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A laxative is a drug that stimulates or facilitates bowel movements. There are many different types of laxatives available that you can buy without a prescription. However, when taking laxatives for a long time can cause unwanted effects on health.
1. Is taking laxatives harmful?
Is taking laxatives harmful? The use of laxatives is not always good for your health condition. In cases of abuse, using drugs not according to the instructions of the treating doctor can cause complications, making health worse. Here are some serious side effects that can occur with the use of laxatives:
Frequent feeling of stomach cramps; Chronic diarrhea accompanied by flatulence, abdominal distension; Loss of ability to retain water, dehydration; Nausea, vomiting; Softening of bones (osteoporosis); Poor health, weakness, unusual tiredness or dizziness; Memory impairment, or confusion; There are signs of a red, itchy rash on the skin; Eating and drinking have many difficulties, swallowing is difficult to feel that there is an obstruction in the throat; Heart beats irregularly and often; Rectal bleeding. Another adverse effect caused by prolonged use of laxatives is changes in blood electrolyte levels, resulting in low potassium levels and possibly leading to heart attacks.
2. Harm of long-term laxative use
Taking laxatives and still not walking is a symptom experienced by some people. Besides, the use of this drug can also cause serious harm:
Is taking laxatives harmful? Prolonged use of laxatives can lead to irreversible damage to the gastrointestinal tract. The result of prolonged constipation is a loss of essential minerals and body fat leading to weak bones. Some people with constipation tend to use long-term laxatives, both oral and rectal. In fact, this drug only works in the short term and should only be taken for 3-4 days. If the drug is used too often, it can have an adverse effect on the intestinal mucosa. As a result, the intestines become less active, poor bowel movements, leading to more severe constipation. The disease gradually becomes chronic and will worsen with age. Laxatives are often helpful in promoting bowel movements, but overuse of laxatives not only leads to severe dehydration due to prolonged diarrhea, but also alters the concentration of electrolytes in the blood and harmful to the organs in the body, can be paralytic colon due to loss of tone. If constipation occurs only in the lower part, it is caused by hardening of the stool in the anus. This condition causes problems with the expulsion of stool, just pump glycerine to lubricate the anus, you can easily have a bowel movement after 10-15 minutes. In addition, due to the side effects, laxatives should not be used for people with intestinal obstruction or abdominal pain without a confirmed diagnosis or suspected emergency surgical intervention. You should not use long-term laxatives regularly and avoid abuse of this drug.
3. Taking laxatives still can't go, what to do?
Many people have a situation where taking laxatives still can't go. The cause is due to the abuse of laxative stimulants, the use of colon stimulants causes an irregular cycle, then the colon is damaged, which can cause constipation and the next time you want to defecate. need to use more laxative stimulants. There are also a number of other causes such as due to sitting a lot, because the elderly are depressed, lying down for a long time, due to nervous stress. Other causes due to comorbidities include: damage to the gastrointestinal tract; pregnancy in the last month; fibroids ; Prostate; intestinal adhesions after surgery.
If during the process of taking laxatives still can't go, the patient needs to talk to the treating doctor to stop using the drug or change another drug. If the cause is due to an unreasonable diet, the diet must be improved. If the cause is a disorder of the loss of defecation reflex, restore the reflex by defecating on time, going as soon as you pick it up, without holding back; Get in the habit of having a bowel movement at the right time of the day.
Regarding the use of laxatives, there are many different laxatives depending on the mechanism of action, including: fiber and mucus (food fiber, agar); laxatives and stool softeners (vaseline or paraffin oil); osmotic laxatives (forlax, fortrans); laxatives that stimulate peristalsis (phenolphthalein, bisacodyl); topical laxatives (glycerin suppositories, suppositories with bisacodyl). However, if you want to use these drugs, you need a prescription from a gastroenterologist.
The best and long-term solution to treat constipation is to use foods rich in fiber. These substances have the effect of retaining water, softening and spongy stools, helping stools move easily and excreted. Fiber is found in whole grains, rice, green vegetables and dried fruits. You need to pay attention to chewing food thoroughly to break down food and help digestive enzymes in the stomach and intestines be fully secreted, drink enough water during the day, have regular bowel movements in combination with exercise. regular sports. Limit the use of stimulant food groups such as tea, coffee, tobacco, carbonated drinks...
In addition, you should go to the Gastroenterology specialist for examination and advice on how to use drugs, Do not arbitrarily use the drug makes the condition worse and more likely to experience unwanted effects caused by the drug.
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