Bowel movements are crucial for good health. If bowel movements are not regular, toxins can build up in the body and negatively impact skin health. Constipation, in particular, can even negatively impact your quality of life. Let's explore symptoms that may indicate constipation and foods that can help.
First, stool is excreted from the body only when sufficient quantities of undigested and unabsorbed food waste, intestinal microorganisms, and other substances accumulate. Because the amount of food consumed varies from person to person, the frequency of bowel movements varies.
However, if you have to strain excessively to have a bowel movement more than three times a week, feel like you have incomplete evacuation, or require manual movements such as artificially removing stool from the anus or pressing the perineum, you may be suffering from actual constipation. It is recommended that you visit a hospital to determine the exact condition.
Another way to check stool shape is to examine the shape of the stool. In cases of spastic constipation, small, round stools, like rabbit droppings, are observed daily or every other day. In cases of atonic constipation, stools are irregular and large, hard stools are passed in large amounts at once. Atonic constipation is usually caused by decreased colonic motility, weakening the force that propels stool through the anus.
However, when taking psyllium husk to relieve constipation, you must drink plenty of water.
Otherwise, the dietary fiber may harden in the intestines, worsening constipation. Furthermore, those allergic to the psyllium husk itself may experience symptoms such as rash, redness, and itching when consuming it. If any of these symptoms appear, they should discontinue use immediately.
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