All About Constipation
Are you having difficulty moving your bowel? Are you only moving your bowel less than thrice a week? If this is the case, then you might be having constipation.
Occasional constipation is a common occurrence. Yet in some people, constipation may happen often. Chronic constipation may end up causing inconvenience to some people and lead to disruptions in their daily lives.
Chronic constipation may put tremendous pressure to people who are looking to move the bowel or could lead to stress on people seeking to move the bowel.
Chronic constipation’s treatment may depend on the underlying cause or reason a person is constipated. More often though, the cause of the constipation may not be found.
Constipation’s signs and symptoms may include moving the bowel less than three times a week, having hard and lumpy stools, exerting much effort in moving the bowel, a feeling that there is something that blocks the rectum, having the feeling that you are unable to empty the contents of the rectum, needing help to empty the rectum, the urge to press the abdomen and push so the contents of the rectum will be emptied, and the use of the finger to remove the stool from the rectum.
If you have some or all the signs or symptoms mentioned above, it is possible you’re constipated.
Doctors consider the constipation a chronic if two or more episodes of constipation in the last three months.
It is best to see a doctor when you notice changes in your bowel movement especially when the constipation has been happening too often.
When the waste products in your intestine moves slower than usual, constipation happens. If the waste product is not removed immediately from the digestive tract, the stool becomes dry and hard.
There are several possible causes for chronic constipation.
The chronic constipation may be caused by a blockage in the colon or the rectum.
It is also possible the chronic constipation may be caused by anal fissure or small tears around the anus.
Colon cancer may be an underlying cause of chronic constipation, according to experts.
Rectal problems may also be a cause for chronic constipation.
It is said that it is neurological that may affect the nerves which may cause the muscles in the colon or rectum to contract and may lead to difficulty in passing or moving the stool.
Neurological causes that lead to constipation may include nerve damage especially to nerves controlling bodily functions, multiple scleroses, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke.
Constipation may also happen if muscles involved in the elimination of stool may be having difficulty which are problems to the pelvic muscles.
When the pelvic muscles are unable to relax to allow bowel movement it is called anismus.
Dyssynergia happens when pelvic muscles don’t coordinate the contraction and relaxation correctly. It is also possible that the pelvic muscles have weakened.
There are instances that diseases that disrupt the balance of the hormones may lead to constipation.
People who are pregnant or with diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism are also predisposed to occasionally suffer from constipation.
The risk factors of constipation may include being elderly, a woman, constantly dehydrated, a diet that is not rich in fiber, lack of exercise, taking certain medications, having mental conditions, or an eating disorder.
The complications of constipation may include the development of hemorrhoids, swelling of the veins around the anus, and fecal Impaction.
Chronic constipation may lead to hardened stool to get stuck in the intestines and accumulate. It may also lead to anal prolapse.
One can avoid constipation by earting fiber-rich foods, drinking lots of water, exercise, lose weight if overweight, manage blood sugar and pressure, avoid stress, and never ignore the need to move bowel.
Sinusitis in Dentistry
(Conclusion)
This week, we conclude our series with a discussion of the relation of dentistry with our sinuses.
To review, in the past few weeks, we touched on the interest of dentistry as far as maxillary sinus is concerned. This sinus is of great importance to dentistry because of its proximity to the roots maxillary posterior teeth.
There are infections that may be caused and carried on to these teeth as well as improper endodontic treatment that may lead to periapical lesions leading to the development of maxillary sinusitis
As a refresher, we need to point out to our readers what sinusitis is. Sinusitis is the inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which may be caused by an infection or it may be caused by an allergy. The infection or allergy may impact the paranasal sinuses at the same time.
The sinusitis may be referred depending on which sinus is affected.
In dentistry, the maxillary sinus is the one dentists are most interested about. It is interesting to dentists because it is odontogenic in nature, at least in a larger sense.
As we have learned, sinusitis of dental origin accounts for 10 to 12% of maxillary sinusitis cases. Odontogenic sinusitis can be either acute or chronic depending on the nature. Odotogenic sinusitis causes may include abscesses and periodontal disease perforating the Schneiderian membrane, sinus perforations during tooth extraction or displacement of roots and even entire teeth into the sinus or irritation. In some cases, it may be a secondary infection caused by intransal foreign bodies, which may include dental implants.
There are situations where radicular cysts have been implicated to be a cause of some cases of maxillary sinusitis.
There are other pathological entities that may, in one way or another, impact the sinus. These include, denti aerous cysts, mucous retention cyst, benign and malignant neoplasms, osteomyelitis, antral rhinoliths, and, in some cases, polyps.
We need to remember that the microbiology of maxillary sinusitis is a mixed aerobicanaerobic infection. In most cases, the anaerobes may outnumber the aerobes.
It may not be common to hear, but there are patients who consult dentists when they have problems with sinuses, and they do it prior to consulting other medical health professionals.
More often, the pain in the maxillary posterior teeth leads the patient to seek the dentist’s care.
The right methods of examination, history taking and radiologic evidence, can help determine whether or not the sinusitis is of odontogenic in origin. In any case, the dentist is in the best position to give the right treatment, refer, or co-manage the condition.
Covid-19: My Recent Readings
As we all know, science is an evolution. A lot of changes happen anytime of the day. A lot of researches are being done; thus a lot of readings are supposed to be done, too.
Recently, i came across this article from the US government Center for Disease Control which wrote about the emerging scientific evidence on Coronavirus transmission. I find this simple to understand and for us to realize to follow strictly the wearing of face masks, the strict handwashing and the social distancing practices,
The report stated the following facts:
- There is very low risk of transmission from surfaces.
- There is very low risk of transmission from outdoor activities with social distancing.
- There is very high risk of transmission from gatherings in enclosed spaces like offices, religious places, cinema halls or theatres.
- To successfully infect you, the virus needs a dose of 1000 viral particles (vp); and for each activity here are the corresponding viral particles (vp) needed :
- Breath = 20 vp/ minute
- Speaking= 200 vp/ minute
- Cough = 200 million vp
(Enough of these remain in air for hours in a poorly ventilated environment) - Sneeze= 200 million vp
Let us now talk about low risk in successful infection = exposure to virus. These are the situations. Considered low risk/medium risk of being infected are the following situations:
- being in the vicinity of someone (with 6ft distancing is a low risk if exposure and is limited to less than 45 minutes.
- Talking to someone face to face with mask is a low risk if limited to less than 4 minutes
- Someone passing by you walking/ jogging/ cycling is low risk
- It is also a low risk if one is in well ventilated spaces with distancing and limited duration of stay
- Doing grocery and shopping is considered medium risk of infection and can be reduced to low if time in the grocery is limited and if one is following proper hygiene
Considered high risk in successful infection are the following situations:
- Exposure to indoor spaces
- Exposure to public bathrooms/ common areas
- Exposure to restaurants
( can be reduced to medium risk by sitting outdoor with social distancing and surface touch awareness)
Considered very high risk in successful infection are the following situations:
- Exposure to workplaces/schools
( even with social distancing) - Exposure to parties/weddings
- Exposure to business networking/ conferences
- Exposure to arenas/ concerts/cinemas
Hence, we remind one another on how to protect ourselves and our family. Let us be responsible for each other. Let charity, service and love reign in our hearts.