8 (715)

Laxatives

Definition of Constipation

Criteria	Definition
Freąuency ,rarely‘	< three times stool per week
Emptying disturbanccs, ,too heavy‘	Strong pressure for defecation
Consistency ,too hard‘	Hard stool
Quantitiy ,Iess‘	<30 g
Need for Iaxatives	Without laxatives hindered and retarded emptying

Laxatives

Difficult or infreąuent defecation that cam have many causes including...

•    abdominal muscle weakness eg. from surgery

•    bowel obstruction (e.g. tumour, inflammation, diverticular disease)

•    pain e.g. from haemorrhoidal illness

•    Iow fibrę diet

•    sedentary lifestyle, łąck of exercise

•    depression

•    hypothyroidism

» Drugs such as antidepressants_

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Definition of Constipation a bowel freąuency of < 3-times/week or

the need to strain morę than 25% of the time during defecation.

99% of the population have a normal bowel ferąuency

but

10-20% of adults believe themselves to be constipated Hard stools, painful or incomplete eyacuation and abdominal discomfort are ąuickly regarded by patients as “constipation”

Laxatives

• Nonpharm Rx

diet that contains fiber, water, exercise, routine bowel habits (normal can be 1-3/day or 3/wk - varies from person to person). The freąuency is secondary to consistency - feces hard & dry