What Should I Do If I Have Difficulty with Bowel Movements?

Maintaining regular bowel habits is crucial for the timely elimination of waste products from the body. However, certain factors may affect one's bowel function, leading to constipation in severe cases. Instead of resorting to laxatives, it is advisable to adjust lifestyle and dietary habits to restore bowel function as soon as possible. Here are some tips to help:

1. Eat a small apple on an empty stomach: After waking up in the morning, brush your teeth first. Once your mouth is clean, eat a small apple on an empty stomach. This is because after a night of digestion and metabolism, the stomach and intestines are empty. Eating a small apple can replenish dietary fiber and stimulate bowel movement, facilitating the excretion of feces. Apples, known as the "king of fruits," are rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Eating a small apple on an empty stomach can help improve constipation and promote intestinal health.

2. Drink warm water in large gulps: After a night of metabolism, the body loses a lot of water, and the blood becomes thicker, leading to higher blood pressure. Drinking some warm water after eating a small apple can help flush out the intestines, promote the entry of dietary fiber into the intestines, and accelerate bowel movement, facilitating the excretion of feces. Additionally, drinking warm water in large gulps in the morning can help the body absorb fluids quickly, improve the viscosity of body fluids and blood, and prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

3. Massage the lower abdomen: The abdomen includes the pelvic and thoracic regions, and the lower abdomen is mainly below the navel. This area is primarily occupied by the intestines. It is recommended to massage the lower abdomen one hour after meals to promote intestinal motility and digestion. When massaging, it is best to draw circles in a clockwise direction, following the direction of intestinal motility. This can help facilitate the excretion of feces. Additionally, extra pressure can be applied to the lower left, upper right, and lower left corners of the navel as these areas are where the large intestine bends, and the lower left corner is where the sigmoid colon, a crucial area for fecal accumulation, is located.

4. Eat breakfast regularly: As the saying goes, "breakfast should be eaten like a king, lunch like a commoner, and dinner like a beggar." Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should be balanced and easy to digest. After a night of digestion and metabolism, the stomach is empty. Eating breakfast regularly can replenish energy and promote gastrointestinal activity, making it easier to have a bowel movement. Some people are accustomed to having a bowel movement after breakfast. Skipping breakfast may affect their bowel habits.