Constipation

Most people endure the occasional bout of constipation. However, if you’re experiencing three or fewer bowel movements a week or often have difficulty passing stool, you may be suffering from a more serious condition known as chronic constipation. While lifestyle changes are usually sufficient to relieve constipation, the condition can sometimes be indicative of a more serious problem. If you’ve been suffering from chronic constipation, we invite you to visit the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California for a consultation.

What Causes Constipation?

In a healthy, functioning digestive system, muscle contractions push the body’s waste out of the intestines. However, when waste moves too slowly it can become hard, dry, and difficult to expel from the colon. The following factors and conditions can contribute to constipation:

  • Insufficient fiber in diet
  • Dehydration
  • Use of certain medications
  • Malfunctioning thyroid
  • Lack of exercise
  • Pregnancy
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Stroke
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Colon obstruction
gi doctor near me

The best way to determine the cause of your chronic constipation is to visit a board-certified gastroenterologist like Dr. Berookim.

Diagnosing Constipation

For many patients, constipation is just an occasional annoyance. However, if you’re experiencing regular constipation, straining, severe abdominal pain, or blood in the stool, you should visit a GI doctor for evaluation.

Dr. Berookim will sit down with you to discuss your health history including any medications you are taking. If necessary, he may perform a colonoscopy to evaluate the inside of the colon. By inserting a flexible tube with a camera on the end into the rectum, Dr. Berookim can determine if a blockage or other underlying condition is responsible for your symptoms.

Treating Constipation

Depending on the cause of your constipation, Dr. Berookim will determine the best method for treating your condition and helping you feel better. Many patients experience relief as a result of simple lifestyle and dietary changes including:

  • Drinking more water
  • Increasing fiber consumption
  • Exercising regularly

For severe constipation, medication may be necessary. Dr. Berookim can prescribe a combination of laxatives, stool softeners, and stimulants, which help the intestinal muscles contract.

In rare cases, surgery to remove part of the colon may be necessary to alleviate constipation and get you back to enjoying life.

Contact Dr. Berookim

Chronic constipation can cause pain and discomfort, often diminishing one’s quality of life. Left untreated, constipation can lead to hemorrhoids, fecal impaction in which stool becomes too hard to expel naturally, and even rectal prolapse, a condition in which some of the rectal tissue slips through the anus. Patients with ongoing constipation may also tend to overuse laxatives, which can damage the intestinal tract.

Constipation can also be indicative of a more serious problem affecting your long-term gastrointestinal health. If you are suffering from constipation, don’t hesitate to call 310.271.1122 for a consultation with board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Peyton Berookim.