Constipation in the elderly: why appears and what to do
AfterFor 50 years, every person undergoes cardinal changes in the body. The general hormonal background, the state of the nervous, immune and digestive systems, in particular, the intestines, changes. Constipation in the elderly is the result of age-related changes.
Treatment of stool delay is required provided that the defecation does not occur more than 48 hours or it does not bring relief. Similar in old age is common. To avoid the effects of constipation, it is necessary to address this problem as early as possible.
Features of constipation in the elderly
According to observations, constipation occurs in 50% of older women and men. With age, the contractile activity of the intestine weakens, so defecation becomes a problem. Simultaneously, many people have lowered the sensitivity of the anal sphincter, on the background of which they cease to feel the true urge to go to the toilet. These aspects often lead to stool retention in the elderly.
As a result of constipation, putrefactive microorganisms multiply actively in the intestine, provoking flatulence and gas formation. This condition leads to difficulty breathing and displacement of the heart muscle, violation of the total blood flow and pain in the heart.
Systematic straining with difficulty defecation increases the risk of developing hernias, and problems with blood circulation - heart attacks and strokes. That's why you need to know what to do with senile constipation, and not postpone treatment for later.
Help with constipation in the elderly should be carried out at the doctor's instructions after the examination and finding the cause of the problem. After all, if you do not know why the disease has arisen, the treatment will not be able to give the desired effect, and the patient's well-being will only worsen.
Reasons for
The causes of constipation in the elderly can be:
- anatomical lengthening of the intestine;
- weakness of muscular musculature, a decrease in its elasticity;
- reduction in muscle tone, their contractile activity;
- reception of a large number of drugs, the side effects of which is a negative effect on the digestive system.
In all these cases, the elderly have chronic constipation, that is, the bowel is emptied not regularly and not in its entirety. As for medicines, the most aggressive effect on the digestive tract is provided by drugs prescribed by cardiologists: calcium antagonists, inhibitors, diuretics. They often provoke the development of senile constipation.
Rarely, stool problems can occur for the following reasons:
- Non-compliance with drinking regimen. Nutrition in the dry, insufficient intake of fluid lead to alimentary retention in old age.
- Changes affecting the work of nervous mechanisms. Psychoemotional stress, neurosis, paralysis provoke the development of neurogenic stool delay.
- Hypodynamia, forced immobilization cause hypodynamic constipation in a recumbent elderly patient as a result of weakening intestinal motility.
- Cracks in the rectum and hemorrhoids also affect the defecation regime, provoking a proctogenic stool delay.
- Tumors, including oncological etiology, intestines or organs adjacent to its tissues. The narrowing of the lumen of the intestine as a result of the pathological process leads to mechanical constipation in the elderly person.
- Diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland and other endocrine disorders cause chronic problems with the stool.
Symptoms of constipation
Multiplicity of bowel evacuation can vary from daily to three times a week. If the stool appears less often, then the bowel does not work correctly. What to do with constipation in the elderly, if the following symptoms appear, the doctor determines.
Symptomatic of constipation:
- dry and dense feces, reminiscent of sheep - in the form of small dark lumps or balls, less often - tape or cord-like;
- abdominal pains associated with intestinal overflow and impaired motor function;
- flatulence, bloating;
- involuntary adverse reactions from the internal organs - pain in the heart, tachycardia, migraine.
also always causes constipation poor appetite, belching air, unpleasant taste in the mouth, abnormal function, neurosis, sleep disorders. Chronic problems with the stool negatively affect the appearance of the patient - the skin becomes yellowish, loses elasticity.
Diagnostics
What should I do if I die in an elderly person? First of all, consult a doctor and perform a diagnosis.
prerequisites for a referral to a specialist should be following problems:
- bowel movements at least 3 times a week;
- physical stress( straining) during the emptying of the intestine;
- is a dense and tubercular structure of fecal masses;
- feeling of incomplete bowel movement.
To find out how to deal with constipation in the elderly, the doctor prescribes the following diagnostic methods :
- analysis - feces crop on flora and histological study of biopsies of the intestinal mucosa;
- Instrumental methods - irrigoscopy, colonoscopy and study of motility of the large intestine.
The treatment of constipation in the elderly
Elderly people prefer to choose to deal with a delay chair laxatives without consulting your doctor. Self-medication is not recommended until the cause of the problem is established. What to take with constipation in old age - the doctor should decide.
If the disorder of the stool is not caused by organic causes, the therapy package includes:
- Laxative tablets from constipation for the elderly( locally irritating - castor oil, Senadé, Glaxena, secretory and stimulating - Glycosulfate, Cisapride, Volumetric - Mukofalk, agar-agar, softening - vaseline oil).
- Diet for constipation in the elderly is the increased content of dietary fiber. Using a day at least 30 grams of fiber, the patient will notice a positive shift in the sluggish intestine. To do this, the menu for constipation in the elderly should include more fresh vegetables, fruits, bran and whole grain cereals. It is also recommended to drink a glass of cold water every morning on an empty stomach to stimulate intestinal motility.
- Physical exercises with constipation in the elderly. As a result of the hypodynamic way of life, the digestive tract suffers. Set it to help walk on the open air and 15-minute charge in the morning. Positive effect on the work of the intestine is provided by such exercises with constipation in the elderly, such as "bicycle", "scissors" and other actions aimed at strengthening the muscles of the press.
- Also it is necessary to note sparing gymnastics at a constipation at the elderly, consisting in self-massage .The procedure is performed in the morning, immediately after awakening. With the right hand on the right side of the abdominal wall, the stomach is massaged from the bottom upwards without strong pressure. Then the same is done with the left hand on the left side of the abdomen, but the movements should be directed downwards. If the massage worked, soon the urge to defecate should appear. This method is relevant for constipation in elderly recumbent people who can not perform full exercise.
for therapeutic purposes is not recommended to use harsh laxatives( eg, osmotic agents) and an enema for constipation in the elderly. The leaching of salts and trace elements from the body, resulting from these procedures, can worsen the patient's condition.
Prevention
Prevention of constipation in the elderly should primarily be aimed at improving the state of the nervous system and treating diseases of the digestive system. As for specific preventive measures, for this purpose, the normalization of the drinking regime, physical activity and the need to pay attention to nutrition in case of constipation in the elderly.
Treatment of problems with the stool will give positive results if the choice of therapy involves a doctor. The therapeutic effect should include not only medicines, but also a diet, and a set of physical exercises. This allows you to quickly solve the problem - what to do with an old man's constipation?
Author: Olga Rogozhkina doctor,
specifically for Moizhivot.ru
