What should be the normal chair. Frequent stool: causes, symptoms, treatment features. How to normalize frequent stools? What to do for this

A sedentary lifestyle and poor diet lead to constipation.

Constipation refers to rare stools compared to the usual frequency of bowel movements. He can overtake suddenly or torment constantly for a long time.

Most often, people see the cause of constipation in malnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle. This is really the most common causes constipation, but if constipation persists even with a change in diet, laxatives do not help well and other symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor.

Constipation can be a symptom of a serious illness.

With constipation, there is a lack of defecation for more than 2-3 days, as well as a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, spastic pains are possible, you have to push hard during defecation, the feces are quite solid and formed. With constipation, the amount of feces is often significantly reduced, and after emptying, there is a feeling that the intestines have not been emptied completely.

A rare stool in an adult occurs by different reasons: from diet violations to bowel disease.

Insufficient fiber intake. With the use of a large amount of carbohydrates and a lack of fiber, intestinal motility weakens, and feces move through the intestines very slowly.

• Lack of fluid. Normally, stool contains about 70% water. If you do not drink enough liquid, namely clean water, fecal masses become more solid, so they linger in the intestines.
• Various bowel diseases. Constipation can be a consequence of anal fissure, diverticulitis, tumors in the intestines, irritable bowel syndrome. Usually, similar diseases have a number of other symptoms, but may begin with constipation.
• Lack of physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle slows down metabolic processes, disrupts blood flow in the pelvic area, which leads to constipation and hemorrhoids. Often constipation occurs in bedridden patients, office workers, car drivers.
• Hormonal disruptions. Constipation can be caused by malfunctions endocrine system. Many diseases thyroid gland accompanied by constipation.
• Some drugs. Constipation can occur while taking certain medications. Before taking the medicine, you must carefully read the instructions.

Varieties of constipation

Constipation can be: atonic and spastic.

Constipation can be divided into two large groups: atonic and spastic. They differ in the mechanism of constipation, as well as symptoms.

Atonic constipation occurs due to a weakening of peristalsis, when feces move through the intestines more slowly than usual.

Fecal masses will be voluminous and dense. Pain with such constipation rarely occurs, more often there is a feeling of fullness in the abdomen. Atonic constipation often results in fissures and bleeding as defecation is difficult and painful due to bulkiness stool.

Spasmodic constipation is caused by intestinal spasm. Due to spasm, the intestinal lumen narrows and prevents the feces from moving forward. Spastic constipation may be accompanied by pain in the abdomen, bloating, and difficulty in passing gases. At the same time, the feces are small, pea-shaped, there is no pain during defecation, but with strong straining, hemorrhoids may appear.

There is also alimentary, neurogenic and mechanical constipation. Alimentary constipation is associated with malnutrition and lack of sufficient fiber in the diet. Neurogenic constipation is associated with a psychological state.

Severe stress, unfamiliar surroundings, a feeling of embarrassment can lead to prolonged constipation. Mechanical constipation occurs due to a mechanical obstruction to the passage of stool. These may be polyps or tumors.

Constipation can be proctogenic. They are associated with various proctological diseases, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, as a result of which the sensitivity of the intestine decreases.

Medication constipation is caused by various medications. When the drug is discontinued, the stool quickly returns to normal. TO medical constipation can lead to antispasmodics, antidepressants and some painkillers if the dosage is exceeded or used frequently.

Organic constipation occurs due to the anatomical features of the intestine. Such constipation occurs from an early age. Constipation can be chronic or single. Chronic constipation occurs regularly and requires a constant diet.

A single constipation can be caused by taking this or that drug, stress.

Treatment of constipation with drugs

Dufalac is a drug for the treatment of constipation.

Chronic constipation is not treated with strong laxatives and enemas. Such remedies do not help eliminate the cause, but only eliminate the symptom - constipation itself.

Suppositories, enemas, and irritating laxatives may be used on rare occasions when going to the bathroom is simply not possible, or as preparation for medical procedures.

Constipation is treated with drugs that have a mild laxative effect, normalize bowel function, increase stool volume and promote regular bowel movements.

1. Duphalac or Normase. Lactulose-based preparations contribute to regular bowel movements. They are often prescribed to treat chronic constipation in pregnant women and newborns. They are available in the form of a viscous sweet syrup with a vanilla scent. It must be taken in pure form or diluted with water once a day. The dose is selected individually. In some cases, lactulose can cause increased gas formation. The drug is not absorbed in the intestines, but increases the volume of feces, making their consistency more liquid.
2. Phytomucil. drug based on herbal ingredients contains fiber. It can be taken for as long as you like and for everyone without exception. Does not cause swelling or pain. The drug is available in the form of sachets with a crushed substance. The contents of the sachet are dissolved in water and drunk up to 4 times a day. The composition includes only natural ingredients.
3. Forlax. The drug Forlax helps to cleanse the intestines and improve its peristalsis without addiction. It does not contain irritating components, does not cause pain and swelling. The composition of the drug macrogol, which is completely excreted from the body without being absorbed.
4. Sorbitol. Sorbitol is an active substance that is included in some drugs, such as Sorbitol. It is used for various purposes, including to improve bowel function. The drug must be used in a certain dosage, otherwise abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea may occur.
5. Exportal. Exportal refers to mild laxatives based on lactitol. At first, bloating may be felt, but after the intestines adapt to the drug, the discomfort disappears.

Folk remedies for stool normalization

Apple juice has a good laxative effect.

It is necessary to treat constipation with herbs very carefully, since the cause of constipation is not always known. Be especially careful when using senna.

This herb acts quite aggressively on the intestines, increases peristalsis, and can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea.

It is part of many drugs, but in its pure form, an unpredictable reaction of the body is possible. Laxative herbs such as senna should not be taken by pregnant women. They can cause uterine tone and provoke a miscarriage.

• Oatmeal jelly, oat decoction, freshly squeezed apple or plum juice also have a good laxative effect.
• Useful and safe are teas with the addition of fruits and berries. For example, in green tea you can add dried apples or cherries. This will help to cope with constipation and strengthen the immune system.
• Chronic constipation can be treated with walnuts and milk. To do this, 100 g of nuts are carefully crushed, then a glass of milk is added and boiled for about 5 minutes. Cooled and strained broth should be taken in a third of a glass up to 5 times an hour before meals.
• For constipation, you can take a teaspoon castor oil. 4-5 hours after ingestion, a laxative effect occurs. This remedy is prescribed short courses You can't take oil all the time.
• As a remedy for constipation ethnoscience also offers enemas with decoctions of herbs, such as lemon balm, chamomile. You should not get involved in enemas without the recommendation of a doctor. They wash out the intestinal microflora, can provoke hemorrhoids and lead to a weakening of peristalsis.
• There is an excellent folk remedy, which doctors often recommend, is bran. They need to be eaten by a tablespoon or added to food. Pure bran is sold in pharmacies in packaged form. According to the popular recipe, bran should be steamed with boiling water, and after cooling, filter and eat the crumb.
• Flaxseed oil is great for constipation. In the morning on an empty stomach, you need to drink a teaspoon of oil. It is very useful due to the content in the oil fatty acids. Instead of flaxseed, you can use olive or regular sunflower oil.
• An excellent remedy for constipation is sauerkraut. You can eat it like this, drink warm pickle. However, the brine should contain as little salt and pepper as possible.

Learn more about constipation and how to treat it in the thematic video:

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What urgent measures to take for constipation for 5 days in an adult and what to do if stool retention occurs during pregnancy?

How often this phenomenon happens in our lives? Everyone is different. But no one is immune from this. The frantic pace of life malnutrition, overeating, stress - one of the main factors contributing to this.

How many days of constipation is acceptable? How many days is considered normal? How to get rid of constipation?

And what should be done to avoid this phenomenon?

How many days is considered constipation in adults?

There is a simple rule to find out if you have constipation or not: bowel movements should occur once a day. If the chair is absent for two days or more, we can safely talk about constipation.

Only a doctor can determine how many days constipation can last for a particular person.

Is deviation from the norm acceptable?

As mentioned above, the rules may be different for everyone. The generally accepted norm is once every 1-2 days. But, as it shows medical practice, physiological norm stools from 3 times a week can be considered.

What you should pay attention to is the discomfort that accompanies the complete or partial absence of stools:

• pain and bloating;
• distension of the abdomen;
• colic;
• loss of appetite;
• increased nervousness.

What to do with stool retention?

1 day

IN this case, talking about constipation is hardly appropriate at all. You just need to wait (of course, if there are no appropriate discomfort and discomfort). If you feel heaviness, you can drink kefir, eat prunes, or take a mild laxative (which is not recommended).

2 days

Perhaps this is a reason for you to change your diet, eliminating everything fried and smoked, alcohol, coffee, strong tea, rice porridge, carbonated drinks.

It is necessary to consume more fiber, giving preference to vegetables and fruits.

If you feel unwell at the same time, you can do an enema.

But two-day constipation, most often, is not even felt at all if you feel comfortable.

3 days

In the presence of heaviness and pain in the abdomen, it is necessary to either take an enema or take a mild laxative, of which there is now a huge choice.

But basically, the measures are the same as in the previous cases.

4 days

Here everything is a little more serious. It is urgent to get rid of feces so as not to cause intoxication of the body. The most effective way to do an enema.

You should know that four-day constipation already belongs to the category of long-term, and may be the result of some pathological changes in the body.

5 days

Need to be accepted Urgent measures! After all, there is a danger not only of intoxication, but also the formation of fecal plugs.

Fecal plugs can clog the intestinal passage, which will block access to the exit of feces.

A five-day delay in stool may be due to intestinal pathologies(tumors, adhesions, polyps). To find out the exact reasons, you need to consult a doctor!

For an enema, you can use water with glycerin oil (or petroleum jelly).

6 days

Urgently need to cleanse the intestines!

7 days

Constipation may be accompanied by the following discomfort:

1. headache;
2. nausea;
3. drowsiness;
4. intestinal discomfort;
5. general weakness;
6. an increase in body temperature.

When you try to go to the toilet, you feel pain in the anus.

Necessary measures: make an enema with oils, drink more liquids (water, kefir, yogurt), eat prunes, honey, boiled beets.

Features of a weekly lack of bowel movements during pregnancy

• An increase in progesterone levels, which leads to a decrease contractile function intestinal peristalsis.
• Strong stress.
• Squeezing of the intestines by the uterus.

In order to restore stool, you should exclude from the diet heavy foods and don't overeat. Eat more freshly squeezed juices, beets, kefir, vegetable soups.

If you can not go to the toilet for 10 days or more

Ten-day constipation may be accompanied by a partial exit of feces. The process of defecation is very difficult, with pain.

Causes of constipation from 10 days:

1. inflammation of the digestive tract;
2. pregnancy, childbirth;
3. postoperative period;
4. sedentary lifestyle;
5. elderly age.

If the general condition is normal, you can take independent measures:

1. Use an oil enema.
2. Take a laxative (preferably plant origin, for example, Bark Buckthorn).
3. Change your diet.
4. Start doing light sports, show more physical activity.
5. To refuse from bad habits.

Especially, these rules should be followed if constipation is chronic.

Very often, just a change in diet leads to positive results.

Danger of prolonged constipation

Consequences of prolonged constipation:

• Due to the accumulation of feces in the intestines, its walls are stretched, which can lead to inflammatory changes.
• Intoxication of the body, dysbacteriosis. And, as a result, headaches and poor health.
• Deterioration of the liver and metabolic disorders.
• Stretching of the sphincter muscles, followed by constant leakage (incontinence) of feces.
• Fissures in the intestines and rectum.
• The likelihood of hemorrhoids in the future.

Changes in the body with prolonged constipation:

1. Headaches, lethargy, drowsiness, decreased performance.
2. Deterioration of the skin condition, rapid formation of wrinkles, purulent inflammation on the skin (most often on the face).
3. Hair loss and dullness, dandruff.
4. Delamination and brittleness of nails.
5. Frequent colds and infectious diseases, against the background of a decrease in immunity.
6. Varicose veins (due to circulatory disorders and water stagnation in the tissues).
7. Problems with the prostate gland in men.
8. Violation of the functions of the pancreas, liver disease.

ATTENTION! With long-term use of laxatives, you risk getting lazy bowel syndrome.

Also, the result of prolonged constipation can be a cancerous tumor in one of the sections of the intestine.

Prevention

Some simple rules to help prevent constipation:

1. Follow the diet:
   • eat 3-4 times a day in small portions, with intervals between meals no more than 4-5 hours. Eat dinner 2-3 hours before bedtime;
   • include the following foods in your diet: fresh vegetables and fruits, bran, dairy products, beans and nuts;
   • exclude from the diet: alcoholic drinks, strong tea and coffee, carbonated drinks;
   • reduce the consumption of meat and flour products, easily digestible cereals;
   • drink as much liquid as possible (1.5-2 liters per day).
2. News active image life.
3. Avoid stress whenever possible.
4. After waking up, drink a glass of warm water on an empty stomach.
5. Follow regular bowel cleansing.

Constipation is an unpleasant phenomenon that leads to severe consequences in organism. Therefore, it is important to observe preventive measures, not to overload yourself. negative emotions and adhere to the rules of nutrition. And, of course, one should not forget about visiting a doctor (in case of any suspicion).

Then avoid this disease and getting rid of it will be much easier.

(16+) How many times a day should an adult have a stool?

once a day is fine. in the evening only. or 5-4 times a week

Once a day is the norm. 2 times a day or more is a sign of a malfunction of the digestive tract (they ate something not good). Stool 1 every 2-3 days leads to constipation and hemorrhoids. Which can lead to colon cancer.

Feces during bowel movements should be brown to light brown in color.

Be shaped and not be very soft or very hard, and should not have a bad smell.

When defecating, the stool must be completely passed out at one time.

During normal bowel function, a person has to defecate 1-2 times a day every day.

If the chair rarely occurs or very often - the body is not as good as a person thinks.

An adult needs to go to the toilet 1-2 times a day. And at what regularly!

Someone walks 1 time in the morning or in the evening, and someone 1st time in the morning, and 2nd time in the evening. Every body is different.

But I will say for sure that if every 3-4 days, then you need to change your diet and immediately treat such a problem. It's just that in the future it will always be constipation, which will lead to hemorrhoids!

It all depends on the specific human body. Of course, the classic is once a day. But there are people who have a chair 2 times a day and this is the norm for them personally. And there are individuals who have a chair once every 2-3 days and they live like this all their lives and there are no problems.

The chair in an adult is very dependent on nutrition. When my friends and I hitchhiked and ate bacon with breadcrumbs in a dry bag, the chair happened only a couple of times a week.

And with a normal diet, one stool per day is considered the norm. And if the food contains a lot of fiber or substances with a laxative effect, then it is allowed twice. If this happens more often, then health problems are possible. And if there is no stool for more than two days, then this is a sign of constipation.

When I was still at school, someone asked this question to a biology teacher while studying the human body. The teacher was not at a loss and said that with a normal metabolism and with the observance of the diet, the number of going to the toilet should by and large be equal to the number of meals, that is, 3 times. But I think that 1 time is fine. But if more than 4 times, this is already an intestinal disorder.

I once read that healthy person the number of bowel movements should correspond to the number of meals, that is, 3 times a day - this is quite normal. But 1-2 times a day is also a good indicator. But if there is no bowel movement at least once every two days, it is already worth thinking about certain disorders in the body. Especially if it happens even less often.

Although, according to international criteria, stools are considered normal from 3 times a day to 3 times a week.

It is considered normal when a chair in an adult occurs 1 time per day. 1-2 times a day is also considered the norm. Now, if more than 2 times a day (provided that it is liquid), then this is already diarrhea. If there is no bowel movement for 48 hours or more, then this is already constipation.

Normally, a chair in an adult should be 1-2 times a day, or at least once in two days. The chair occurs once a day in 65% of people and 2 times a day in 20% of people, in young children more often.

How many times a day a person will have a chair will depend on how he eats. If he eats once a day, then he will have a chair once a day - two. And if a person eats at least three times more and plumply, then he usually has a chair more than once.

What to do with prolonged constipation in adults - 6 or more days

Prolonged constipation, what to do and is it necessary to urgently undergo an examination? To answer this question, you need to know what frequency of bowel movements is normal and what changes in well-being are accompanied by prolonged constipation. Establishing the cause of the problem that has arisen is required in order to choose the right option for normalizing the act of defecation.

Duration of constipation

It is now believed that constipation is indicated by the absence of a bowel movement for 48 hours. But if the absence of stool already on the first day is accompanied by increased flatulence, colic, pain, a feeling of fullness of the intestine, then this indicates the development of constipation.

Prolonged constipation can last for several days. Cases are described when people could not empty themselves for ten to twenty days, and sometimes even a month. Naturally, this is not normal, such a pathology negatively affects the functioning of almost all body systems and, most importantly, can cause serious complications.

Constipation, which lasts for 2-3 days, is already negatively affecting a person’s well-being. If the duration of the absence of stool increases, then the symptoms discomfort are growing.

Protracted constipation is characterized by:

• Delayed bowel movements for several days.
• Pain in the abdomen of a stabbing, cutting and aching character.
• Increased gas formation, which leads to severe distension of the abdomen.
• Fecal intoxication. If bowel movements do not occur for more than 2 days, then toxins begin to be released from the accumulated feces, which leads to poisoning of the body. Headache, nausea, lack of appetite, fatigue, the appearance of pimples on the skin - all this appears with prolonged constipation.
• Violations in the work of all digestive organs, which in turn can give rise to serious diseases.

Constipation is more worrisome if it occurs against the background of other pathologies. In addition to the unpleasant sensations characteristic of prolonged constipation, a person experiences all the symptoms of the underlying disease.

Causes of long-term bowel problems

Constipation in an adult occurs for various reasons. Most often, there is situational constipation, that is, stool retention occurs under the influence of a number of reasons, after the elimination of which everything returns to normal. Constipation for 5 days and sometimes more can last with a change in the usual environment, very often this is noted by people on a business trip. Among other alimentary causes of prolonged constipation are:

• Irrational nutrition. Absence in the diet herbal products, soups, lactic acid products, a sufficient amount of water leads to a decrease in intestinal motility. It has been noticed that most often the question - I have constipation and what to do to facilitate bowel movements, is asked by people who prefer meat dishes, sweet pastries, fat cheeses. With such a diet, the absence of stool can be 8-10 days or more.
• Hypodynamia. Insufficient physical activity reduces the motor function of the digestive system.
• Stress. In humans, constipation, or vice versa, diarrhea occurs after psycho-emotional experiences, this is due to the fact that the intestines are innervated by the nervous system.

Situational causes of bowel problems are usually treated very simply. Changes in nutrition, a calm environment, and increased physical activity help restore the physiological functioning of the digestive system in one or two days.

But sometimes persistent constipation may not be so harmless, and therefore it is so important to establish the provoking factor leading to stool retention. If constipation bothers 5-8 and more days and this situation is repeated several times a month, then during the examination it is necessary to exclude:

• Adhesive process in the abdominal cavity. Scars and adhesions on the large intestine can lead to its narrowing and deterioration of peristalsis.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
• Diseases of the rectum - paraproctitis, hemorrhoids, anal fissures. With these diseases, constipation sometimes lasts 4 days or more, and this happens due to the fact that a person simply delays bowel movement due to possible occurrence severe pain.
• Neoplasms of the rectum, including malignant ones.
• Coprostasis or fecal blockage. Pathology often develops in obese people, with diabetes and others hormonal disruptions. You can already talk about fecal blockage if constipation lasts 3 days or more and is accompanied by bursting pains, nausea and other symptoms of intoxication. Sometimes coprostasis occurs with the release of liquid feces, which passes between the walls of the intestine and the main feces. This is taken for diarrhea, the person begins to drink fixing drugs and the situation is even more aggravated.

Lack of stool for 2 days or more can be in people with diseases of the pancreas, stomach, gallbladder. As a rule, when chronic disorders in the work of the digestive organs, constipation indicates errors in nutrition and may be the first sign indicating an exacerbation of the disease.

Older people often go to the toilet for the most part once every 8-10 days, and sometimes less often. The decrease in bowel function is primarily associated with atrophic processes and with existing chronic diseases. With prolonged constipation, it is necessary to exclude the fixing effect of drugs that are taken by people of age. The likelihood of difficult bowel movements increases many times with the development of Parkinson's disease, with multiple sclerosis, after spinal injuries.

The question of what to do with prolonged constipation is often asked by people who periodically use laxatives and other methods that stimulate the intestines. Their pathology may occur due to the fact that the digestive system is already accustomed to the help of drugs and cannot work at full strength on its own.

How to relieve chronic constipation

Constipation 10 days what to do, and what medicines to drink - the exact answer to this question can be obtained only after complete examination. Even if you manage to cope with such a long absence of stool on your own, diagnosis cannot be postponed, especially if we are talking about recurring episodes of problems with defecation. The earlier the main cause of such a violation is determined, the more likely it is that it will not lead to the development of those diseases that will have to be treated throughout the rest of life.

A visit to the hospital should not be postponed if constipation, disturbing for 3-8 days or more, is accompanied by:

• Sharp pains;
• Bursting cramping sensations;
• An increase in temperature;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• tachycardia;
• Falling blood pressure;
• Increased sweating and pallor of the skin.

The listed symptoms may indicate a surgical pathology, which must be eliminated in order to avoid complications and lethal outcome with surgery in the next few hours.

In the event that, in addition to the fact that there is no bowel movement for a long time, nothing else bothers you, you can try to establish digestion on your own. Diet therapy, increased physical activity, and some alternative methods of treatment will help with this. You can also resort to the help of drugs, but you yourself need to choose only those whose safety of use can be no doubt.

Diet changes for constipation

Constipation 6 days without accompanying changes in well-being, this is already a reason to radically change the food in your refrigerator and on your table. Refuse or minimize the need to use:

1. Meat dishes, smoked meats, sausages.
2. Fat cheeses.
3. Sweet pastries, chocolate.
4. Flour dishes - dumplings, poses, pies.
5. Mushrooms.
6. Spicy condiments.
7. Potato, radish, garlic
8. Hot spices, sauces and mayonnaise.
9. Carbonated drinks, strong coffee and tea.
10. Viscous cereals.

It is best to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, you can make a salad from them with the addition of kefir or vegetable oil. Regularly you need to drink kefir, natural yogurt, fermented baked milk, it is temporarily desirable to refuse whole milk. Be sure to eat fractionally, you must give up snacking. You need to drink at least one and a half liters of water per day. You should start drinking water in the morning not only if you have been constipated for five days or more. A glass of clean water in the morning before breakfast stimulates the work of everyone internal organs and useful at any age.

Diet therapy for chronic constipation should be followed for at least 2-3 weeks, in the future, your diet should be designed so that the dishes contain as much fiber as possible for the intestines.

Increase physical activity

Physical activity plays an important role in the normalization of bowel function. Even the easiest exercises to do help to strengthen abdominal wall, increase blood circulation, strengthen the muscles of the small pelvis and have a positive effect on work nervous system. If constipation continues for 7 days or more, it is necessary to understand that the body is asking for help and only A complex approach can stabilize bowel function.

With chronic constipation, it is useful to go swimming, skiing, in old age, daily walks perfectly increase the tone of the body. It is recommended to perform several exercises that help improve overall digestion. The easiest of them are performed without getting out of bed:

• Bicycle exercise. You need to pull your legs to your stomach and make movements with them, imitating cycling.
• Bend your legs at the knees. Alternately pull them to the stomach and spread to the sides.
• Breathe deeply, while achieving retraction and protrusion of the abdominal wall.

You can continue the exercises in an upright position. Squats, side bends, and the birch exercise work well on the intestines.

The most important thing is to always remember to exercise constantly - devoting just 20 minutes in the morning to your health can not only improve bowel function, but you can also prevent most age-related changes.

Alternative treatment of constipation

Constipation for three days, what to do, and what folk remedies can help get rid of it? Simultaneously with diet therapy and increased physical activity, you can use herbal remedies and various formulations based natural products having a laxative effect. Good for stubborn constipation help:

• A decoction of prunes. A drink is prepared from 8-10 pieces of prunes and half a liter of boiling water. The broth is heated on the stove for 10 minutes, insisted for an hour, filtered and drunk during the day. It is possible, when brewing into a container, to pour a spoonful of senna grass, this will enhance the laxative effect of the remedy.
• Castor, olive or regular vegetable oil. A spoonful of oil is drunk in the morning before breakfast. It is impossible to get involved in this method of eliminating constipation for a long time, especially if there are diseases of the gallbladder. Castor oil is not used during pregnancy.
• Collection of herbs. Buckthorn grass is combined with yarrow and nettle in a ratio of 3:1:1. Two tablespoons of the collection are poured with half a liter of boiling water, insisted and drunk in equal portions throughout the day.

Using folk remedies defecation is usually restored on the second or third day. It is also not worth getting carried away with herbal remedies for a long time, as they can be addictive.

Medical treatment for persistent constipation

It is not always possible to restore bowel function with prolonged and often recurring constipation only with the help of nutrition, physical activity And folk methods. In such cases, it is necessary to use pharmaceuticals. It is recommended to use first rectal suppositories, they enhance the bowel reflex. The most harmless suppositories that help with constipation include those that contain glycerin, sea buckthorn extract.

The rest of the medications to eliminate constipation must be selected after the examination together with the doctor. When diseases are detected that lead to a weakening of the intestines, etiological treatment is required, that is, therapy aimed at eliminating the cause of the pathology. The prescribed treatment regimen must be completed, even in cases where constipation quickly passes under the influence of medications.

Long-term use of drugs with a laxative effect should be avoided. If they are used often and for a long time, then the intestines will not be able to function normally in the future. The problem of difficult bowel movements must be solved by eliminating its cause, using an integrated approach. And in order for the pathology, which is unpleasant in its manifestations and complications, not to return again, you must always adhere to healthy lifestyle life and take measures to prevent the development or exacerbation of chronic diseases of the digestive, nervous and endocrine systems.

Information about the chair (human feces) is perhaps the most important indicator of the state gastrointestinal tract .

For many, talking about feces can cause laughter or embarrassment. But seriously speaking, appearance feces can tell you a lot about your gut health and, for that matter, about general condition health.

Everything from shape, size, smell, color, can indicate diseases, poor nutrition, or other problems of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Even the color and smell of bowel movements can give you clues about your overall health.

I found the best infographic on the Web (see below) and translated it into Russian for you. It will help you better understand the health of your digestive system.

And since average person emits 7000-8000 kg of waste throughout his life, this should help everyone.

What your stool tells you

Kal(feces, faeces, excrement) – the contents of the distal large intestine, released during defecation. In a healthy person, stool is a mixture consisting of about 1/3 of the remains of food taken, 1/3 of the remains of the digestive organs and 1/3 of microbes, 95% of which are dead.

The amount of feces depends on the quantity and quality of food taken. With a mixed diet quantitatively corresponding to the needs of the body, the weight of feces excreted per day is 200-300 g, and according to some sources, up to 900 g.

The weight of feces largely depends on the content of water in it, therefore, with constipation, when the absorption of water is increased, the weight of daily feces decreases, and with diarrhea it increases.

A significant increase in feces is observed in diseases accompanied by the assimilation of food (gastric achylia, pancreatic lesions, etc.). A special abundance of feces occurs with lesions of the pancreas, in which its weight can reach 1 kg.

The shape of the feces

The shape of the feces depends on the consistency, the content of water, mucus and fat in them. Normal feces contains about 70-75% water, has a sausage shape and a homogeneous dense composition. Dense, even hard feces, observed with constipation, lose their normal shape and usually consist of separate lumps from a long stay in the large intestine. With spastic colitis, it is often observed " sheep feces”, which is small round lumps of a dense consistency. This dense stool contains about 60% water.

A change in the shape of feces (ribbon-like, pencil-shaped) may depend both on organic stenoses and on spastic narrowing of the sphincters. Unformed mushy and especially liquid feces is a pathological phenomenon, it contains 90-92% water. The stools can also be heterogeneous, dense lumps can float in liquid or mucus, which happens when inflammatory processes in the large intestine.

Consistency of feces depends on a number of reasons, the main of which is the time of their stay in the large intestine. Acceleration of peristalsis leads to insufficient absorption of water, slowdown - to excessive absorption. More liquid than normal, the consistency of feces acquires with abundant secretion of inflammatory exudate and mucus by the intestinal wall, while taking saline laxatives. Feces, containing a lot of fat, have a greasy consistency.

stool color

stool color in a healthy person, it may vary somewhat depending on the food taken. The most common shades are Brown- dairy food gives a light brown, even yellow color, meat - dark brown. Plant foods give feces their color, beets - red, blueberries, black currant, coffee, cocoa - dark brown to black. A significant effect on the color of feces is also provided by some taken orally medicinal substances(for example, bismuth is black, iron preparations are greenish black, etc.).

The color of the stool changes and with pathological processes in the digestive organs, there are many of these options, for example, we will give a few. If bile does not enter the intestine, the stool becomes grayish-white, clay or sandy in color. Pancreatitis (pancreatic disease) - also gives almost white feces. Fatty stools may be gray in color. The presence of blood in the stool gives the stool different color depending on the site of bleeding, if in the stomach, then dark brown, almost black. The lower in the course of the intestine is the focus of bleeding, the less dark color and more red.

Smell of feces

Smell of feces depends on the presence in it of decay products of food residues, mainly protein ones, therefore, with an abundance of proteins in food, the smell intensifies. With the predominance of putrefactive processes in the intestines (putrefactive dyspepsia, decay of tumors), the stool acquires a fetid odor, and during fermentation processes it becomes sour. With poor chewing of food, and more with poor digestion feces may contain undigested food residues in the form of whitish or grayish lumps.

With a significant content of fat in the feces, the surface of the feces acquires a peculiar slightly matte sheen, and the consistency is greasy. Mucus in normal stool is found in minimum quantity in the form of a thin shiny plaque covering the surface of the feces. In inflammatory processes, it can appear in the feces in the form of lumps of whitish or yellow color on the surface of the stool or between its fragments.

Frequent stools in a newborn baby are a sign of health. As a rule, the child poops with mushy masses, while the color of the feces is yellow or green, the presence of particles of processed milk or a mixture can be observed. Such a picture is a common occurrence and parents should not worry. If the baby poops with increased frequency or does it very rarely, experiencing discomfort from bloating or colic, gaining weight poorly and eating without appetite, this is a signal to go to the pediatrician for a consultation.

Age norms for stool frequency

For breastfed babies

Let's talk about what are the norms of defecation in a newborn. Young parents should be aware that the color, texture, and amount of breastfeeding baby's bowel movements are not always the same.

The quality of the chair is influenced by many factors: the amount of water and the type of food, time of day and features child's body. emotional background and physical state breastfeeding mothers also affect the number of bowel movements.

Features of the chair of children up to 2 months

Let's list age-related changes stool frequencies:

• 1 day. Meconium - the original stool, tarry and black, is characteristic of all newborns. Children on the first day of life may defecate one or even more than six times a day.
• 2-7 days. Meconium may have already stopped, but its presence is also quite normal. The original feces accumulate in children's intestines back in the period prenatal development. He needs to completely go out in order to be replaced by ordinary feces. For this age, stools in the amount of one to three per day are characteristic.
• 2 weeks (we recommend reading:). For a newborn during this period, an irregular bowel movement is quite acceptable (more details in the article:). The number of bowel movements for each baby will be individual, depending on the lactation of the mother. The constant change in the composition of breast milk during the first month due to the establishment of lactation affects the quality and quantity of the baby's stool. At this age, the baby may begin increased gas formation and colic may appear.
• 3-5 weeks. Mom's milk acts as a laxative, so frequent stools are often observed - up to 10 bowel movements per day. The number of bowel movements directly depends on the number of feedings. A small number of bowel movements in 1 month (less than 4 times) indicates that the young mother does not have enough milk.
• Starting from the sixth week. During this period, parents may notice a sharp decrease in the number of bowel movements. Lack of bowel movements can be observed for a day, two or even three. What is the reason? The enzyme crisis is to blame. The renewal of breast milk provokes the appearance of new enzymes, to which the small organism is now getting used. The process of adaptation can take up to several weeks - during this period, you can notice both an increase in the desire to suck on the breast, and the rejection of mother's milk.

Number of stools after 2 months to a year

We continue to study the change in defecation:

• 2 months. The individual rhythm of the gastrointestinal tract begins precisely from this age. Bowel movements at this age are no longer so frequent. Pediatricians note that each two month old baby may have their own characteristics and the amount of stool: some poop once or twice a day, while others do it still intensively - up to six times. Both options are considered normal.
• 6 months. The prepared body of a 6-month-old baby and a large number of enzymes allow you to start introducing complementary foods. The quality of the stool changes even before the start of complementary foods: the appearance of a specific smell is noted, the density of the feces increases, and the number of bowel movements decreases.
• A one-year-old baby can poop one to three times a day.

There are no clear norms for the number of bowel movements for infants. The presence of stool after each feeding is quite normal picture. A child who poops a lot can be weighed more often, starting from the second week, since the first week of life is characterized by weight loss, and the second - the beginning of a set of treasured grams. No matter how many bowel movements a day your baby has, a weekly increase of 150 g is a sign of normality.

For formula-fed babies

It is noted that children artificial feeding they can poop with the same intensity as babies, but still, in most cases, an artificial baby poops less often. This difference is associated with a longer absorption of the adapted mixture compared to mother's milk:

• Number of feedings = number of bowel movements. For a child on an artificial type of feeding, the same principle is characteristic as with breastfeeding. The baby receives the mixture every 3.5 hours, which means that the number of bowel movements will also decrease.
• Thickness of feces. The feces of formula-fed babies are denser, which affects the different times of bowel movements and their regularity. The long passage of feces through the intestines leads to its hardening and possible constipation.
• Stool retention. A sign of stool retention in an artificial baby is the absence of defecation during the day, which would be quite normal for a breastfed baby.

The baby may experience constipation or suffer from frequent loose stools due to an improperly selected mixture. Consulting with a pediatrician will help solve this problem. Choosing the right mixture together and smoothly transitioning to it will help to establish a chair.

Frequent change of the adapted mixture is harmful to the child's digestive system. A small organism must get used to the new composition of the mixture, and frequent or abrupt change food provokes an increase in the frequency of stools, or vice versa - greatly reduces it.

Get rid of constipation in 4 steps

This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know from me how to solve exactly your problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!

Constipation in children who eat mother's milk is a rare phenomenon. You don’t have to worry if the baby poops on its own every three days, this indicates the correct assimilation of mother’s milk. A chair even once every 5 days for babies is considered the norm by pediatricians, provided wellness child.

If a mother notices frequent whims, increased gas formation, colic or refusal to eat, it is worth resorting to auxiliary means:

1. Lactulose syrup (we recommend reading:). Milk sugar - lactulose helps the active work of the intestines. Such a safe laxative can be purchased at any pharmacy without a prescription. Pediatricians advise keeping it in an individual baby. Of the side effects, there may be an increase in the amount of gases in the first days of taking the drug. It is necessary to start treatment with small doses, exceeding the amount is not permissible.
2. Children's glycerin suppositories (we recommend reading:). Such candles should be placed only when necessary. One candle, as a rule, solves the problem. Irregular stools and the inability of the child to poop on their own, the need to regularly resort to the help of candles is a signal to seek help from a pediatrician.
3. Enema or gas tube. These procedures are not recommended to be performed regularly. They should be used only as a life-saving remedy for severe bloating and the absence of stools for several days. About that, and an enema, read our article.
4. Gymnastics and tummy massage. Such physical activity will help the intestines to start working. In this case, there will be an active promotion of fecal masses and the discharge of gases.

In breastfed babies, yellowish or greenish color with a lactic acid smell and a mushy texture. If the newborn is lactose intolerant, the stool may be foamy. The color depends on what mommy eats. If more plant foods are eaten, then the shade of feces will be green and it should not frighten parents. Neonatologists say that there is no need to worry about the frequency of dirty diapers, and there is no special rate of bowel movements for babies. It is considered normal and 5 times a day and once every five days. A sufficient amount of milk received is judged by wet diapers.

In the first week, the baby poops meconium up to 3 times a day. In the second week, his bowel movements are still irregular. During this period, lactation is formed, and the baby adapts to milk and breasts. Up to a month and a half, the frequency of stool increases, colic and gases occur. By two months, the chair can be twice a day. It all depends on the characteristics of the baby's digestion. From six months, with the introduction of complementary foods, the consistency and smell change, and the frequency of defecation is reduced. If mommy is worried about the lack of a bowel movement or, conversely, his frequent occurrence, the newborn can be weighed. When he gains 150 g per day, the crumbs are all right.

If the newborn is on the mixture

The smell of artificial stool is similar to the smell of adult feces. He is brown or yellowish tinge depending on the mixture, and the composition is dense and voluminous. Such babies poop much less often, because even the most adapted and high-quality mixture is digested much longer than breast milk. After feeding, 3-4 hours can pass and only then the intestines will be ready for emptying. Hard stools can cause irregular stools, leading to hardness and constipation.

Important! A breastfed baby may not poop for a day, and this will be normal. But if the infant who is on mixtures does not poop during this time, his tummy will harden, and he will begin to worry, this will be a clear sign of stool retention and mother's intervention in the process is necessary.

It happens that the artificial suffers from diarrhea or constipation due to a mixture that does not suit him. You should discuss the problem with your doctor and gradually change it to another. Frequent transition from one mixture to another adversely affects the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract of the newborn. He will need to adapt to the new composition of the mixture and the frequency of the baby's stool will change.

With mixed feeding of a child

Feces of children mixed feeding mushy with bad smell. Defecation takes place twice a day, sometimes less often. Such children are prone to constipation and diarrhea, their intestines cannot fully digest and assimilate the mixture. It is important to pay attention to the mother's nutrition and the age at which the selected mixture is designed.

If the baby poops rarely, and the feces remain soft, there is no need to worry. But if it is hard and strong, the baby is straining, blushing and crying during bowel movements, you should consult a doctor and replace the supplement.

Difficult stool in a newborn

From signs to helping a child. This problem can lead to serious complications. Be careful!

Symptomsconstipation in children under one year is considered:

• a small amount of stool with a solid consistency;
• crying, anxiety;
• lack of appetite;
• tightening the legs;
• tension and screaming when trying to poop.

The causes of difficult stools in newborns can be different and depend on the type of feeding:

1. When the baby is breastfed, mommy needs to reconsider the menu (), which may contain fixing foods - bread, rice, pasta, semolina, persimmon, pomegranate, eggplant, smoked meats and coffee. They need to be replaced with vegetables, boiled meat, baked apples.
2. If the baby is on artificial or mixed feeding, probably, the mixture does not suit him. Problems stop as soon as the baby is transferred to fermented milk formulas for babies prone to constipation. Mom needs to carefully select the mixture, regulate the frequency of feeding and the amount of food eaten, its temperature. Do not forget about the water that artificial people need (). If the baby receives complementary foods, diluted plum or apricot juice, prunes or pear compote can be included in its menu.

Sometimes digestion is disturbed due to the early introduction of complementary foods or the introduction of foods that cause constipation. The cause of difficult stools can be regular overheating of the baby, when mommy dresses him too warmly, the room is stuffy and the newborn's underwear is made of synthetics. Medications, infectious diseases and fever, allergies - all this disrupts the digestive process.

When to Start Worrying as a Parent

When the baby is calm, in the absence of a chair, parents do not need to worry. But if gas formation increases, he refuses to eat, tightens his legs, blushes and cries, and there was no bowel movement for 48 hours, measures should be taken.

constipationnewborns are facilitated by such methods:

1. Syrup of lactulose. Active ingredient its - milk sugar, which has a positive effect on the intestines. This is a harmless laxative that is sold without a prescription and prescription from a doctor. It is necessary to give the drug in accordance with the instructions, starting from the weight and age of the child. It is impossible to exceed the recommended dose. A side effect is excessive gas formation.
2. Glycerin suppositories. Apply as needed. One candle quickly and effectively solves the problem. It is not necessary at the first delay in defecation and the absence of obvious signs of constipation to put it on the baby. But when he cannot poop normally without candles, you should consult a doctor.
3. And . Peculiar " ambulance”, when the stool delay dragged on for several days, while the tummy is swollen, the newborn suffers from colic and gas.
4. Massage clockwise, bending the legs, laying on the stomach alleviate the condition of the child. Sometimes this is enough to solve the problem. The intestines begin to work, and the feces gradually move towards the exit.

Important! It is impossible to treat crumbs on your own. If there is no stool for a long time, or it lingers too often, you need to consult a pediatrician who will advise effective drugs or procedures aimed at quickly resolving the problem.

Maybe, will appoint studies in order to exclude:

• Congenital anomalies in a child. In rare cases, infants cannot poop on their own and suffer chronic constipation. intestine due to congenital pathologies does not decrease, and the feces remain motionless, accumulating in the body. This disease is called Hirschsprung's disease. A clear sign is the flattened shape of the abdomen - doctors call it a frog. Only a doctor can diagnose the disease, and it is treated surgically. This rare anomaly, which affects one baby in 5000;
• neurological disorders. Occur due to severe pregnancy and difficult childbirth;
• lactose deficiency;
• Rickets;
• Diabetes;
• Thyroid problems - hypothyroidism or hyperparathyroidism.

This is usually preferred to remain silent, regardless of the importance of the issue. In the article you will find Full description all the characteristics of the stool and learn about your weak points in the gastrointestinal tract, which you didn’t know about!

“Blessed is he who early in the morning has a chair without compulsion:

He likes food and all other pleasures.”

A.S. Pushkin

It was said in Pushkin's genius: gracefully, ironically, and life-truthfully. I propose to discuss this topic, smoothly moving from poetry to the prose of life. Moreover, this prose is a vital criterion for our well-being and ability to enjoy being.

stool or feces- this is the contents of the lower sections of the colon, which is the end product of digestion and is excreted from the body during defecation. Individual characteristics stools can tell a lot about a person's health and help in making a diagnosis. For this, a scatological study is carried out (“scatology” in Greek means “the science of feces”). Feces are looked at under a microscope and leukocytes, erythrocytes are counted in it, the amount of fat, mucus, and undigested fibers is determined.

Any of us in Everyday life it is also sometimes worth looking at what we usually try to flush down the drain faster.

So stool observation is a way of observing own health. Everything is important here: the frequency of bowel movements, the daily amount of feces, its density, color, shape and smell. Let us analyze all the interpretations of the quality of the stool in the norm and in pathology in more detail.

1. Number of bowel movements.

NORM: regular one or two bowel movements per day with a strong urge to defecate and without pain. After defecation, the urge disappears, there is a feeling of comfort and complete emptying of the intestine. Ideally, the chair should be in the morning, a few minutes after waking up.

PATHOLOGY: no stool for more than 48 hours (constipation) or too frequent stools - up to 5 times or more per day (diarrhea). Violation of the frequency of defecation is a symptom of a disease and requires the consultation of a doctor (gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist or proctologist).

Diarrhea or diarrhea is the result of stool passing too quickly through colon where most of the water is absorbed. loose stool can be caused by many factors, including stomach viruses and food poisoning. It may also be the result food allergies and intolerances, such as lactose intolerance.

2. Daily amount of feces.

NORM: With a mixed diet, the daily amount of feces varies fairly widely and averages 150-400 g. So, when consumed mainly plant food the amount of feces increases, and the amount of feces, which is poor in "ballast" substances, decreases.

CHANGES: a significant increase (more than 400 g) or a decrease in the amount of feces.

An abnormally large excretion of feces from the body for at least three days, polyfecal matter, can be caused by diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder and biliary tract, pancreas, as well as malabsorption syndrome (impaired absorption of digested food in the intestine).

The reasons for the decrease in the amount of feces can be constipation, when, due to prolonged retention of feces in the large intestine and maximum absorption of water, the volume of feces decreases, or the predominance of easily digestible foods in the diet.

3. Excretion of feces and swimming in water.

NORM: soft immersion of feces to the bottom of the toilet bowl.

CHANGES: Insufficient amounts in food dietary fiber(less than 30 grams per day) feces are excreted quickly and splash into the toilet water.

If the stool floats or is poorly washed off with cold water from the walls of the toilet, this indicates that it has an increased amount of gases or contains too much undigested or undigested fat. The reason for this may be chronic pancreatitis, malabsorption, celiac disease (impaired function of the small intestine associated with a deficiency of enzymes that break down the gluten peptide). But! Feces can also float when eating large amounts of fiber.

4. Color of feces.

NORM: With a mixed diet, the feces are brown.

CHANGES: Dark brown - with a meat diet, constipation, indigestion in the stomach, colitis, putrefactive dyspepsia.

Light brown - with a milk-vegetarian diet, increased peristalsis intestines.

Light yellow - with a milk diet, diarrhea or impaired bile secretion (cholecystitis).

Reddish - when eating beets, with bleeding from the lower intestines (hemorrhoids, anal fissures, intestinal polyposis, ulcerative colitis).

Green - with a large amount of spinach, lettuce, sorrel in food; with dysbacteriosis, increased intestinal motility.

Tar-like or black - when eating blueberries or black currants; with bleeding from upper divisions gastrointestinal tract ( peptic ulcer, cirrhosis, colon cancer), when blood is swallowed during nose or pulmonary bleeding.

Greenish-black - when taking iron supplements.

Grayish-white stool means that bile does not enter the intestine (blockage of the bile duct, acute pancreatitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver).

5. Density and shape of feces.

NORM: Normally, feces are 70% water, 30% - from the remnants of processed food, dead bacteria and desquamated intestinal cells and has a cylindrical shape in the form of a soft round sausage. But! A large amount of plant foods in the diet makes the feces thick and mushy.

Normally, feces should not contain blood, mucus, pus, and the remains of undigested food!

CHANGES:

mushy stool - with increased intestinal motility, increased secretion in the intestine during its inflammation.

Very dense feces (sheep)- with constipation, colitis, spasms and stenosis of the colon.

ointment- in diseases of the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis), a sharp decrease in the flow of bile into the intestine ( cholelithiasis, cholecystitis).

Liquid- in violation of the digestion of food in the small intestine, malabsorption and accelerated passage of feces.

Foamy- with fermentative dyspepsia, when fermentation processes in the intestine prevail over all others.

Ribbon-like feces- in diseases accompanied by stenosis or severe and prolonged spasm of the sigmoid or rectum; with rectal cancer.

With a liquid consistency of the stool and frequent bowel movements, they speak of diarrhea.

Liquid-mushy or watery stools can be with a large intake of water.

Cheesy, frothy, like rising sourdough, the stool indicates the presence of yeast.

Small stools (pencil-shaped) may be a sign of polyposis or an enlarged colon tumor.

6. The smell of feces.

NORM: unpleasant but not annoying.

CHANGES: The smell depends on the composition of the food ( Strong smell gives meat food, sour - milk) and the severity of the processes of fermentation and decay.

Sour smell it also happens with fermentation dyspepsia, which is caused by excessive consumption of carbohydrates (sugar, flour products) and fermentation drinks, such as kvass.

Fetid- in violation of the function of the pancreas (pancreatitis), a decrease in the flow of bile into the intestine (cholecystitis), hypersecretion of the large intestine. Very foul-smelling stools may be due to bacterial overgrowth. Some bacteria produce hydrogen sulfide, which has a characteristic rotten odor.

Putrefactive- in violation of digestion in the stomach, putrefactive dyspepsia associated with excessive consumption of protein foods that are slowly digested in the intestines, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease.

faint smell- with constipation or accelerated evacuation from the small intestine.

7. Intestinal gases.

NORM: Gases are formed due to the work of microorganisms that make up the natural flora of the intestine. During defecation and outside of it in an adult, 0.2-0.5 liters of gas is excreted from the intestines per day. It is considered normal to release gas up to 10-12 times (but in general, the less, the better).

Normally, an increase in the amount of gases can be caused by eating following products: a large amount of carbohydrates (sugar, muffin); products containing a lot of fiber (cabbage, apples, legumes, etc.), products that stimulate fermentation processes (black bread, kvass, beer); dairy products with lactose intolerance; carbonated drinks.

PATHOLOGY: Flatulence, excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines (up to 3 liters), may indicate the development of certain diseases, namely: intestinal dysbacteriosis, chronic pancreatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic intestinal diseases (enteritis, colitis), gastritis, gastric ulcer And duodenum, chronic liver diseases (cholecystitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis), intestinal obstruction.