Walk In Clinic, Washington DC, Offers Right Treatment for Constipation

Digestion begins the moment you begin to chew food in the mouth. It ends when the food reaches the colon. Here, most of the food is digested and its nutrients absorbed by the intestinal walls to enter the bloodstream. Whatever remains ends up in the colon, ready to be expelled from the body through the rectum. Sounds like a simple process, but a disturbance in the process can lead to a condition called constipation.

What is constipation in medical terms?

Medically speaking, constipation is when you have less than three bowel movements in one week. However, the condition varies in individuals. Irregular bowel movements and difficulty in passing stool is also constipation.

A common condition

Every individual, at one point of time in their life, may have experienced constipation. Today, this condition is common due to modern sedentary and fast-food lifestyle. Constipation is preventable. A few changes in the lifestyle and food habits can easily help you overcome this condition.

If you suffer from frequent constipation, please consult a doctor at your nearest walk in clinic in Washington, DC. The clinic is apt in dealing with various stomach issues, including constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and others.

Causes of constipation

• Diet low in fiber and more on refined and processed foods.
• Poor hydration.
• Lack of bodily movements that leads to decreased gut motility and triggers nervous system issues that can affect gastrointestinal tract.
• Postponing the urge to defecate. This makes the stool to stay in the large intestine for longer. Water from the stool gets absorbed back into the body. This hardens the stool and makes bowel movement difficult.
• Certain medications can cause constipation.
• Stress affects the gut system.

Treatment

Although laxatives are available OTC, please do not self-medicate. Consult a doctor at a walk in clinic in Alexandria, VA, for an appropriate treatment. A doctor would help you find the cause of constipation. Working on both the cause and the symptom can help you solve the issue completely.

Treatment for constipation varies. It depends on the cause. Some patients simply need a few diet changes or need to exercise a bit more. For others, it could be some intestinal issue.

Laxatives are not for everybody. Let your doctor decide whether you need a laxative or a more comprehensive treatment.

How do laxatives help?

Laxatives are usually of two types:

• Stimulants
• Bulk forming

Stimulants help to increase stomach contractions, which makes it easier to pass stool. These are for patients who suffer constipation due to contraction problems.

Bulk forming laxatives help to soften stool by drawing water into your intestines. So, if your constipation is due to hardening of stool, this one might help.

Taking laxatives for a long time is not advisable due to their side effects. A visit to a walk in clinic in Washington, DC, can help solve your constipation problem. The clinic is just across the bridge from DC, so is easily accessible. It is open all days of the week. In addition to this, make sure you eat more fibers, drink more water, and move your body more every day to keep your gut happy and healthy.