Management of Constipation
Constipation is difficulty in passing stools or incomplete or infrequent passage of hard stool. Constipation is usually not a serious condition but should be treated to promote comfort.
Constipation sometimes occurs in individuals following stroke. The chance of constipation
occurring increases after stroke if an individual has a decrease in activity level,
decrease in muscle tone, or is unable to eat foods that are high in fiber. Some medications
may also cause constipation. Constipation means different things to different people.
For many people it simply means infrequent stools. For others, however, constipation
means hard stools, difficulty passing stools (straining), or a sense of incomplete
emptying after a bowel movement.
Sometimes a person may think constipation is present when it is not. Some individuals
feel the need to have a bowel movement everyday, but this is not necessary. There
is no right number of bowel movements to have in a week. Normal bowel movements for
some people may be three times a week or three times a day.
As a caregiver of an individual with stroke, there are many things you can do to encourage
the prevention of constipation.
-Provide a diet high in fiber. Fiber is found in beans, bran, whole grains, fresh
fruits and vegetables. 20-30 grams of fiber are needed every day. You should increase
the amount of fiber in your diet slowly so that your stomach can adjust to the change.
Avoid foods that are high in fats and sugars.
-Provide plenty of liquids, especially water. Eight, 8 ounce glasses of liquid are
needed every day. Try to avoid liquids with caffeine or alcohol in them. These liquids
tend to dry out the body.
-Encourage daily exercise as much as able, even if the person with stroke is only
able to lift their legs up and down in a sitting position.
-Try to set aside 15 to 20 minutes every day for an undisturbed visit to the toilet,
usually after the first meal of the day, or according to the individual's usual bowel
habits.
Laxatives are medications used to help pass stool from the bowel. Regular use of these
medications should be avoided as much as possible. Using laxatives too often can make
the body dependent on laxatives for the bowels to move. If the person with stroke
goes three days without a bowel movement, the following recipe can be tried to relieve
constipation.
Prune Juice, Bran and Applesauce Recipe
Mix together 1 cup prune juice, 1 tablespoon unprocessed bran and add applesauce to desired consistency. Start with 1 ounce of mixture every day with breakfast. If needed, you may increase weekly by 1 ounce of mixture to a total amount of 3 ounces 3 times a day. If using the above recipe does not relieve the constipation, contact your health care provider for instructions to treat the constipation.
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Additional Information: |
References:
Fenstermacher, K., & Hudson, B. (2000). Practice guidelines for family nurse practitioners.Philadelphia: Saunders
Chronic constipation: Tips on treatment. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com
Constipation. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com
Mosby. (1998). Mosby’s Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health Dictionary (5th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.
Uphold, C., & Graham, M. (1998). Clinical guidelines in family practice (3rd ed.) Gainesville: Barmarrae Books.
Developed in 2001 by Gerri Rupp, MSN, RN, CNP at The University of Toledo for the Caring~Web©
Revised 2010, 2012