Chronic Constipation

Question 1

Chronic constipation

Answer 1

Decreased motility of the intestines; the inability to pass stools regularly or empty the bowels completely

Question 2

What happens in the large intestines during defecation?

Answer 2

The large intestines dissolve the water and salts, causing the waste products to become film and turn into stool.

Question 3

Constipation

Answer 3

When faeces remain in the colon for prolonged periods of time, excessive water absorption occurs and faeces become hard and dry; hard stools move more slowly through the system which can lead to blockages.

Question 4

Symptoms

Answer 4

Infrequent stools less than three times a week, excessive straining, large foul smelling faeces/rabbit droppings, flatulence, abdominal distension, nausea, loss of appetite, lethargic

Question 5

Treatment

Answer 5

Diet advice, behavioural advice, medication, disimpaction theory

Question 6

Disimpaction theory

Answer 6

Oral laxatives, suppositories, enemas, manual evacuation and water irrigation

Question 7

Diet advice

Answer 7

Sufficient fibre and fluid intake

Question 8

Behavioural advice

Answer 8

Scheduled toileting, rewards and encouragement

Question 9

Medication

Answer 9

Stopping drugs that cause constipation and paracetamol for pain relief

Question 10

Oral laxatives

Answer 10

Stool softeners, osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives

bulk forming laxatives

Question 11

Stool softners

Answer 11

Reduce the absorption of fluid in the intestines

Question 12

Osmotic laxatives

Answer 12

Draws water in the bowels and softens the stools

Question 13

Stimulant laxatives

Answer 13

Induces a bowel movement by speeding up colonial muscle motility

Question 14

Bulk forming laxatives

Answer 14

Stools to retain fluid, make them denser and softer

Question 15

Suppositries

Answer 15

Draw water into the intestines

Question 16

Enemas

Answer 16

Draw fluid into the bowel

Question 17

Why does constipation cause foul smelling faeces?

Answer 17

Not emptying the bowel regularly can cause bacteria and odour to develop that causes faeces to smell

Question 18

Why does constipation cause loss of appetite?

Answer 18

Constipation can cause a build up of toxins which are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream leading to an increase of bacteria. It can create a nauseous feeling

Question 19

Why does constipation cause flatulence?

Answer 19

As waste sits in the colon, it ferments, wasting extra gas