What to do if you don't have a bowel movement for seven or eight days

For the elderly, their intestinal function begins to weaken as they age. Then constipation occurs. In fact, many elderly people do not have a bowel movement for seven or eight days. If this situation is not relieved in time, it can easily cause harm to the body. But we also know that the elderly are not physically strong. What should we do if they don’t have a bowel movement for seven or eight days?

The main manifestations of constipation are decreased frequency of bowel movements and difficulty in defecation. Many patients have less than three bowel movements per week, and in severe cases, they may only have a bowel movement once every 2 to 4 weeks. Some patients may have prominent symptoms of difficulty in defecation, which may take more than 30 minutes, or they may have multiple bowel movements a day but the stool is difficult to pass and is hard like sheep dung and in small quantities. In addition, there are abdominal distension, lack of appetite, and abdominal pain before defecation due to improper use of laxatives. Physical examination revealed intestinal loops with feces in the left lower abdomen, and rectal examination revealed fecal masses.

When elderly people strain too much during bowel movements, it can cause changes in coronary artery and cerebral blood flow. Fainting may occur during bowel movements due to decreased cerebral blood flow. People with insufficient coronary artery blood supply may experience angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. Hypertension can cause cerebrovascular accidents, rupture of aneurysms or ventricular aneurysms, detachment of blood clots attached to the heart wall, arrhythmias, and even sudden death. Hirschsprung's disease may occur due to low tone of the colonic muscle layer. When straining during bowel movements, increased intra-abdominal pressure can cause or aggravate hemorrhoids. Forced defecation can damage the anal canal and cause anal fissures and other perianal diseases. Fecal impaction can cause intestinal obstruction, fecal ulcers, urinary retention and fecal incontinence.

1. Cause anorectal diseases. Constipation, difficulty in defecation and dry stool can directly cause or aggravate anorectal diseases. Such as proctitis, anal fissure, hemorrhoids, etc.

2. Gastrointestinal nerve dysfunction. When constipation occurs, feces retention and absorption of harmful substances can cause gastrointestinal nerve dysfunction, leading to symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal distension, belching, bitter taste in the mouth, and frequent flatus.

3. Formation of fecal ulcers. The harder fecal masses compress the intestinal cavity, causing it to narrow and the surrounding structures of the pelvis, hindering the expansion of the colon, and causing the rectum or colon to be compressed to form fecal ulcers. In severe cases, intestinal perforation may occur.

4. Suffering from colon cancer. It may be because constipation prevents carcinogens in the intestine from being eliminated for a long time. According to data, about 10% of people with severe constipation suffer from colon cancer.

5. Induce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Clinically, the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases caused by constipation, which increases abdominal pressure, and holding the breath to defecate is increasing year by year. Such as inducing angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, sudden death from stroke, etc.

6. Cause sexual dysfunction. This is because each time you defecate, you exert yourself for a long time and forcefully, which causes rectal fatigue, tight anal contraction, and spasmodic contraction of the pelvic floor, resulting in no ejaculation or decreased libido, and no climax during sexual intercourse.

7. It can easily cause women to suffer from dysmenorrhea, vaginal spasm, urinary retention, urinary tract infection and other symptoms.

8. Affects brain function. When constipation occurs, metabolic products remain in the digestive tract for a long time, and the action of bacteria produces a large amount of harmful substances, such as methane, phenol, ammonia, etc. Some of these substances diffuse into the central nervous system and interfere with brain function. The prominent manifestations are decreased memory, distraction, slow thinking, etc.

treat

1. Keep exercising

A survey of people over 60 years old showed that the incidence of constipation among those who seldom walk due to old age and frailty was 15.4%, while the incidence of constipation among those who exercised regularly was 0.21%. Therefore, patients are encouraged to participate in exercise within their ability, such as walking, strolling, or massaging the abdominal muscles with both hands several times a day to enhance gastrointestinal motility. Patients who have been bedridden for a long time should be turned over frequently and given circular abdominal massage or hot compresses.

2. Develop good bowel habits

Provide health education to help patients establish normal bowel movement behavior. You can practice having a bowel movement every morning. Even if you don't feel like doing it, you can wait a while to form a conditioned reflex. At the same time, create a quiet and comfortable environment and choose a sit-down toilet.

3. Eat a healthy diet

The elderly should eat more grains and vegetables, fruits, and beans containing crude fiber, and drink plenty of water, at least 1500 ml of water a day, especially a glass of warm water in the morning or before meals, which can effectively prevent constipation. In addition, you should eat some foods that have a laxative effect, such as black sesame, honey, bananas, etc.

4. other

Prevent or avoid using medicines that cause constipation, do not abuse laxatives, actively treat systemic and perianal diseases, and adjust your mental state. A good mental state helps establish a normal defecation reflex.