Defecation disorders

PO058 Ricci, P. D., and R. Angeli. Plantago ovata and defecation disorders in the aged. Effects of the administration of powdered Plantago ovata on defecation disorders in the aged. Clin Ter 1978 PO070... 

Q2 Constipation is a condition in which faecal material moves too slowly through the large intestine. As a result too much water is reabsorbed hard, dry faeces which are difficult to move and very abrasive are produced. Infrequent or difficult defecation is a common problem in the elderly as ageing is associated with a decline in both secretory activity and motility in the gut. Constipation could develop because of emotional problems, inactive or sedentary lifestyle, lack of fibre and fluid in the diet, intestinal muscle weakness, a neurogenic disorder or an iatrogenic effect. Iatrogenic conditions are those caused by drugs or other medical treatments. 

Diarrhoea is an increase in the volume of stool or frequency of defecation. It is one of the most common clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease, but can also reflect primary disorders outside of the digestive system. There are numerous causes of diarrhoea, but in almost all cases this disorder is a manifestation of one of the following four basic mechanisms ... 

IBS is a group of bowel disorders, of which the characteristic features are abdominal pain or discomfort associated with irregularities in defecation, and for which no underlying pathology can be found. 

Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, and is characterized by lower abdominal pain, disturbed defecation, and bloating. Many nongastrointestinal manifestations also exist with IBS. Recent studies have found that visceral hypersensitivity is a major culprit in the pathophysiology of the disease. 

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder exhibiting the following characteristics abdominal pain, symptoms of distnrbed defecation (urgency, straining, and feeling of incomplete evacnation), altered stool consistency, and altered stool freqnency and timing. There are also symptoms of bloatedness (distention). 

Constipation Digestive disorder characterized by less frequent defecation and production of hard and dry fecal material. Constipation can cause headaches, abdominal discomfort, depression, and sensation of mouth dryness. 

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the bowel, which is said to affect up to 15% of the population and is characterized by some, but not necessarily all, of a range of symptoms including abdominal pain relieved by constipation, alternating diarrhea and constipation, recurrent abdominal pain, and urgent or frequent defecation. An important part of management is the exclusion of other serious organic disease such as inflammatory bowel diseases. In IBS the gut is abnormally sensitive to distension, and symptoms may be related to or... 

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