Medical expert of the article
New publications
Why do you need to visit a doctor for constipation?
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
If you or your loved ones are worried about constipation, a visit to the doctor is vital. Why and how can constipation affect the overall condition of the body?
Determining the causes of constipation
During the survey and examination, the doctor will be able to identify not only violations of the bowels, but also other causes of constipation. For example, neurological causes or, say, psychological problems leading to the impossibility of a normal bowel movement.
In a conversation with a doctor, you can identify these reasons that prevent you from living normally, working and feeling healthy. If the doctor prescribes diagnostic methods that the patient doesn’t like very much, you shouldn’t miss his advice past the ears - this will help to avoid more serious diseases in the future. For example, such as hemorrhoids, hemorrhoidal bleeding and slagging of the body as a result of accumulation of fecal masses in the rectum.
Features constipation
Most adults experience constipation at some point in their life or permanently. In most cases, the diagnosis of constipation is not needed by the doctor, and non-invasive treatment at home can be prescribed for constipation. Sometimes the doctor may periodically consult on treatment issues that are safe and most effective. This is especially true for young people who previously had no experience of constipation or diseases of the digestive system.
For the elderly, or for those who have a more complex medical history, constipation can be a symptom of a serious illness. In addition, to treat the symptoms of constipation, further examination is needed - treating its main causes is extremely important.
People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are more likely to experience diarrhea than constipation, but constipation can also occur in patients with Crohn's disease (inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract). Constipation in Crohn's disease can occur due to infections, damage to the immune system or diseases of the rectum.
Which doctor should I contact?
If you have persistent or periodic constipation, you should not postpone the visit to a specialist. This specialist can be a gastroenterologist. This doctor most often takes patients who complain of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore has a rich practice to cope with these diseases. After all, constipation can be a consequence of the poor state of the internal organs, and not only the rectum, but also the stomach, and the kidneys, and the esophagus.
Therefore, such a specialist will be able, faster than other doctors, to determine the causes of constipation and recommend complex treatment. He also has a baggage of knowledge regarding diagnostic methods, which should be used for certain complaints about the nature of constipation.
The importance of constipation diagnosis
The first step in the diagnosis of constipation is the task of the doctor to learn more from the patient about his digestion, the signs and symptoms experienced by the patients. Some questions the doctor may ask the patient include:
- How often do you experience constipation?
- What is the nature of your feces (for example, homogeneous or lumpy)?
- Have you ever ignored the urge to defecate?
- Are you tense during your bowel movement?
- What is your usual diet?
- Do you experience pain or other unpleasant symptoms before or after a bowel movement?
- How often do you exercise?
The physician may also ask questions regarding general health, such as the presence of a disease or episodes of abdominal surgery. Some questions may seem to the patient not related to the digestive system, but, having a complete picture of the disease, the doctor can help determine the cause of constipation.
Rectal examination
One common test used in the diagnosis of constipation is a digital rectal exam. During this check, the doctor will put on rubber gloves, lubricate the index finger and insert the finger into the patient's anus. This test is often done quickly to minimize patient discomfort, but as a result of this simple trick the doctor will be able to tell a lot about the anus and condition of the anal sphincter.
In addition, if the doctor finds blood, mucus or feces in the rectum, which may give some indication of what is happening inside the rectum. If something is amiss, a colonoscopy may be recommended for further examination to determine exactly what is causing the constipation.
Additional examinations
Other studies used in the diagnosis of chronic constipation include:
- Blood tests to rule out certain causes of constipation, such as thyroid disease.
- Colonics test that shows how long food moves through the intestines.
- Endoscopy, in particular, as sigmoscopy and colonoscopy, which use the camera and give the most complete picture of the lower part of the gastrointestinal tract.
[11]
See your doctor if...
- Three or more days have passed since your last bowel movement or two days before using a laxative
- You found blood in your feces
- You have persistent abdominal or rectal pain.
- You have experienced vomiting due to severe constipation.
- You often or regularly experience constipation.