Treatment of constipation in the elderly is required if there is stool retention within 48 hours or if there is no satisfaction as a result of the defecation act. Unfortunately, the old people suffer from this problem quite often. And to avoid its severe consequences, it is very desirable to start treatment on time.
In what cases is it necessary to treat constipation in the elderly?
Causes of constipation in both young and elderly people can be very different:
- Most often, the elderly have to suffer because of a decrease in muscle tone. Lead to this irreversible age-related changes.
- A common cause is a disease of the rectum or anal area. Retired people are often diagnosed with hemorrhoids , cracks around the anus, tumors.
- In some cases, chronic constipation in an elderly person is due to an incorrect and unbalanced diet. The main trouble - in the diet of many people today is not enough fiber.
- Endocrine constipation is diagnosed when there is a disruption in the functioning of the endocrine glands - against the background of menopause, diabetes mellitus, myxedema.
The reason, which sometimes requires the treatment of constipation in the elderly, is the excessive use of medication. Getting along without medication to an old man is not so easy. They still feel better. And the fact that some drugs in parallel violate the functioning of the rectum, many retirees prefer to ignore.
Treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly
A very important component of the therapy is the diet. For each patient, a suitable diet is selected individually. As a rule, in the treatment of constipation in the elderly, menus are introduced in the menu:
- buckwheat and millet porridge;
- vegetable oil;
- dairy products;
- food bran;
- prune;
- dried apricots;
- sea kale;
- corn;
- raw vegetables.
Favorably on the digestive system in general and the rectum in particular affects the use of mineral waters.
Preparations for the treatment of constipation in the elderly
Often, changing the diet allows you to get rid of obstruction. But if the diet does not help, you have to resort to medicines:
- M-holinoblokatory and myotropic antispasmodics - Metacin, No-Shpu, Gastrotsepin, Papaverin - basically prescribed for spastic dyskinesia.
- Effective for the treatment and prevention of constipation in old age, intestinal motility stimulants: Propulsid, Metoplodmid.
- To soften the stool and to pass them speedily, glycerin suppositories , liquid paraffin, petrolatum, almond oil are used.
- To bring the microflora of the intestine back to normal will help Lactobacterin, Bifidumbacterin, Bifikol.
- To quickly cure constipation in elderly women, medicines irritating the receptor apparatus of the intestine are helped: Senna, Phenolphthalein, castor oil, Rhubarb, Gutallax.
Treatment of constipation in the elderly folk remedies
Traditional medicine also offers a variety of treatments:
- It is very effective for constipation infusion on flaxseeds. The drink should be infused in a cooling-off oven overnight. Before you take it, you do not need to strain the seeds.
- Helps to cleanse the intestines a mixture of yolk, castor oil, honey and water.
It should be eaten on a tablespoon every couple of hours. - The root of licorice with dill proved to be well established. Infusion on their basis is drunk on half a glass after a meal.
- Instead of tea with constipation, you can brew blackberry leaves. A healthy drink is recommended for 100 ml approximately half an hour before meals every day until relief comes.
- Tasty and very useful medicine is a mixture of steamed dried fruits.