Constipation (also known as dyschezia) refers to bowel movements that are infrequent and/or hard to pass. Constipation is a common cause of painful defecation. Severe constipation includes failure to pass stools or gas Bowel obstruction. Constipation can be occasional (travel, pregnancy, etc.) or chronic. Evacuation frequency varies from one person to another, ranging from three times daily to 3 times weekly.  Constipation is usually diagnosed when bowel movement occurrence is less then three times weekly. Treatments include changes in lifestyle and dietary habits. Due to the fact that constipation is a symptom and not a disease, effective treatment of constipation may require first determining the cause.

Determinant

Constipation is a symptom with many causes. These causes are of two types: obstructed defecation and colonic slow transit ( hypomobility) this type of constipation has mechanical and functional causes. Causes of colonic slow transit constipation include diet, hormones, side effects of medications, and heavy metal toxicity.

Substantialness

Constipation is common; in the general population incidenceof constipation vary from 10% to 30% in adult population* (Occidental countries); 3% to 5% are chronic cases; 8% male and 21% female. In the elderly population, statistics demonstrate that 63% of constipated seniors are hospitalized versus 22% living at home.

Treatments

Treatments include lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and dietary habits, including an increase in fiber and liquid to support peristalsis* (Peristalsis is an automatic and important process that moves food through the digestive system. It also moves urine from the kidneys into the bladder, and bile from the gallbladder into the duodenum.) As a rule of thumb, it is best to avoid long term use of laxatives. Laxatives add volume and water to feces, facilitating their evacuation from the intestine. Sufficiently high doses of laxatives will cause diarrhea, in addition to stripping the body of essentials substances such as amino acids and minerals.    

Benefits of Probiotics

Probiotics are live bacteria. These bacteria live  in the  gastrointestinal tract exerting  a specific role in the digestive and immune system. Probiotics  support the digestion process along even  in  small doses improving health conditions like constipation. Probiotics help to keep the flora inside of the gastrointestinal tract, or the “gut flora” balanced. It supports the gastrointestinal tract allowing it to function  more efficiently. With better absorption of nutrients, constipation will generally be reduced as a result.

Escalating scientific reports suggests that some illnesses may be preventable and/ or  treatable with live probiotics.

References

1. InteliHealth (Ed). Diseases and Conditions - Constipation and Impaction, Aetna Intelihealth. www.intelihealth.com. Page consultée le 16 juin 2009.
2.  C Koebnick, I Wagner, P Leitzmann, U Stern, et al. Probiotic beverage containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota improves gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with chronic constipation.  The Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology. novembre 2003.
3.  MEANCE, Séverine. CAYUELA, Chantal. TURCHET, Pietro. RAIMONDI, Aldo and LUCAS, Claudio. A Fermented Milk with a Bifidobacterium Probiotic Strain DN-173 010 Shortened Oro Fecal Gut Transit Time in Elderly.Jean-Michel Antoine Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease. 2001; Vol 13, Issue 4: 217 – 222.
4.  Costiveness - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary". http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/costiveness.
5. Chatoor D, Emmnauel A (2009). "Constipation and evacuation disorders". Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 23 (4): 517–30. doi:10.1016/j.bpg.2009.05.001. PMID19647687.