Occasional constipation is inconvenient but manageable — however, when it becomes a chronic problem, it can cause serious disruptions and requires specialized care. At Newtown Gastroenterology, with offices in Elmhurst and Flushing in Queens, Sunset Park in Brooklyn, and Lower Manhattan in New York City, the team of highly experienced board-certified gastroenterologists provides comprehensive digestive care to find the reason for your constipation and create a solution for symptom relief. Book your appointment online or call the nearest office for help today.
Constipation is a misunderstood issue. It’s often assumed that constipation simply means not having daily bowel movements. In fact, you don’t necessarily need daily bowel movements to be healthy. As long as you’re having three or more bowel movements weekly and you’re not having gastrointestinal symptoms, it’s considered normal. However, constipation occurs when you have fewer than three bowel movements weekly.
Aside from infrequent bowel movements, constipation usually involves discomfort such as:
• Hard stools
• Lumpy stools
• Dry stools
• Pain passing stools
• Straining to pass stools
• Lingering feeling of fullness after bowel movements
With chronic constipation, you have at least a couple of these symptoms on a regular basis for three months or longer.
The Newtown Gastroenterology team discusses your symptoms with you and carefully reviews your diet and lifestyle. You may need diagnostic testing, such as blood tests, X-rays, endoscopic exams (colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy), or anorectal manometry (evaluation of the anal sphincter muscles), to detect functional and structural disorders.
Chronic constipation responds to targeted treatments that focus on the source of the symptoms. There are a few different approaches, including:
Diet and lifestyle changes
Your customized treatment typically starts with noninvasive solutions like dietary guidance and lifestyle changes.
The team may recommend eating more fiber to help bulk up and soften stool, as well as drinking more water to help prevent dehydration and hard stools. In addition to a healthy well-balanced eating plan, the team recommends supplements to correct any nutritional imbalances that could be contributing to your constipation.
Physical activity can have a big effect on your general health, and it’s especially important for people with chronic constipation because exercise helps stimulate bowel movements, so the team usually recommends an exercise plan at least several days a week.
Medications
Several over-the-counter and prescription drugs can promote healthy bowel movements and ease constipation symptoms. For example, stool softeners make passing stool more comfortable, and bowel stimulants help your intestines contract.
The team may recommend laxatives or suppositories on an as-needed basis, but not for ongoing long-term use.
Should you need advanced treatment for the condition that caused your constipation, the Newtown Gastroenterology team can perform your procedure promptly in one of their three offices or their associated hospitals.
Book your appointment online or call Newtown Gastroenterology for compassionate constipation help now.
