What are the hazards of constipation in the elderly? Because constipation is a common symptom with different severity, most people tend to ignore it and think that constipation is not a disease and does not need treatment, but in fact it is very harmful.
1 Anorectal diseases: constipation, difficulty in defecation, dry stool and thick stool can directly cause or aggravate anorectal diseases. Such as proctitis, anal fissure and hemorrhoids.
② Gastrointestinal dysfunction: When constipation occurs, feces stay and produce a lot of harmful substances. The absorption of these harmful substances will cause gastrointestinal nerve dysfunction, leading to loss of appetite, abdominal pain, belching, nausea, bitter taste and excessive anal exhaust.
(3) Intestinal ulcer: Hard feces compress the intestinal cavity, narrowing the tissue structure around the intestinal cavity and pelvic cavity, hindering the expansion of the colon, causing compression and ischemia of the rectum or colon, resulting in intestinal ulcer, which can cause intestinal perforation in severe cases.
4 Malignant tumor: Long-term constipation can lead to long-term retention of carcinogens in the intestine, which can induce rectal cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer.
⑤ Inducing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: Constipation can lead to life-threatening in the elderly. Because of constipation, especially in the elderly, the abdominal pressure increases when defecating, and holding one's breath hard, which leads to blood pressure and the inhibitory reflex of increased intracranial pressure and vagus nerve to the heart, thus leading to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, cerebral hemorrhage and sudden death.
⑥ Affect brain function: When constipation occurs, feces stay in the intestine for a long time, and bacteria in feces will produce a lot of harmful substances, such as methane, phenol, ammonia and other toxic gases. These toxins can spread to the central nervous system, which will viciously stimulate and damage brain function, manifested as memory loss, distraction and slow thinking. Long-term constipation may also lead to depression, anxiety and loneliness.
What should the elderly do with constipation? Constipation in the elderly is closely related to the decline of intestinal function and peristalsis. For this kind of constipation, you must not rely on laxatives and covet it? For a while? The result may be a vicious circle, leading to weakened intestinal peristalsis and drier intestines.
Therefore, elderly patients with constipation should be fully recuperated from life. (World Health Network) In addition to diet conditioning, we should also pay attention to the following points:
First, develop the habit of drinking water actively;
Second, if illness and physical strength permit, do some activities within your power according to your physical condition, such as walking, Tai Ji Chuan, gymnastics, etc.
Third, develop the habit of regular defecation, whether or not defecation, defecation on time;
Fourth, massage to relieve constipation: put your hands together again and apply force evenly. From the right lower abdomen, massage clockwise around the navel 100 times and counterclockwise 100 times, three times a day.
How do the elderly prevent constipation every day? 1, get into the habit of regular defecation.
Determine a suitable defecation time (preferably in the morning), and go to the toilet on time regardless of whether you defecate or not. As long as it persists for a long time, it will form a conditioned reflex of regular defecation.
Step 2 adjust your diet
The elderly should eat more foods containing more cellulose, such as coarse flour, brown rice, corn, celery, leek, spinach, fruit, etc., to increase dietary fiber and stimulate and promote intestinal peristalsis. Sesame and walnut kernels have the function of moistening intestines, and the elderly can also eat more appropriately.
3. Drink plenty of water properly
It is best for the elderly to drink a cup of warm water or honey water on an empty stomach every morning to increase intestinal peristalsis and promote defecation. Old people should also drink more water at ordinary times, and don't wait until they are thirsty.
4. Appropriate participation in sports.
The elderly should take part in sports, especially abdominal muscle exercise, to strengthen abdominal muscle strength, promote intestinal peristalsis and improve defecation ability. For the elderly who have been bedridden for a long time due to illness, their families can give them abdominal massage and gently push them from the right upper abdomen to the left lower abdomen to promote their intestinal peristalsis.
Step 5 stay optimistic
Negative emotions such as mental stress and anxiety can lead to or aggravate constipation. Therefore, the elderly should always be in a happy mood, and don't get angry easily to avoid constipation.
6, drug treatment can be carried out.
When the elderly have difficulty defecating, they can use drugs to help defecate. You can take paraffin oil, Maren Runchang pills, Niuhuang Jiedu tablets, lactulose and so on. Take orally, or put kaisailu or glycerin suppository into anus, or enema with soapy water.
Elderly constipation patients with insufficient middle qi can take Buzhong Yiqi Pill appropriately. However, it should be noted that elderly people who are often constipated should not use drugs for a long time to induce diarrhea, so as not to form dependence, thus reducing intestinal peristalsis and aggravating constipation.
Therefore, early prevention and reasonable treatment of constipation will reduce the serious consequences of constipation, improve the quality of life and reduce the psychological and family burden.