Senior Health Problems – Constipation In The elderly

Constipation is a condition that everyone in their lifetime goes through. This problem, which comes under the field of gastroenterology, is not serious most of the time. Older people, however, are more likely to and more frequently get constipated, which can affect quality of life in addition to being a nuisance. Constipation is actually a symptom and not a disease. You may be constipated if you are having fewer bowel movements than usual, it takes you a long time to pass stools, and they are hard. Doctors (gastroenterologists)usually base their diagnosis on 4 points, which are:

1. Do you often have fewer than three bowel movements a week?
2. Do you often have a hard time passing stools?
3. Are stools often lumpy or hard?
4. Do you have a feeling of being blocked or of not having fully emptied your bowel?

If an individual answers yes to all these questions, he/she probably has constipation.

Read also : Treatment of Gas, Bloating and Constipation

Causes

There are a number of things that can cause constipation, but in the elderly, it is usually one or more of the following:

• Diet: People may become constipated if they do not eat enough high-fibre foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. High-fibre diets can help prevent constipation. Elderly people usually do not like these foods as they are harder to chew, and mostly bland. Elderly people also do not drink much water and fluids which leads to constipation even more.
• Using too much laxatives: Laxatives may provide relief from constipation then and now, but using them too much results in the body forgetting how to work on its own. Using too much laxatives can also lead to diarrhoea.
• Lack of exercise: The elderly get little to no exercise, and inactivity is one of the main causes of constipation. Being a little more active, walking in the morning or in the evening provides relief.
• Holding back bowel movements: Elderly people usually fall in the habit of preferring to have bowel movements only at home, and holding back bowel movements for too long can cause constipation.
• Medical conditions: Stroke, diabetes, blockages in the intestines are some of the problems that many elderly people have which can cause constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, is also a condition which can cause constipation in the elderly.

There are some hospitals in Gurgaon and Delhi NCR, as well as such hospitals in Patnawhich pay special attention to the problems of the elderly and have special departments for them. One can find the leading gastroenterologists in Gurgaon and the expert gastroenterologists in Patna at these hospitals.