss without dieting and blood in your stool. You have to keep in mind that constipation may be caused by something as common as stress to something as serious as hypothyroidism and colon cancer.
In general, if the treatments you have adopted do not work, you have to report this to your physician. They will carry out different types of test to diagnose your condition and determine its causes. This will allow you to get effective medical treatment and get cured completely.
Overall, you should take home constipation remedies as well as laxatives with caution, only when you have mild to moderate symptoms. It is best to use treatments that have been tested and proven to work. If you have more serious symptoms, you should get diagnosed and receive appropriate medical treatment.