Nutrition and diets 

What are the folk remedies for constipation in the elderly? Treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly

Gives a lot of discomfort to a person. The main cause of the pathology is intestinal atony and a decrease in the patient's physical activity. carried out using a large number of drugs, as well as physiotherapy.

The main cause of the pathology is a decrease in the activity of the intestinal walls, leading to a slower movement of feces. A sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition and taking a large number of medications also negatively affect. Postoperative operations can provoke the early formation of pathology.

Violation of the stool in people aged 60-80 years occurs 2-3 times more often than in patients under the age of 40 years. The disease is characterized by a weakening of the muscles of the abdomen and pelvis, a violation of peristalsis and the resulting problems with emptying. In addition, the amount of beneficial intestinal flora is significantly reduced. E. coli no longer fulfills its role, the number of enzymes is sharply reduced, and the reproduction of microbes due to a decrease in local immunity occurs much faster. This leads to the development of putrefactive processes.

Complications of the disease

If constipation is not treated in a timely manner, then the likelihood of developing complications such as fecal ulcers that form in the area of ​​retention of feces increases. Often, due to the delay in emptying, the liquid is absorbed by the walls of the intestine and the masses are compacted, forming dense fecal stones, which can provoke intestinal obstruction.

Features of the treatment of pathology of senile constipation

Therapy for senile constipation includes the use of drugs such as painkillers, laxatives, sedatives and sleeping pills. Separately, it is necessary to consider therapy using. The difficulty is that such procedures cause irritation of the intestinal walls in older patients. Exactly the same reaction to rectal suppositories. For this reason, in the first place, a diet with a lot of fiber, dairy products and vegetable fats is prescribed. It is important to regularly walk in the fresh air and move as often as possible. Constipation in a bedridden patient of senile age allows the introduction of enemas in the amount of 150-200 grams in the morning with a decoction of herbs, for example, chamomile.

To normalize the stool, it is recommended to drink a glass of cold water in the morning and one tablespoon of vegetable oil before each meal. If senile constipation occurs, treatment includes a diet high in fermented milk products, coarse fiber, raw fruits, vegetables and cereals.

Treatment can be carried out with the use of senna or buckthorn herbs. The dosage is selected individually, since each organism reacts to decoctions in its own way. Use decoctions and during the day before meals, 100-150 grams.

Burnt magnesia performed well. The powder must first be mixed with a small amount of water and quickly drunk in the form of a suspension. You need to use the composition 2-3 times a day. Such treatment improves the production of bile and normalizes the stool. At the same time, painful urges and discomfort do not appear during the act of defecation. Do not forget about pharmaceutical preparations, such as bisacodyl and candles with glycerin, but you should not get carried away with them.

Knowing what to do with senile constipation, you can easily normalize the stool and prevent complications, thereby alleviating the patient's condition.

Constipation is difficult or systematically insufficient bowel movement. A similar diagnosis is made if the act of defecation is delayed by more than 48 hours. According to statistics, about 50% of people over 60 suffer from constipation. What is the cause of defecation disorders? What is the best treatment for constipation in the elderly? Is it possible to carry out therapy independently and how effective is it? Let's start in order.

Causes of constipation

With age, the motor function of the intestines, especially the large intestine, begins to weaken, as a result of which fecal eruption becomes more difficult. In addition, due to a decrease in the sensitivity of the anal sphincter, the urge to defecate is not always felt. These factors are the main ones in senile constipation. In addition, bowel problems can be caused by:

  • low fluid intake;
  • malnutrition (lack of fiber-rich foods in the diet);
  • sedentary lifestyle;
  • regular intake of medications.

In some cases, chronic constipation in the elderly can be the result of various diseases. For example, a violation of bowel movements is considered common if the patient's history includes such ailments as:

  • atherosclerosis;
  • parkinsonism;
  • diabetes;
  • depression.

It is advisable to treat constipation in the elderly under the supervision of health workers in order to stop complications that may occur due to digestive disorders in time.

Constipation in the elderly: what to do

First of all, with regular violations, the patient should be examined for the possible presence of the above diseases. Otherwise, therapy will not give a lasting result, and the underlying disease will be launched. If the violation is caused by taking medications, then laxatives are prescribed. It is worth noting that the treatment of constipation in the elderly is not recommended with the help of potent drugs, enemas or washes. The main therapy is light drugs, massage, diet and folk remedies.

Laxatives

If difficulties cannot be eliminated by massage or diet, laxatives are prescribed. Treatment of constipation in the elderly is carried out with the safest and at the same time effective medicines. For example, the drug "Normolax", which has a unique composition. Its main components are plum pulp and psyllium seeds. They are not addictive and have no side effects. Therefore, the reception of "Normolax" is not limited by time frames.

Regulax is another remedy for constipation in the elderly. Despite the fact that the drug has a strong effect, its use is allowed. This is explained by the naturalness of the components. Like the previous remedy, "Regulax" is not addictive. In addition, it tastes good and lasts for quite a long time - about 10 hours.

Prelax is a prebiotic used for constipation in babies. Its use in conjunction with other drugs allows you to permanently stabilize the work of the intestines in an elderly person. Despite the huge benefits, the drug also has a disadvantage in the form of a side effect. Due to its regular use, flatulence may develop, so it should be taken carefully.

Constipation in the elderly: nutrition

Patients suffering from intestinal disorders should pay attention to their diet. A diet for constipation in the elderly necessarily includes foods rich in plant fiber. These include: fruits, herbs, dairy products, fresh vegetables, coarse black bread, bran, honey, cereals. In addition, it is required to increase the amount of fluid. Food for constipation in the elderly should be regular and frequent, at least four times a day. Fried foods, milk, white and cauliflower, legumes, red meat should be excluded from the menu as much as possible.

Treatment of constipation with dried fruits

Traditional medicine in its arsenal has many recipes that can help older people normalize bowel function. Treatment with dried fruits will relieve constipation and will not harm the body. Mix 80-100 g of raisins, prunes, nuts, dried apricots. The prepared mass is crushed with a blender or in a meat grinder, add the same amount of natural honey (if there is no allergy) and senna herbs (pre-crush into powder). The mass is stirred until smooth. Use at bedtime for 20 g. It is recommended to store the medicine in the refrigerator. The shelf life is long and is 1 year.

There are several recipes with dried fruits. In another, the mixture described above is recommended to be consumed in the morning, adding 100 g of crushed flax seeds to it.

Prunes, raisins and ginger for constipation

Mix 50 g of grapefruit pulp, ginger root, honey, prunes and senna grass. The whole mass is well mixed. Use 1 des. l. shortly before sleep.

A decoction of raisins has a good effect. It is brewed with boiling water (30 g per 300 ml of water) and insisted in a thermos for a couple of hours. Use once a day for half a cup.

Flaxseed oil for constipation in the elderly

Flaxseed oil occupies one of the leading positions among the drugs used for defecation disorders. It contains many vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to humans. Therefore, in addition to combating constipation, the oil will also enrich the body with nutrients. It is very easy to use it. For example, you can add 15 ml of oil to a glass of natural yogurt and drink it before going to bed. The result of treatment, as a rule, can be expected in the morning. In chronic constipation, it is advisable to drink 5-7 ml of flaxseed oil on an empty stomach regularly.

This product can be added to food. However, it should be remembered that during heat treatment or high temperature, the oil loses its value. Therefore, it is recommended to mix it with food consumed cold, such as cottage cheese.

medicinal plants

An excellent tool for restoring the work of the digestive tract is an infusion of mountain ash. To prepare a healing agent, the berries are covered with sugar and left to infuse for 1 month. Over time, the resulting syrup is poured into a glass container and 30 ml of alcohol is added for every 0.5 l of liquid. It is recommended to drink the potion on an empty stomach, after diluting it with water.

Anise fruits, senna grass, joster berries, buckthorn bark, dandelion and licorice root are taken in equal proportions, mixed and crushed. 20 g of the resulting collection is brewed with 250-300 ml of boiled water. Insist 25 minutes, then filter. Use the finished infusion shortly before bedtime.

With occasional constipation, it is advisable to use lingonberry infusion. To prepare it, 150 g of berries are poured with water, put on a minimum fire and brought to a boil. Then cover with a lid and let it brew for 7-8 hours. Consume 1 cup before meals.

An infusion of burdock roots is also effective for regulating stools. For 300 ml of boiling water, you will need 10 g of chopped roots. Infuse the remedy for 30 minutes, then filter and drink in equal doses three times a day before meals.

Suppositories for constipation in the elderly

Laxative suppositories are recommended for occasional constipation, or if the disease is combined with hemorrhoids. You can eliminate stagnant changes in the intestines with glycerin and gas-forming suppositories. The latter include Ferrolax and Calciolax. Thanks to them, gas is formed in the intestinal lumen, which allows for a good passage of feces.

The work of glycerin suppositories is aimed at stimulating the nerve endings of the rectum. You can use such candles not only for the elderly, but also for children and pregnant women. True, there are some contraindications. These include: the presence of cracks in the anus, tumors, hemorrhoids, inflammation of the intestinal wall.

A popular remedy that is used to treat the elderly is Bisacodyl candles. They do not have any particular side effects and are well accepted by the body.

They say that after 50, when the children have grown up, the time of life for oneself begins! But in nature, everything is arranged so rationally that it is difficult to argue with it. It is so established that after 45 years the childbearing age ends. During this period, changes and processes begin to take place in the body, which have received the name "sunset" in medicine.

Is there a problem

It would seem that just yesterday we were full of strength and energy, could tirelessly take long walks, work for a long time or actively play sports, and today old age has quietly crept up on us. Vitamins and microelements are already much worse absorbed in our country, immunity has decreased, pressure has begun to disturb, the heart “plays tricks”, and in the large intestine, the number of beneficial bacteria responsible for the normal state of the microflora is literally instantly reduced. To overcome all this, we are forced to drink handfuls of pills that cure some ailments, while others provoke. One of them is constipation, which will be discussed in our article. Many are shy about it, so they do not go to doctors, but try to correct the situation on their own. Let's talk about the dangers of difficult or systematically insufficient bowel movements, which bring a lot of discomfort. It is worth talking about such a diagnosis if the act of defecation is delayed for 48 hours or more. What are the true causes of the disease? Can it be prevented? How to get rid of it as quickly and painlessly as possible? Let's figure it out.

Causes of constipation

With age, bowel function weakens. The problem mostly concerns the colon. The sensitivity of the anal sphincter also decreases, and the urge to defecate is not always felt as it should. All this eventually leads to such a problem as constipation. The problem can also be caused by the following factors:

  • Insufficient fluid intake.
  • Wrong and unbalanced diet.
  • Sedentary lifestyle.
  • The use of drugs that destroy the intestinal microflora.

The presence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus or atherosclerosis, in some cases only exacerbates the clinical picture. It should be understood that the treatment of constipation in the elderly should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a physician. In this case, you can immediately stop the complications caused by indigestion.

What to do

Treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly requires an integrated approach. To achieve maximum effectiveness, it is necessary to direct all efforts to combat not the symptoms, but the causes that led to the problem. You should pay attention to such aspects of life:

  • Nutrition. It is important not only what exactly an elderly person eats, how balanced his diet is, but also how often he eats food and in what quantity.
  • Physical activity. The state of the whole organism, including the elasticity of the intestinal walls, depends on the general muscle tone. In the body of a person who regularly performs physical activity, the intestines do not lose their ability to contract and push food.
  • Massage courses. This is an excellent procedure aimed at increasing the tone of the abdominal muscles. Moreover, after the first session, you will notice an increase in blood flow.
  • Medications. It is necessary to take control of the use of all those medicines that are recommended to you as a means of combating age-related diseases. Carefully study the recommendations and side effects, if possible, replace drugs that have side effects such as impaired stools.
  • Methods of traditional medicine. They need to be selected in consultation with the doctor.
  • Medical laxatives. You can't get involved with them. Such drugs can only be used as an ambulance for prolonged constipation.

Prevention

Treatment of constipation in the elderly can be avoided if the recommended preventive measures are followed. It's no secret that it's much easier to prevent a problem than to deal with it later. If the violation of the stool is of a one-time nature, it is enough to take a laxative. In order to avoid constipation, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures. They include a balanced diet and feasible physical activity.

Proper nutrition

Remember the expression "We are what we eat." It works in this case too. Prevention of constipation must begin with a review of your diet. Medical studies have shown that by the age of 55-60 people have a whole bunch of diseases of various organs, including the digestive system. And all because they approached the food system rather negligently throughout their lives. Bowel diseases require a certain diet, which makes the diet more scarce. Problems of the dentoalveolar system force many to give up solid foods: fresh vegetables and fruits, meat enriched with vitamins and minerals.

A simple rule should be followed - frequent and balanced meals for constipation in the elderly. Treatment consists in strict adherence to the basic recommendations of doctors:

  • Frequent meals. Accustom yourself to eat 6-8 times a day in small portions, not allowing breaks between them for more than 4 hours.
  • Mandatory inclusion in the diet of soups.
  • Refusal to bake. It is necessary to forget about baking, fresh white bread, giving preference to baking from wholemeal flour and bran.
  • Enriching the diet with laxative foods, which include plums, prunes, apples, dairy products, pumpkin and zucchini.
  • Compliance with the rules of preparation. Do not eat fried foods, it is better to steam them.
  • Drinking large amounts of plain water.

Physical exercise

A solid age is not a reason to refuse activity. To keep the intestinal muscles in good shape, it is necessary to perform at least elementary physical exercises. Accustom yourself to start every morning with exercises, walk daily, breathe fresh air. By the way, it is enough to walk a few kilometers a day to feel good.

Massage

Not only physical activity and a diet for constipation in the elderly will help get rid of the problem. Treatment will be most effective if supplemented with massage. The best option is to entrust yourself to professionals. But if this is not possible, it is quite possible to limit yourself to self-massage. Treating constipation in the bedridden elderly with massage is a great option.

The procedure is most effective if carried out immediately after waking up, on an empty stomach. By making moderate rotational movements around the navel in a clockwise direction, you will be able to start the normal functioning of the digestive system.

Laxatives in the fight against the problem

If preventive measures (even with regular use) do not bring the expected result, it is necessary to break into "heavy artillery". How to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment of constipation in the elderly? The drugs offered by modern manufacturers really show excellent results. It is appropriate for the elderly to use:

  • Probiotics with a laxative effect. They not only help to empty and get rid of pain, but also heal the intestinal microflora, fight harmful bacteria. Such drugs are not addictive and have virtually no side effects. Prominent representatives of this group are "Duphalac" and "Normaze".
  • Osmotic laxatives. They contribute to the accumulation of fluid in the intestinal lumen. Using them to treat constipation in the elderly helps to change the consistency of feces, softens it. Patients with arterial pressure disorders should be extremely careful in the use of laxatives of this group. If you want to get the effect of liquefying feces, pay attention to the preparations "Magnesium sulfate", "Mikrolaks", "Fortrans".

  • Fitosredsta. They also soften the feces, helping to remove them from the intestines. Plant origin largely determines the popularity of these funds, because they are safe for human health. Doctors recommend Fitomucil, Phytolax.

Treatment of constipation in the elderly with drugs (even the most seemingly harmless ones) should only occur under the supervision of specialists.

ethnoscience

Modern medicine offers quite effective drugs. But when their use is impossible for a number of reasons, the treatment of constipation in the elderly with folk remedies becomes an excellent option. Our ancestors believed in the magical power of plants, actively used them in the fight against various diseases. Many recipes have survived to this day, including those aimed at combating constipation:

  • Flaxseed oil - a tablespoon of this remedy, drunk on an empty stomach, will help to cope with the problem.
  • Boiled beets demonstrate excellent properties, stimulate intestinal motility. Regular consumption of this vegetable helps to normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Wheat bran - shows a gentle laxative effect.
  • Traditional treatments for constipation in the elderly include the use of many different herbal preparations. To prepare one of them, you will need licorice and marshmallow roots, flax seeds and fennel fruits, taken in a weight ratio of 1:2:2:1. Everything must be mixed thoroughly. Sweat 10 g of the collection in a water bath for half an hour, cool and strain. The decoction should be taken after dinner, 100 ml. They need to be poured into a glass, add 100 ml of boiled water and drink.
  • Senna herb is a remedy that strengthens the walls of the intestines. To prepare the tincture, you need to pour a tablespoon of herbs with cold water and leave overnight. In the morning, the remedy must be filtered and drunk on an empty stomach. The tool is quite effective, so you should be extremely careful with dosages, starting with 1/3 cup.

Summing up

The treatment of constipation in the elderly requires special monitoring. At the same time, many prefer to hush up the problem, leaving it without due attention. There are many ways to deal with the disease. Be sure to first consult with a specialist to eliminate side effects and achieve the best possible result. In this case, it will be possible to cope with a very unpleasant and difficult illness as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Constipation - one of the most pressing problems of the elderly population due to age characteristics - is a violation of bowel movement in the form of a lack of stool every day, its frequency is less than three times a week. It is accompanied by:

  • a feeling of incomplete cleansing;
  • tension, which takes at least a quarter of the time of the act of releasing the rectum (defecation);
  • dense consistency of feces and its small amount.

Causes of constipation in the elderly

In old age, the occurrence and aggravation of constipation may be due to:

  • natural age-related changes: progressive depletion of the pelvic floor muscles, decreased sensitivity of the anal sphincter and tissue reparation (healing) rate, hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the body);
  • typical diseases of the elderly: parkinsonism, atherosclerosis, depression, hypercalcemia (increased concentration of calcium in the blood);
  • insufficient intake of wholesome food and liquid in a volume less than the daily norm;
  • abuse of laxatives;
  • severe muscle weakness (adynamia);
  • decreased activity of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism);
  • progression of existing diseases (multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus, spinal disorders);
  • the use of medicinal existing diseases;
  • a sedentary lifestyle, poor physical activity, which contributes to the inhibition of the motor function of the intestine;
  • psychological reasons.

Constipation treatment: where to start?

The treatment of constipation in the elderly is aimed at normalizing the consistency of the stool and achieving a systematic bowel movement, so it should begin with the use of a complex of non-drug methods.

First of all, this is the normalization of the nutritional diet and water balance. Elderly people often do not indulge themselves in tasty and healthy food and eat mainly cereals, potato dishes and pasta, which is insufficient for the body to fully perform its functions, because such food does not contain the proper amount of vitamins and dietary fiber (natural

It is they, being in a liquid medium, that stimulate peristalsis and increase the volume of intestinal contents. Therefore, dietary fiber must be present in food, subject to the condition of fluid intake of at least one and a half liters per day. Otherwise, they will act as sorbents, that is, absorb fluid from the intestines, leading to increased constipation.

A good laxative that an elderly person should accustom himself to is a morning glass of water drunk on an empty stomach (a kind of “internal” shower that starts the bowels).

Vegetable oils are effective laxatives

To cause a normal bowel movement, you can use oils (olive, vaseline, almond, fennel, paraffin); the action of laxatives is aimed at softening and promoting feces. Reception is required to be done on an empty stomach (it can be 5-10 minutes after drinking water) for an incomplete tablespoon. The urge to empty comes within a few hours. As a side effect, irritation in the perianal region can be observed. The use of oils should be short-term; abuse can lead to damage to the intestinal mucosa, liver, digestive organs.

A passing step to get rid of problems with defecation is to increase physical activity: dosed gymnastics, physical exercises to the extent that a person, due to his age, is able to perform them, walks in the fresh air.

In combination with the observance of the daily regimen, physiotherapy procedures that stimulate peristalsis, and superficial abdominal massage, this complex can save an elderly person from problems with bowel movements.

Laxatives for constipation for the elderly

Constipation may be a side effect of an underlying disease (eg, hypothyroidism, diabetes) and may be caused by medications taken. In this case, the negative impact of drugs for the underlying disease should be reduced, although this does not guarantee the full elimination of problems associated with defecation.

Most retirees believe that for constipation for the elderly, these are widely advertised and affordable drugs available in every pharmacy. Of course, this is the easiest way to solve the problem, only this solution is of a one-time nature, and the relief received will only be temporary. The constant intake of laxatives, to which the majority of the elderly population is prone, considering this the most effective measure to eliminate constipation, is addictive and the development of an "inert" (otherwise - "lazy") intestine. That is, when receiving fast-acting drug laxatives, the intestines refuse to work on their own, which as a result leads to a lack of urge and to cope with the need in a natural way. A person becomes dependent on laxatives, because without them, defecation does not occur.

Laxatives for the elderly (drugs) are prescribed by a doctor if other methods are ineffective. Such funds are the best option for people who are contraindicated in the increase in intra-abdominal pressure during straining due to existing aneurysms, venous thrombosis, hernias, rectal fissures, myocardial infarction, hemorrhoids, severe arterial hypertension, rectal prolapses.

Also, strong laxatives are prescribed if it is impossible to cancel the constipating drugs prescribed by the doctor (antidepressants, antiparkinsonian drugs, opiates for chronic pain). Short courses of laxatives may also be recommended in preparing the bowel for examination, as well as in the pre- and postoperative period. For other categories of older people, the appointment of laxatives is carried out with the ineffectiveness of non-drug methods; the choice of medication must be carefully justified.

Types of medical laxatives

According to the mechanism of functioning, fast-acting laxatives can be divided as follows:

  • Fillers, which increase the volume and pressure of feces on the intestinal walls due to the retraction of water from the intestinal lumen, resulting in emptying. The basis of such drugs are indigestible components: bran, methylcellulose, seaweed and other ingredients.
  • Osmolytics, which contain substances that retain fluid in the intestine due to the formation of osmotic pressure. By retaining the water that comes with food and preventing it from being absorbed into the intestinal walls, such drugs help to thin the feces and increase their volume, which facilitates emptying. Such laxatives are not addictive, but they should not be used for longer than 3 months, because this is fraught with electrolyte disturbances in the body and cardiovascular problems. Osmolytics include Karlovy Vary salt, polyethylene glycol, fortrans, magnesia.
  • Irritants, the principle of which is based on chemical irritation of the intestine in order to enhance its peristalsis (contraction of the intestinal walls, which contributes to the movement of its contents down to the anus). The main component of irritants are components of plant origin that have laxative properties: joster fruits, rhubarb root, senna leaves. Based on these plants, drugs such as Dulcolax, Guttalax, Regulax, Elimin are produced.
  • Prebiotics- the most suitable for the elderly of the listed. These are oligosaccharides, lactulose, inulin, containing the necessary bifidus and lactobacilli and replenishing their shortage in the intestine. They help restore the bacterial balance of the intestinal flora and improve digestion.

Unfortunately, these laxatives, reviews of which are obsessively positive and are heard in all the media, do not eliminate the problem at the root, but are part of a complex treatment in combination with other drugs, the action of which is aimed at irritating the intestinal wall or increasing the volume of its contents by water retraction. Defecation occurs after about 2 hours after taking the drug. The most common means:

  • "Duphalac";
  • "Lactusan";
  • "Prelaks".

Prebiotics, the most harmless laxatives for constipation for the elderly, can be used for a long period, so they are prescribed for chronic and acute constipation. At first, flatulence is possible, which eventually disappears. The advantage of prebiotics is the absence of side effects, stimulation of the activity of beneficial flora and peristalsis, as well as a long-term positive effect. The disadvantages include the incomplete elimination of problems with defecation.

In any case, before using a fast laxative, you must definitely read the annotation for dosing and restrictions.

Foods that speed up bowel cleansing

The desire to get rid of constipation in a quick way is normal, but you should not grab hold of potent laxatives, reviews of which are extremely positive due to hyped advertising. So you can only harm the body. Better is a gentle and gradual approach, in which proper nutrition should be preferred. Elderly people who are prone to stool retention should develop the habit of eating foods - laxatives for cleansing the intestines, which contain a large amount of pectins, coarse fibers and vegetable fiber. This:

  • prunes, grapes, plums;
  • fresh apples, kiwi (preferably on an empty stomach, 2-3 pieces);
  • kombucha drink;
  • fresh vegetables: cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, lettuce;
  • apple juice, carrot and plum juice;
  • seaweed;
  • bran mixed with any food in the amount of 30 grams.

Kefir is the most affordable and useful medicine

Kefir is an affordable remedy, the use of which is also recommended to be introduced into the habit. A glass of kefir in combination with a spoonful of vegetable oil, drunk before bedtime, will correct the work of the intestines in the right direction. Important: the product must be fresh (ideally if it is homemade). Three-four-day kefir can cause a reverse, fixative reaction.

In case of defecation disorders, before using advertised pharmaceutical preparations, you should try for constipation, recommended even by medical specialists, because most medicines are based on old, time-tested recipes. The advice of a doctor in this case will be desirable, since the effectiveness of the medicine depends on the type of constipation.

Healing decoctions of laxative action

You can get rid of problems with defecation with the help of decoctions and infusions that have a calming and stimulating effect.

  • A decoction of raisins is available and easy to prepare - a good laxative, pleasant to the taste. A spoonful of raisins should be poured with 300 ml of boiling water, insisted in a thermos and drunk daily for 100 ml. The preparation and use of gooseberry decoction will be similar.
  • Lingonberry infusion is an equally effective laxative. Berries should be covered with sugar, left for 3-4 weeks. It is required to add alcohol to the syrup formed during this time (in a ratio of 500:25 ml). Before use, the infusion must be diluted with water and drunk on an empty stomach every morning. This is an excellent tool for restoring the independent work of the digestive tract.
  • Prune drink is a herbal laxative that has a pleasant taste and a high percentage of effectiveness in the fight against constipation in the elderly. To prepare it, you need to pour half a kilogram of this product into 3.5 liters of water and boil for half an hour on low heat, then cool, add 50 grams of buckthorn bark and boil again for 25 minutes. Cool, strain and add 200 grams of rosehip syrup - "Holosas" to the resulting composition. It is recommended to take the resulting composition before going to bed for half a glass.

  • Laxatives for cleansing the intestines are various decoctions. For example, from senna leaves (30 g), licorice root (10 g), anise fruits (10 g), buckthorn bark (25 g), joster berries (25 g). All components must be crushed, mixed, pour a glass of boiled water, leave for 20 minutes, then strain. Take 100 ml before bed.
  • As a delicious cure for constipation, you can try the following dessert. Raisins, dried apricots, prunes, dates, figs, taken in 0.5 kilograms, must be soaked in water, dried, grind through a meat grinder until a homogeneous mass is formed, into which honey is added in an amount of 5 tbsp. spoons. The finished mixture should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed in the morning and in the evening, half a tablespoon.
  • which contains soluble and insoluble fiber, fatty acids and mucus, which helps relieve inflammation of the digestive tract - an excellent remedy in the fight against constipation. It is necessary to brew a teaspoon of the seed in a glass of boiling water, insist for 4-5 hours. Before going to bed, the composition along with the seeds is required to drink. You can also take 2-3 times a day a tablespoon of seeds, washing them down with water diluted with a spoonful of honey. This is required to prevent the formation of heavy lumps.

Almighty aloe is a great helper in the treatment of constipation

An excellent result is shown by folk laxatives for constipation from aloe juice, especially if the defecation disorder is chronic. It is required to drink aloe juice for 1-2 tsp. half an hour before meals up to 3 times a day. The course of treatment is from 1 to 2 months.

In combination with honey, this medicine will be not only useful, but also tasty. To prepare it, you need to squeeze the juice from the leaves of the agave, which has not been watered for 2 weeks, and mix it with honey. Take the resulting composition on an empty stomach 2 times a day (in the morning and evening) with water.

The consequences of ignoring and not treating constipation can be chronic intoxication of the whole organism due to poisoning by toxic substances contained in the feces. In parallel, putrefactive bacteria multiply in the intestines, which causes the formation of gases and, as a result, difficulty breathing, impaired blood circulation and the occurrence of heart pain.

Prevention of constipation in the elderly

For the prevention of constipation in the elderly, it is recommended to follow a balanced diet, a meal regimen (at the same time), drink at least a daily allowance of water (from 1.5 liters) and move more: walks in the fresh air and exercise in the same to the extent that it succeeds.

According to statistics, more than 60% of people in the older age group suffer from chronic or systematic constipation (difficulties with bowel movements or the complete absence of feces for more than two days).

Constipation in the elderly requires timely medical intervention, because left unattended, they can cause serious complications in the body in a short period of time.

Types of constipation

Depending on the causes that caused problems with bowel movements, constipation in the elderly is divided into several types:

  • alimentary - malnutrition;
  • neurogenic - disorders in the central nervous system at the level of neuro-reflex activity;
  • anorectal - circulatory disorders in the rectal area: hemorrhoids, paraproctitis, ulcers and fissures in the rectum;
  • mechanical - the development of various neoplasms in the intestine: polyps, tumors (benign and malignant), cicatricial changes;
  • medication - side effects as a result of taking various medications;
  • endocrine - malfunctions of the thyroid gland: lack or vice versa lack of hormones.

Causes of constipation in the elderly

Over the years, the intestinal walls lose their ability to contract. Motility becomes weaker, fecal masses hardly move towards the exit, accumulate in the colon or rectum, and become denser. The anal sphincter also loses its sensitivity, so a person may not feel the urge to empty at all.

Another cause of constipation in the elderly can be external adverse factors:

  • insufficient amount of liquid consumed - because of this, the feces become dry and dense and linger in the intestines;
  • malnutrition - the use of hard-to-digest foods in the daily diet disrupts the entire digestive tract: gas formation, bloating increases, flatulence appears, fecal masses are difficult to pass;
  • a decrease in the dynamics of movements in an elderly person: a recumbent state and a complete lack of physical activity further weakens intestinal motility, muscle tissue begins to atrophy;
  • taking antibiotics is often the cause of constipation in the elderly. Pathology quickly disappears as soon as the drug is stopped;
  • atherosclerosis is a chronic disease of the arteries and blood vessels of the whole body. Pathological changes cause insufficient blood supply to organs and tissues, including the intestines, which negatively affects its work and motility;
  • strong emotional overload, stress, prolonged depression at the psychosomatic level can also cause constipation.

Symptoms and clinical manifestations

Problems with emptying can be accompanied by a wide variety of symptoms, which depend on the original cause. At the same time, the individual mode of the systematic act of defecation can differ significantly: for some, the norm is bowel emptying once a day, and for others, once every 2-3 days.

The main symptom of constipation in the elderly is tension in the intestines, severe straining when the urge to defecate occurs. The act of defecation itself is difficult and requires considerable effort. In this case, the feces come out in small quantities or not at all, there is a persistent feeling of incomplete emptying of the rectum, severe bloating, flatulence, pain in the abdominal cavity. Dry and dense feces during defecation cause pain, injuring the anus and rectal mucosa. And the stool itself comes out in the form of separate lumps or lumpy sausages and may contain spotting.

In rare cases, constipation may occur. Against the background of a long absence of normal emptying and overcrowding of the intestine, a black liquid stool with mucus and an unpleasant putrefactive odor is formed. This happens due to long-term irritation of the intestinal mucosa by stagnant feces. Elderly patients suffering from constipation often complain of a complete lack of appetite, increased fatigue, depression, and insomnia.


Possible Complications

Frequent constipation in the elderly is fraught with numerous complications in the body, especially from the digestive tract:

  • inflammatory processes (colitis, proctosigmoiditis);
  • external and internal hemorrhoids complicated by anal fissures and rectal ulcers;
  • megacolon - enlargement of the colon;
  • bowel obstruction, requiring immediate surgery;
  • constipation, the root cause of which was the lack of fiber in the daily menu, contribute to the excessive accumulation of harmful substances (carcinogens) in the body;
  • fecal obstruction is a pathology peculiar only to older people, in which there is no control over the regularity of bowel movements.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures for constipation in the elderly are carried out in several stages:

  • identification of clinical symptoms (patient questioning, physiological examination);
  • x-ray to assess the condition of the colon and identify possible mechanical causes of its obstruction (tumors, polyps, etc.);
  • irrigoscopy - with suspicion of chronic intestinal obstruction;
  • colonoscopy - examination of the intestines using an endoscope. If during the examination suspicious neoplasms are detected, the specialist takes a sample of epithelial tissue for histological examination;
  • coprogram - analysis of feces for occult blood;
  • manometry - studies of the motor function of the large intestine by determining the existing pressure in its various sections.

Treatment of constipation in the elderly

Treatment of constipation in the elderly should be carried out only under the supervision of a specialist. No self-medication is allowed. All medications and traditional medicine can be used only after consulting a doctor. Constipation in the elderly can be a symptom of a more severe pathology, so with self-medication, you can lose time and cause even more harm to the body.

All measures in the treatment of constipation are aimed at eliminating the original cause that provoked it. This includes: a special diet, lifestyle correction, physical activity (in the absence of contraindications), taking medications, and, if necessary, therapy with folk remedies.

Diet and eating habits for constipation

Food for constipation in the elderly should include boiled, stewed or steamed dishes and raw vegetables enriched with fiber. It restores peristalsis and intestinal motility, promotes its natural emptying. In this case, it is desirable to eat food in small portions from 5 to 7 times a day at the same time. This mode normalizes the work of the entire digestive tract.


  • vegetable soups, weak fish and meat broths, beetroot soups, borscht;
  • meat - veal, chicken, turkey (game and pork should be excluded from the menu);
  • dried fruits (prunes, dried apricots), fresh fruits (except grapes) and vegetables (except peas, beans and other legumes);
  • eggs (in the form of an omelette or hard-boiled);
  • wheat, oatmeal, buckwheat porridge on the water;
  • fermented milk products containing bifidobacteria, acidophilus;
  • cheese, butter;
  • wholemeal bread, bran.

It is mandatory to drink enough clean drinking water every day (at least 1.5 liters).

Prohibited foods for violations in defecation include:

  • any smoked meats;
  • spicy and pickled dishes, sauces;
  • fast food;
  • sweet pastries;
  • chocolate;
  • strong tea or coffee;
  • flavored carbonated drinks;
  • seasonings for dishes: ketchup, mustard, horseradish, garlic;
  • any animal fats.

Approximate menu for one day

  1. Breakfast: green tea with a cracker, steamed omelet.
  2. Second breakfast: fresh vegetable salad seasoned with olive or refined vegetable oil.
  3. Lunch: vegetable soup, boiled meat with stewed vegetables, weak tea.
  4. Snack: dried fruit compote, apple.
  5. Dinner: porridge, vegetable cabbage rolls, green tea.

If you really want to eat, then at night you can drink a glass of kefir, fermented baked milk or snow with a small amount of bran. They can also be added to cereals or used as a standalone product.

Laxatives for constipation in the elderly

The use of medications for the treatment and prevention of constipation in the elderly implies a sparing nature of treatment. The use of strong laxatives is not recommended. Only the attending physician can choose the right drug, taking into account all the indications and contraindications for its use.

Given the age of patients, the following drugs are recommended for use:

  • Prelax, Mucofalk, Fitomucil, Forlax are recommended in cases of chronic constipation in the elderly. The substances included in their composition prevent the outflow of fluid from the intestines. The feces soften and move more easily towards the anus.
  • Cerucal, Coordinax, Guttalax, Dulcolax - are used for reduced motor activity of the intestinal walls. They stimulate motility, restore peristalsis in the organ, increase the sensitivity of nerve receptors in the rectum, soften stool and stimulate its soft and natural emptying.
  • Bisacodyl, Regulax, castor oil, Senade - drugs for constipation in the elderly, which irritate the intestinal walls due to the natural components in their composition. At the same time, laxatives have a gentle effect on the entire body and have minor side effects.

Folk remedies

Stool retention in the elderly can also be eliminated with the help of decoctions and infusions of herbs. But they should also be used only after consulting a specialist, since some medicinal plants are strictly forbidden to use for problems with blood pressure and the cardiovascular system.

For fast stool adjustment

Grind in a blender half a glass of dried apricots, light raisins and walnuts. Mix the resulting mixture with a quarter cup of senna and a quarter cup of flaxseed. Add 250 ml of honey to the resulting mass. In the morning on an empty stomach, eat 1 tbsp. l. mixtures. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator with a tight lid. The tool can be used not only to get rid of constipation in the elderly, but also to prevent recurrent problems with stool in people of any age.