I have a bloated stomach and can't poop when I go to the toilet

There are many problems in our body. The problems in different parts are different, and of course the symptoms they cause are also different, including stomach problems. You may feel bloating and pain in your stomach and want to defecate, but you may not be able to defecate when you go to the toilet. This is a relatively abnormal situation and should be treated in time. So what should you do if your stomach is bloated and you can't defecate in the toilet?

Constipation refers to a decrease in the frequency of bowel movements, as well as difficulty in defecation and dry, hard stools. Normal people defecate 1 to 2 times a day or once every 2 to 3 days. Patients with constipation defecate less than 2 times a week, and defecation is labored, with hard stool and small amount. Constipation is a common symptom among the elderly, affecting about 1/3 of them, which seriously affects their quality of life.

Clinical manifestations

The main symptoms of constipation are decreased frequency of bowel movements and difficulty in defecation. Many patients have bowel movements less than twice a 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.

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. Others

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.

prevention

Insist on participating in proper physical exercise, intentionally cultivate good bowel habits, eat a reasonable diet, and pay attention to supplementing dietary fiber. The foods containing the most dietary fiber are wheat bran, fruits, vegetables, oats, corn, soybeans, pectin, etc. In addition, systemic and perianal diseases should be actively treated, the use of drugs that cause constipation should be prevented or avoided, and a good mental state should be cultivated, all of which are beneficial to the prevention and treatment of constipation.