CONSTIPATION

CONSTIPATION is common amongst the population. Over 2/3rd of them are easily treatable, few of them need chronic treatment. Symptoms such as weight loss, bleeding, family history of major GI illnesses, abdominal water collection, severe lack of appetite, elderly age and others are amongst the few symptoms that need special attention and investigations earlier than the others who dont have these.

Modifying diet is a prime part of treatment. Dietary guidelines mainly include water intake, avoiding foods that are difficult to digest. Maintaining a good lifestyle habits and continuing to follow doctors advise is the key.

Please note: Few changes in diet and lifestyle are suggested , however detailed discussion must be done with treating doctor for case to case advise. This should not be solely used as a substitute for doctors advise. Viewers are advised to use their own discretion before finalising.

Also note that these blog articles STRICTLY must NOT be copied by anyone or used for any other purpose other than for patients who are recommended to follow these instructions are careful assessment of their symptoms and disease profile in OPD.

Few of the advises are:

*         LOW FAT DIET

*         FLUID INTAKE SHOULD BE AROUND 3 LITRES PER DAY INCLUDING WATER,JUICE,COCONUT WATER ETC.(IF THERE IS HEART DISEASE, KIDNEY DISEASE OR LIVER DISEASE OR ANY OTHER DISEASE DUE TO WHICH PREVIOUS DOCTOR HAS ADVISED FLUID RESTRICTION, THEN DO NOT TAKE MORE FLUIDS, FOLLOW THAT RESTRICTION ADVISED. ALSO TYPE OF FLUID PERMISSIBLE FOR THAT DISEASE WILL BE DEPENDENT ON THE BACKGROUND DISEASE LIKE KIDNEY / HEART DISEASE ETC. PLEASE ASK PREVIOUS DOCTOR.

*      ADEQUATE REST

*      ADEQUATE SLEEP 6-8 HOURS AT NIGHT TIME

*         CARBOHYDRATE MODERATE INTAKE(LOW IF DIABETIC)

*         SUGAR INTAKE SHOULD BE REDUCED IF DIABETIC OR IF OVERWEIGHT

*      AVOID DAIRY,BAKERY PRODUCTS

*      AVOID PAINKILLERS OF NSAID VARIETY, IF TAKING ANY

*      DESTRESS, DO YOGA,PRANAYAM AND MEDITATION 10-15 MINUTES A DAY

*      DO NOT CONSUME HERBAL OR ANY ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCTS

*      DO NOT CONSUME SPICY,OILY,MASALA, FRIED, JUNK FOODSTUFFS

*      NO HEAVY MEALS AT NIGHT

*      MINIMISE TEA,COFFEE INTAKE

*      NO MEDICATION WITHOUT VALID PRESCRIPTION

*      NO SLEEPING PILLS

*      SMALL MEALS 4-5 TIMES A DAY, REGULAR MEALTIMES AS FAR AS POSSIBLE

*      DO NOT BE COMPLETELY EMPTY STOMACH FOR MORE THAN 4 HOURS AT A STRETCH.

*      EXERCISE ONLY AS PER RECOMMENDATION BY PHYSICIAN/CARDIOLOGIST

*      AVOID PRESERVATIVES, KETCHUP,SOUPS,SOUR FOODSTUFFS,CHOCOLATES AND OTHERS AS ADVISED

*      EAT MEALS GRADUALLY WHILE CHEWING PROPERLY

*      CAN TAKE: OATS, BARLEY, POHA, SABJA,DAHLIA,ETC AND OTHERS AS ADVISED

*      REDUCE NONVEG FOOD (IF EATING PREVIOUSLY)

*      NO ALCOHOL,SMOKING,TOBACCO(IF CONSUMING PREVIOUSLY)

*      AVOID SOFT DRINKS

*      AVOID KHARI,WHITE BREAD,PANEER,CHEESE,CURD,POTATOES,DALDA,BUTTER ETC.

*      AVOID OVEREATING 

*      PREFER BOILED FOODS INSTEAD OF FRIED.

*      AVOID FRIED SNACKS, PACKAGED FOODS, PROCESSED FOODS

*      AVOID ALTERNATIVE MEDICATIONS

*      LOSE WEIGHT IF DOCTOR SUGGESTS SO

*      CAN TAKE: OATS, MILLETS, POHA, JOWAR, BAJRA,MULTIGRAIN BREAD, GARLIC, ONION, LEGUMES, DALS, MOONG, ALMOND, WALNUT, LOW FAT MILK, LOW FAT CURD, BUTTERMILK,OLIVE, NUTS, GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES,  FRUITS LIKE BANANA, WATERMELON, PAPAYA, ORANGE, MUSKMELON, APPLE, PEAR, PLUM. AND OTHERS AS ADVISED

*      ALSO CHECK IF ALREADY DIABETIC OR HYPERTENSIVE OR KIDNEY DISEASE OR HEART DISEASE OR OTHER DISEASE, THERE MUST BE A PREVIOUS FOOD ADVISE LIST FOR THAT PREVIOUS DISEASE. OUR ADVISE IS ONLY FOR THIS PARTICULAR DISEASE, TRY TO FIND A COMMON FOODLIST FROM OUR LIST AND PREVIOUS FOODLIST FOR THAT DISEASE.

Only after these have been followed and medications as advised taken, further management can be planned. Discuss with the doctor if there are any doubts.

Thanks

Dr Raajeev Vijay Hingorani

Gastronaut Clinic

www.gastronautclinic.com

gastronautclinic@gmail.com

drgastronautclinic.blogspot.com