Constipation is the health condition when someone has less frequent bowel movements or when one must strain to push out stools or the stool gets hard. In the west, bowel movement once in 3 days is within normal limits. However, in the Indian population with a different diet, we consider bowel movement not happening for 2 days as abnormal. If you are looking for gastro specialist in Chennai for constipation, Progress Gastro Care has some of the best gastroenterology specialist in Chennai.
Although there are several causes of constipation, a few are important to note. Very often a diet low in fiber, less water intake, and recent travel are well-known causes and can be easily corrected. Other common causes include poor functioning of the thyroid, irritable bowel syndrome, the slow movement of the bowels, side effects of medicines, etc. Rarely it could result from something blocking the passage of stools like a tumor or an incoordination of muscles involved in pushing out stools.
Constipation can cause adverse effects on the body like bloating of the abdomen, feeling heaviness in the abdomen, gas-filled abdomen, and even abdominal pain. Hard stools or straining at passing stools can lead to small painful tears in the anus (fissure in ano), and clumps of blood vessel containing tissue may protrude out (haemorrhoids or piles) with or without bleeding. Secondly, it can lead to a lot of anxiety and worry.
Firstly one should try having a lot of fiber and fluids for a week. If this doesn’t give complete relief, one must visit a gastroenterologist. After sometimes the patient may not feel like eating. Symptoms like bleeding, significant anal pain, recent weight loss or lack of appetite, or abdominal pain mean that a gastroenterology specialist needs to be consulted without delay. Self-medication is not advisable without knowing the cause as some relief may be obtained with medicines even in serious causes of constipation leading to delay in diagnosis. Self-diagnosis by interpretation of one’s symptoms by self or another person who is not a qualified doctor leads to delays in serious causes. Progress Gastrocare has the best gastroenterologist doctor in Chennai and patient can obtain both medical gastroenterologist and surgical gastroenterologist for the same condition at no additional cost
The doctor will seek some details from the patient regarding the symptoms and their detailed medical history. Then doctor will perform an abdominal and rectal examination. The doctor may peruse previous records of any consultation, reports, and treatment details if available. Online Consultation gives the doctor only partial information to work on. After the doctor comes to a working diagnosis, the doctor will decide if the patient needs further evaluation or needs specialist consultation or medicine prescription with counseling regarding diet, lifestyle, follow-up visit, etc. Usually, the diagnosis of the fissure, piles, tumor, etc is made by the gastroenterologist. Progress Gastrocare is one of the best gastroenterology hospital in Chennai where same doctor can be consulted in morning and revisited with any test reports in the same evening saving time.
The gastroenterologist may sometimes prescribe tests in the form of blood tests, sigmoidoscopy (evaluating the left-sided colon and rectum using an endoscope), and sometimes colonoscopy (examining the whole large intestine with an endoscope) and CT scan may be used for some patients. In select cases pressure studies of the anal muscles (manometry), visualizing the process of passing out a radio-opaque paste instilled in the rectum (defecation proctography) may be requested. At Progress, the best gastroenterologist in Chennai for constipation will advise one or a few of the above tests based on your profile.
By taking adequate fiber (present in fruits and vegetables), adequate water, and physical activity in the form of exercise. Progress Gastrocare has some of the most experienced gastroenterologist in Chennai who take care to counsel patients on preventive aspects of constipation like diet and lifestyle changes apart from medicines.
General measures like a high-fibre diet and water intake will be the foundation of treatment. Taking fiber supplements, stool softeners, purging agents, and medicines that increase bowel motility are some of the choices available and will vary from person to person. Some cases after thorough evaluation may need retraining of the anal muscles (biofeedback). Some may need surgery if an obstruction is found or the bowel is too dilated and unable to move its contents downstream. If a particular cause like thyroid problem or IBS or tumor etc is found then it is treated accordingly. Whether it is adult or children, Progress Gastro Care is the best gastroenterology centre in Chennai to manage constipation in any age group.
Such patients should visit the gastroenterologist if not relieved in a week.
