Constipation, gas and bloating: the causes

While constipation is usually not a sign of an underlying disease, it can nevertheless have a negative impact on quality of life. Bloating, gas, abdominal pain, haemorrhoids... This functional disorder can cause significant discomfort on a daily basis.

What is constipation?

Constipation is defined as a decreased frequency of bowel movements that is insufficient to preserve gut flora and maintain normal intestinal function. We generally talk about constipation when stool volume is no more than 50 g per day, when stool has an abnormally hard consistency and/or when it is passed less than three times per week. In the long term, an accumulation of stool in the colon leads to intestinal disorders. Constipation can be chronic or occasional.

What are the causes of constipation?

There are many possible causes for constipation. It is important to know that intestinal transit is a mechanism that is particularly sensitive to external factors. In particular, diet is one of the factors most often mentioned as part of digestive disorders. In most cases, constipation is brought on by a low-fibre diet. Dehydration is another factor often reported by specialists. It is a fact that what we ingest on a daily basis has a real impact on our bowel movements. To increase your intake in soluble fibre, you can count on OptiFibre®, which effectively relieves constipation thanks to its effect of rebalancing gut flora.

What are the symptoms of constipation?

In most cases, constipation is accompanied by bloating and gas, which can cause mild or severe abdominal pain. Moreover, slow transit time can lead to the development of haemorrhoids. It is even the main risk factor for haemorrhoidal crisis because excessive activity of the anal sphincters can lead to abnormal dilatation of the veins in the anal canal. In case of such symptoms, it is essential to consult a general practitioner.

How to relieve the symptoms of constipation?

Signs of intestinal “laziness” are often very uncomfortable to deal with on a daily basis, especially for women (two in three women are affected). Osmotic laxatives and digestive lubricants are among the treatment options most often used by people who suffer from constipation. However, such treatments can have side effects (sometimes serious ones) because the former can cause dependency whereas the latter can, in the long term, negatively affect the absorption of vitamins and certain nutrients. To avoid such problems, OptiFibre® is the perfect solution because in addition to improving intestinal transit, it is easy to mix into drinks and meals without affecting their taste.