The label most associated with constipation is the word 'idiopathic', which simply means 'that which does not have a known cause'. Patients who suffer from constipation do have a number of options if they wish to diagnose constipation. However, many of these methods are narrow in scope and cannot diagnose all causes of constipation generally.
The first type of diagnosis that a doctor often asks the patient to undergo is the simplest. It is known as high fiber therapy, entailing an increased intake of fiber rich supplements. If the patient responds after within two weeks of therapy, it is considered both a successful treatment as well as a successful diagnostic indicator.
For others who are not so fortunate (some 70%) of people, there are other methods to diagnose constipation although these tend to focus on anatomical and other physiological reasons. For example, ultrasound can pick up irregularities in muscles that underlie the problem of pelvic floor dyssynergia (sometimes called pelvic floor dysfunction). Another visual diagnostic is the x-ray proctogram, in which the patient sits on a commode. As the patient bears down, an action shot of the colon shows whether the muscles are properly in sync.
The unfortunate fact is that most cases of constipation remain undiagnosed. The result is that many must try a succession of treatments in the hopes of hitting an effective one. Following are some treatments used by people with constipation.
For those trying to find a treatment option, a number of non-medicated strategies and a number of pharmaceutical possibilities are accessible. One of these which even doctors may bring up is the increase of dietary fiber. A plausible way to implement this strategy is to emphasize grains and fruits with the densest fiber composition. Prunes are a good choice, containing not only fiber but in addition sorbitol which seems cooperative with fiber.
Some may discover that the effort to eat good fiber foods to be draining. A reasonable answer to this problem is to consider supplements with psyllium. Psyllium comes in the form of finely crushed seeds that are mixed with water to make on-the-go drinks. Primary care givers propose that the time given to this sort of high fiber treatment usually demands around half a month for its full efficacy to kick in.
Various kinds of laxatives are available to people with issues of constipation. Among the most accepted are the broadly understood osmotic laxatives and the stimulant laxatives. They derive their names from what seems to be their mechanism of action. A popular laxative labeled Macrogol is a class of osmotic agent, as well as magnesium-based treatments like magnesium citrate or milk of magnesia.
People should also know about the senna herb, one of its forms is the senna tea, that has been used for hundreds of years in many parts of the globe to combat constipation.