What Are the Common Myths Regarding the Treatment of Constipation?

There are many factors in our daily lives that can lead to constipation, such as the destruction of beneficial bacteria in the intestine after taking antibiotic drugs, which can easily lead to indigestion and subsequently constipation. Unreasonable dietary structure, lack of dietary fiber, inadequate water intake, prolonged sitting, and lack of exercise can all contribute to the occurrence of constipation. It is important to promptly address the symptoms of constipation when they arise. However, there are also some common misunderstandings regarding the treatment of constipation.

Firstly, some people believe that constipation is a minor issue and does not require hospital visits. They may self-medicate by purchasing constipation relief drugs from pharmacies, such as laxatives, lactulose, aloe vera capsules, or brewing senna leaves in water. However, long-term use of these drugs often leads to drug dependency, increasing dosages, and poor drug responses. Furthermore, most constipation relief drugs contain rhubarb and senna leaves, which can cause melanosis coli if taken for extended periods.

Secondly, many people believe that drinking yogurt can treat constipation. Although the probiotics in yogurt can enhance the vitality of the intestinal flora, achieving constipation relief through yogurt requires a sufficient quantity of probiotics, meaning that the amount of yogurt consumed daily would need to be several times the usual amount. For patients with severe constipation symptoms, it is difficult to achieve therapeutic effects through yogurt consumption.

1. Insufficient Beneficial Bacteria in the Intestine: After taking antibiotics or other drugs, the beneficial bacteria in the intestine are destroyed, leading to indigestion and constipation. It is recommended to use gold bifidobacteria factors to proliferate bifidobacteria in the intestine to prevent and treat constipation.

2. Lack of Coarse Fiber in the Diet: Eating out, irregular eating habits, and neglecting balanced nutrition often result in insufficient intake of coarse fiber foods. It is recommended to consume more vegetables and whole grains.

3. Insufficient Water Intake: Being too busy to drink enough water can lead to dryness in the intestine and difficulty in eliminating intestinal contents. Even after increasing water intake, some people may not see an improvement in their constipation issues. This is because incorrect water drinking habits, such as sipping water slowly, allow most of the water to be absorbed into the bloodstream and excreted through urine. It is recommended to drink more water, especially after waking up in the morning.

4. Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity and prolonged sitting can lead to laxity of intestinal muscles and weakened peristalsis. Coupled with the inherently weaker abdominal muscles of women, which results in less force for eliminating waste, constipation is more likely to occur. It is recommended to increase physical activity, especially for women who spend a lot of time sitting at a desk.