Treatment of constipation in older people with enemas, medications and folk remedies

Issues discussed in the material:

• What are the causes of constipation in older people?
• How to provide first aid for constipation in an elderly person
• How to treat constipation in older people
• What preventive measures are required for chronic constipation in the elderly?

Elderly people often suffer from constipation. It occurs due to normal age-related changes that occur in the intestines. But there is no need to ignore this state of affairs: stagnation of feces has a detrimental effect on the body, poisoning it and worsening health. We will tell you in our article how constipation should be treated in older people.

Types of constipation and their signs

Constipation can be divided into the following types:

1. Neurogenic difficulty in defecation. Some people are unable to go to the toilet in unusual settings, such as at work, at a party, or anywhere other than at home. When the body gives signals for bowel movements, the patient consciously restrains the urge, and this leads to chronic constipation. Another cause of stool stagnation is hemorrhoids or anal fissures. At the same time, the elderly patient feels pain during defecation, unconsciously fears the next trip to the toilet and puts it off until later.

People who wake up late in the morning often suffer from stool retention. Ignoring the biological clock and natural reflex, after a while they receive a refusal from the body to communicate the need.

2. Alimentary constipation occurs when the patient eats monotonous food, that is, fiber and the required amount of fluid and vitamins do not enter the body. Those with a sweet tooth and lovers of flour products also suffer from difficulty defecating.

3. Among people leading a sedentary lifestyle are pregnant women, the elderly, and the disabled.

4. Mechanical type constipation. Occurs due to diseases of the large intestine and compression of the rectum by other segments of the intestine. This disorder mainly affects older people.

5. Protogenic difficulty in defecation. Occurs with ulcers, fissures and diseases of the anus, increased sensitivity of the rectum.

6. Acute constipation. Appears with intestinal inflammation caused by colitis or anal fissures.

7. Constipation of endocrine type. Occurs with diabetes mellitus and disruption of the thyroid gland. Often this phenomenon occurs when hormonal levels change, for example, during menopause.

8. Drug-induced constipation. It happens due to taking certain medications, for example, antispasmodics, painkillers, antidepressants, etc.

There are two types of constipation:

1. Acute type.

Acute constipation is constipation in which bowel movement does not occur for several days and occurs spontaneously, during stressful situations, with changes in diet, and is accompanied by abdominal pain. Important! If bowel movement does not occur within a week, you should immediately seek help from a doctor. He will conduct an examination and make a diagnosis, according to which treatment will be prescribed. Prolonged stool retention may indicate intestinal obstruction. This disease requires urgent treatment (enemas and laxatives are prescribed) to prevent poisoning of the body. Acute constipation in most cases becomes chronic.

2. Chronic type.

A chronic form of constipation is called intestinal dysfunction, in which bowel movements occur less than three times in seven days (the situation repeats regularly and lasts for a long time). There is a passage of stone-like feces and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestinal tract. Chronic constipation in older people requires emergency treatment as prescribed by a doctor.

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Treatment of chronic constipation must be carried out, otherwise they can provoke complications of varying severity:

• Cracks in the anus occur as a result of damage to the mucous membrane of the final section of the intestine by passing solid feces. Wounds and cracks can have different depths, and if they are not treated, the disease will become chronic. The patient experiences severe pain, which becomes unbearable during bowel movements. The worst thing is that an infection can enter the body through the crack (from unsterile stool). In such a situation, an abscess develops - paraproctitis, and if bacteria enter the blood, sepsis will be inevitable.
• Hemorrhoids. The dilated blood vessels of the intestines bleed when strained, sometimes heavily. Bleeding repeats regularly, causing anemia; in addition, with hemorrhoids, the patient feels acute pain in the intestinal area.
• Chronic poisoning. The large intestine is responsible for absorbing fluid from stool and removing it from the body. When stool stops moving (due to constipation or spasm), intestinal enzymes continue to suck out water, and along with it, harmful substances that were not eliminated during the bowel movement enter the bloodstream. As a result, intoxication of the body occurs.
• Diverticulosis of the large intestine. The formation of peculiar pockets, convex places on the intestinal walls, where food debris gets trapped. Undigested pieces cause inflammation and intoxication. If the inflammation of the diverticulum walls does not decrease, the cells can degenerate into cancer.

If, when self-medicating an elderly person, you use only a laxative (drops or suppositories), the intestines will stop working on their own and will be “lazy” until the next time you take the medicine. It is very difficult to make the intestinal tract work again without auxiliary means. You should use laxatives only as an extremely necessary aid in the first case of constipation.

To prevent these complications from occurring, the elderly person needs to visit a gastroenterology specialist to undergo the necessary examinations (abdominal x-ray, stool test and ultrasound examination). Before diagnosis, you need to follow a three-day diet and take activated carbon or any sorbent. Based on the results of the study, the doctor will prescribe treatment. If an elderly person is bedridden, then you should definitely invite a therapist to your home.

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Laxatives to relieve constipation

Mild laxatives are often prescribed as first aid for constipation in older people. They allow you to get rid of unpleasant sensations and nagging pains that arise due to problems with stool. Existing laxatives usually contain the following components that help combat constipation:

• agents that can cause chemical irritation of the intestinal receptor apparatus. These include senna, rhubarb, gutallax, phenolphthalein, castor oil, etc.;
• agents that can inhibit water absorption. This group includes sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, Carlsbad salt, etc.;
• drugs that help increase the volume of intestinal contents. These are bran, agar-agar, methyl cellulose, seaweed;
• means that soften stool. These include vaseline and almond oils, liquid paraffin, etc.

Up to contents

First aid and treatment of constipation in the elderly

Treatment of pathology in older people should be prescribed at the first visit to the doctor. A long delay in defecation is very dangerous for the body. After determining the causes of chronic constipation and determining an accurate diagnosis, the patient is prescribed home therapy without taking medications:

• Fasting days and diets are a great way to get rid of problems with bowel movements. You need to change your diet and replace unhealthy foods with foods rich in fiber.
• Drink plenty of water (more than two liters per day).
• Try to move more.
• If you are taking medications for other diseases, ask your doctor to change or discontinue the drug that causes stool retention.

Proper nutrition for older people is an excellent treatment and prevention of constipation. Stick to a special menu, be sure to consume dairy and fermented milk products, buckwheat, oatmeal, semolina porridge, vegetables, fruits, and puree soups. Diet for constipation in older people is a treatment. You need to focus on foods high in fiber - legumes, nuts, berries, herbs and various vegetables. You should take it often, but in small portions, about once every three hours.

To maintain your routine, you can have breakfast at 8 a.m. and set your last meal at 8 p.m. Please note that the daily salt intake should not exceed two grams.

To help the body cope with the problem and “accustom” the intestines to daily bowel movements, doctors advise drinking a glass of cold water on an empty stomach.

30 minutes after the first meal, an elderly person should try to go to the toilet “largely”. But if nothing works out, don't panic. The patient needs to continue his usual lifestyle, and not sit on the toilet until the evening, trying to finish what he started. You should try again to have a bowel movement the next day, but first administer a glycerin suppository for an accurate result. The active ingredients of rectal suppositories irritate the intestinal lining and reflexively cause defecation. After a few days, you should try to have a bowel movement in the same order, but without the help of laxative suppositories.

Treatment of constipation is carried out by three well-known methods:

1. Enema.

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If stool retention lasts more than three days, a cleansing enema is required. Only a doctor can prescribe such treatment! After the enema, the patient needs to be helped to wash himself. If the patient feels pain in the anus, it is necessary to give him an anesthetic suppository rectally.

What you need for an enema:

• glycerin or petroleum jelly;
• Esmarch's irrigator;
• disposable diapers (90*60 cm). If an elderly patient is unable to quickly get to the toilet, it is better to also buy a duck (in medical equipment stores or a pharmacy).

How to give an enema correctly:

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• You need to wash all parts of Esmarch's mug with warm soapy water. Be sure to boil the tip for three minutes.
• Pour in 1-1.5 liters of cold or cool water (about 18-23 degrees Celsius). The water should not be warm, otherwise it will quickly be absorbed into the intestinal walls and increase the amount of fluid in the vessels, which is very dangerous for life. But keep in mind that using excessively cold water is also prohibited - through the vagus nerve it can harm the functioning of the heart.
• Clamp the tube coming from the water container with a clamp. Squeeze the tube and insert the narrow part into the special ring that comes with the mug. If water does not flow out of the raised container through the tip, then everything is done correctly.
• Place a diaper under the pelvis of an elderly person; this will save the bed from getting wet.
• Help the patient lie down, preferably on his left side. But if the patient cannot move, then place him on his back and place a duck under his pelvis.
• Put a sterile glove on your hand and lubricate the tip of the tube with petroleum jelly (glycerin).
• Ask the patient to relax and calmly, without sudden movements, insert the tip into the anus 3–5 cm.
• Hold the tip with one hand so that it does not come out, and with the other, lift the enema as high as possible without pulling on the tube.
• Pull back the locking clip to allow the water to flow out.
• Check with the patient whether he feels the intestines filling with water. If the water does not come out, you need to remove the tip and rinse it with running water.
• Repeat the procedure from the beginning.
• Infuse water according to the patient's capabilities. Ask the elderly person in advance to stop you when he needs to go to the toilet.
• Carefully remove the tip from the anus, cover the thighs and pelvis of the bedridden patient with a sheet and go into another room. Ask a relative to call you when the bowel movement is complete. Leave a roll of toilet paper or wet wipes in the accessible area.

You can do an enema with chamomile infusion. Cleansing with an enema causes intestinal irritation, especially in older people, this must be taken into account. You can do small-volume enemas of 150–200 grams with herbal decoctions. It's best to do this in the morning. For persistent constipation, thin older people can benefit from colon cleansing with a mixture of water and sodium chloride.

If the old man is bedridden, then restoration of intestinal functions without an enema is impossible. Moreover, chronic constipation worsens the patient’s general condition, already complicated by the inability to move. Relatives are obliged to help the patient cope with the current situation. It is necessary to provide an elderly person with comfortable living conditions, quality care, appropriate nutrition and qualified treatment.

Bedridden patients are advised to cleanse the intestines with mineral water. It softens feces and gently removes them from the body. In addition to feces, the intestines are cleansed of mucus and pus. Before doing the enema, warm up the mineral water a little and administer about 100 ml using an Esmarch mug. Within a few minutes, bowel movements will begin and the patient will feel better.

At home, you can prepare a decoction of medicinal herbs for an enema. This remedy liquefies hard stool, but does not correct problems in the gastrointestinal tract. Pour linden, chamomile and motherwort herbs with water and cook for about 20 minutes, then strain and cool the broth. After cooling the infusion, you can perform an enema with a special bulb.

If the patient remains motionless for a long time, his health condition noticeably worsens. Stool retention is a common problem for bedridden patients. When there is no bowel movement for a long time, poisoning of the body begins. If you are unable to induce defecation in an elderly person yourself, you need to call an ambulance.

2. Drug treatment.

A known treatment for constipation is taking a laxative (tablets, suspensions). Please note that only a doctor can prescribe laxatives and monitor the treatment of older people! Unauthorized use of medications with a laxative effect can be addictive. To combat constipation in older people, treatment with the following drugs is prescribed:

• Drugs that irritate the intestinal walls and enhance their contraction (Senadexin, Senade, Guttalax). These drugs give a quick effect. But they cannot be used for a long time.
• Medicines that retain fluid in the intestines are osmotic drugs (Magnesium Sulfate, Forlax).
• Prebiotics with a laxative effect (Duphalac, Lactulose). These drugs do not cause addiction, but the result occurs 1–2 days after administration. Prebiotics are natural laxatives that are safe for older adults.
• Herbal preparations - Fitomucil, Fitolax. Softens stool, which facilitates its painless removal.

To treat chronic stool retention in older people, any form of laxatives can be used: suppositories, tablets, syrups, suspensions and chewable candies. Before choosing a medicine, take into account all concomitant diseases and possible reactions (allergies) to drugs.

3. Treatment with traditional recipes.

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Medical treatment is effective, but has many side effects. If intestinal stagnation is a rare phenomenon, and it is not caused by dangerous diseases, then you can try traditional methods of treating constipation in older people.

Practice shows that folk recipes help no worse than traditional medicine. They cause almost no side effects, but before starting treatment, it is better to consult a doctor.

• Water.

Drinking water is an excellent cure for intestinal congestion in older people. In the morning before breakfast, you need to drink 2-3 glasses of warm water, drink in small sips, maintaining calm breathing. Only 25–30 minutes after this you can sit down to have breakfast. Repeat this manipulation every day, then you will forget about problems with stool retention.

• Treatment with vegetable oils.

A very effective and harmless method of treating fecal stasis in older people (and not only) is to drink a tablespoon of any vegetable oil (unrefined) before meals. After this remedy, even the longest constipation will be overcome. Sunflower, flaxseed, and olive oils, due to the content of beneficial microelements, have a healing effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Add them to cooked dishes or salads.

• Fresh vegetable juices.

Eating vegetables is very beneficial in combating constipation. Vegetable juices also give a good effect. In particular, pumpkin juice acts as a laxative. Juice from tomatoes and cabbage also has this property; they need to be mixed in the same ratio. You can also combine cucumber, carrot and beet juice.

Vegetable juices should be drunk in two glasses immediately after preparation; they cannot be stored.

• Dried fruits.

A healthy and tasty treatment for constipation is dried fruits. This is a safe way to overcome stool retention in elderly patients. Dried fruits can be used in different ways. Place several dry fruits in a cup, pour boiling water over them, and let steep for 20 minutes. Then drink the infusion and eat the fruits.

A mixture of dried fruits is an excellent way to treat constipation in older people at home. Grind prunes, dried apricots, white raisins and walnuts in a blender or meat grinder. Take all ingredients in equal quantities. Add honey and flax seed to the dry fruit mixture. Every day, after drinking two glasses of water, you need to eat a tablespoon of the prepared mixture. This remedy should be taken with a break of one month.

• Treatment with rhubarb root.

Rhubarb root is considered the best remedy in folk medicine for treating stool retention in the elderly. It helps to get rid of even long-term constipation. But taking rhubarb is addictive, so older people should not abuse this treatment.

Before use, the rhubarb rhizome must be crushed. Pour boiling water over two tablespoons of the product and leave. You need to drink 100 grams of medicine before bedtime.

• Treatment with medicinal herbs.

For frequent constipation in older people, try treatment with folk remedies. For example, herbs, but they should not be used by people with chronic pathologies. Before taking it, you should definitely consult your doctor.

A unique remedy for treating constipation is plantain. To improve the functioning of the digestive tract, it is recommended to consume seeds. Two tablespoons of plantain seeds are poured into one glass of boiling water and boiled for a couple of minutes. Then you need to leave the broth for an hour and strain. You need to drink the product once a day, on an empty stomach.

Burdock is used to treat chronic constipation in older people. The dried leaves need to be ground into powder. Then pour two tablespoons of the dry plant into 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave. Drink half a glass every morning on an empty stomach.

Flaxseed will help save you from stool retention. Pour boiling water over the herb and leave for 14 days. Then dilute with water and drink 2 tablespoons before meals.

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Universal exercise for constipation

For any type of difficulty, spastic or atonic, or in the absence of defecation at all, the main and main form of exercise therapy for constipation, which is indicated for absolutely everyone without exception, is breathing exercises, namely, static diaphragmatic breathing performed at rest, i.e. without physical movements of the torso and/or limbs.

Diaphragmatic breathing for constipation is done in any starting position

The dosage of diaphragmatic breathing cycles is individual. Some older patients can only do 2-3 accentuated inhalations and exhalations with their stomachs, while others are well enough to do more repetitions. However, in any case, you need to “breathe with your stomach” not only every day, but also as often as possible, preferably every half hour, for 1-3 minutes.

The technique of diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing for constipation is extremely simple:

1. Starting position - any: lying, lying with bent legs, sitting, standing, standing in a semi-tilt, with the palms resting on the middle of the thighs of the legs slightly bent at the knees.
2. When inhaling, the chest should be kept motionless, inflating (protruding) the stomach.
3. As you exhale, tighten your abdominal muscles, pulling your stomach in as much as possible.

Advice. For the first couple of days of practicing diaphragmatic breathing, keep one palm on the heart area and the other on the navel. This will help control the immobility of the chest and the movements of the anterior abdominal wall. In the future, to enhance the therapeutic effect while lying on your back, you can place a small weight on your stomach, for example, a bag of cereal (0.3-1 kg).

Prevention of chronic constipation in old age

To prevent constipation, older people need to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Spend more time in the fresh air, do gymnastics and massage to maintain intestinal function. You can drink a glass of juice before breakfast. A cup of coffee taken before breakfast will make the intestines contract better. Much attention should be paid to proper nutrition.

It is better to prevent constipation than to treat it. To do this, you should follow simple precautions:

• You need to go to the toilet on a schedule. Set a time to visit the restroom and stick to your routine. Every day, about half an hour after your first meal, you need to sit on the toilet and strain. Repeat this procedure every day, and the body will get used to emptying the intestines without problems and effort.
• Follow a meal schedule. Eat small portions, but often.
• Don't ignore your bowel movements. Stop whatever you are doing and go to the toilet.
• Bedridden elderly people with constipation definitely need enemas. But a doctor should prescribe such treatment; follow his recommendations. Do not get carried away with forced colon cleansing, this will only make the problem worse. The body will get used to outside interference and will stop excreting feces on its own.
• Adjust the elderly person’s diet; the menu should include fermented milk products and dried fruits.
• You need to eat often, but in small portions. You can't overeat.
• For older people suffering from intestinal stagnation, it is advisable to do morning exercises. The exercises are performed in a horizontal position, lying on the bed. The following techniques have an excellent effect: “scissors”, “bicycle” and other abdominal strengthening exercises. Walking is a must; it improves the functioning of both the cardiovascular system and the musculoskeletal system (muscles, joints, bones). Low activity in old age leads to fecal stagnation. You can resort to abdominal massage to normalize motor skills.

Exercises for constipation can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LdCrNwpMx0

Symptoms

Constipation is a condition in which an elderly person experiences these symptoms:

• Painful and difficult bowel movements. A person requires additional manipulations, for example, manual pressure on the perineum;
• Feces come out in small pieces;
• The intestines do not empty completely;
• The person goes to the toilet less than three times a week and does not have a bowel movement for more than two days.

Chronic constipation is indicated by cramping pain in the abdomen, false urge to defecate, nausea and belching.

Features of therapeutic exercises against constipation

Exercise therapy is an important part of the treatment and prevention of constipation.
Gymnastics for constipation for the elderly and elderly people are compiled according to the following methodological instructions:

• The quantity and duration of the therapeutic gymnastics complex depends on the motor mode:
  bed – 5-10 minutes, 4-5 times a day;
• half-bed – 15-20 minutes, 3 times a day;
• free – 30 minutes, 1-2 times a day.
• The lesson is held shortly before the main meal. You should not do exercises immediately after eating. You have to wait 30-45 minutes.
• Exercise is prohibited at high body temperature, exacerbation of chronic pathologies, during the acute period of infectious diseases, in the presence of any acute pain syndrome, or high blood pressure. The exception is breathing exercises. Static diaphragmatic breathing should be done in any case. Little by little, but often.
• For spastic constipation, gymnastics includes techniques of relaxing self-massage of the abdomen and lower back with alternating exercises:
  general developmental nature;
• respiratory;
• diaphragmatic breathing performed in motion;
• to relax the abdominal muscles (the main part of the lesson);
• to maintain the tone of the abdominal and back muscles, but without static tension, straining and overexertion.
• The basis of therapeutic exercises for atonic senile constipation is static and dynamic exercises for the muscles of the abdomen, pelvic floor and back. They are “diluted” with cycles of deep diaphragmatic breathing, general developmental exercises and techniques of deep self-massage of the abdomen. In this case, it is necessary to frequently change the starting positions from which these exercises are performed.
• The number of repetitions of each exercise to tone the abdominal muscles is until you feel slightly tired, and breathing exercises should not cause discomfort or dizziness. All other types of exercises should be repeated on average 4-6 times, no more. Let us give as an example some types of therapeutic movements for constipation that older people can perform.

Special exercises for spastic intestinal problems

In the vast majority of cases, spastic constipation develops due to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, so exercises for constipation are included in exercise therapy complexes compiled by a doctor to treat the underlying disease.

Light exercises for atonic constipation in the elderly

For the treatment and prevention of problems with atonic stool eruption, any exercises that pump up the abdominal and back muscles are suitable. Another thing is that not all of them can be performed in old age.

Here are a few examples of exercises that are suitable for retirees of different ages. By the way, all of the above exercises are not contraindicated for this type of constipation.

Like any other exercise therapy session, finish the exercises for constipation with the final exercises. Before lying down in Shavasana yoga pose for 3 minutes, stand on your right leg and then on your left leg in Golden Rooster pose for as long as you can. Balancing on one leg has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and rejuvenates the entire body as a whole.

Golden rooster standing on one leg and Savasana