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At times, bowel movements can get painful, uncomfortable, and extremely challenging. In some cases, you may be a victim of constipation manifesting independently or as a result of an underlying condition. If you need treatment for constipation in San Antonio, contact the Digestive & Liver Disease Center of San Antonio PLLC for advanced diagnosis and treatment.
Table of Contents
What is Constipation?
Constipation refers to a bowel function dispute responsible for painful and infrequent bowel movements. The frequency of your bowel movement may differ from another patient’s based on the causal factors and extent of the damage. In case of less than three bowel movements per week, your doctor may recommend a diagnosis of constipation to deliver long-term relief.
Symptoms of Constipation
The major symptoms of constipation include;
- Hard stools
- Bloated feeling
- Pain and discomfort during bowel movements
- Straining to complete bowel movements
- Abdominal cramping before bowel movements
- Feeling that bowels are full after completing a bowel movement
- Small pellet-like stools
In some cases, you may experience bowel leakage similar to diarrhea. Bowel leakage is mostly a sign of blockage allowing stool to leak out around it.
Causes of Constipation
Constipation may occur independently or as a symptom of an underlying condition. Constipation occurring on its own may be caused by;
- Dehydration
- Eating too little fiber
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Sudden dietary changes
- Delaying bowel movements
- Sedentary lifestyle (not exercising)
- Eating a low-calorie diet
- Taking opioid medication like hydrocodone and codeine
- Eating a lot of fatty and sugary foods
Constipation may also occur due to underlying conditions like colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel syndrome, diabetes, neurological diseases, and thyroid dysfunction.
Treatment for Constipation
Digestive & Liver Disease Center of San Antonio PLLC advocates for a fully personalized treatment for every client. Dr. Narvaez performs conclusive exams, evaluates symptoms, and runs imaging tests for an underlying condition.
Your doctor recommends a treatment best suited for your individual needs. In some cases, lifestyle changes may serve you best for an underlying condition or an independent trigger. The treatment may include regular exercises, more water intake, supplemental fiber, and dietary adjustments to eliminate constipation and maintain a healthy gastrointestinal system.
Dr. Narvaez may also recommend a routine attempt at bowel movements at a specified time each day. In due time, you may need to adjust medication to include more anti-constipation medicine. If constipation persists, your provider may recommend laxative use as a last resort.
In case of an underlying condition like inflammatory bowel disease, your doctor at Digestive & Liver Disease Center of San Antonio PLLC determines your eligibility for surgery to address underlying intestinal problems.
Other Services Offered at Digestive & Liver Disease Center of San Antonio PLLC
You may also visit the practice for;
Ø Acid reflux
Ø Endoscopy
Ø Hemorrhoids
Ø Inflammatory bowel disease
Ø Colon cancer
Ø GERD
Ø Cirrhosis
Wrapping Up
Despite maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise, you are likely to have constipation at some point in your life. Instead of sheltering the condition as an embarrassing moment, you may reach out to the Digestive & Liver Disease Center of San Antonio PLLC to book an appointment today.
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