Before taking any medication to treat constipation, a clear understanding of its benefits and as well as the side effects should be considered first. One would always rely to medicines that can be purchased from pharmacies such as laxatives. This drug can effectively address your problem if used properly and the type of laxative used is the one which does not cause any side effect.

Constipation is a condition where you encounter difficulty in having a bowel movement. This will cause too much straining to your rectal muscles thus can worsen your hemorrhoids. For people who don’t have hemorrhoids, frequent constipation can lead to the occurrence of hemorrhoid symptoms. As much as possible eat healthy foods to prevent constipation.

There are fruits and vegetables which can effectively prevent this condition. The long list include almonds, aloe vera, apples/apple juice, artichokes, bananas, basil, beets, blueberry, cranberry, coconut, coffee, cornmeal, dandelion, dates, dried apricots, fenugreek, figs, flaxseed, grapes, liquorice, mangos, molasses, oranges, papayas, parsley, peaches, pears, persimmons, pineapple, plums, prunes/prune juice, rhubarb, and rutabagas.

Do not forget to include soybeans, strawberry, tamarind, tangerine, tea, tomato, tomato juice, vanilla, walnuts, watercress, winter squash, yams, and olive oil. Most of these have laxative properties so it will help in preventing constipation. These will also provide essential vitamins and minerals to your body.

If you don’t have an adequate intake of these foods, you can turn to synthetically prepared laxatives. There are different types of laxatives that you can choose from. These are bulk-producing agents, stool-softeners, lubricants or emollients, hydrating agents and stimulants.

Osmotics or hydrating agents are of two types, it can be categorized as saline laxatives. The first type attracts and retains water in the hollow of the intestine so it will help soften the stool. It also increases the intraluminal pressure. Once you take this kind of laxative, it can take effect within 30 minutes and works up to 6 hours. Examples of these are Dibasic sodium phosphate, milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide), Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), monobasic sodium phosphate, sodium biphosphate, and magnesium citrate.

Hyperosmotic agents, on the other hand, works in the colon. It encourages bowel movement by drawing water into the bowel from surrounding tissues. Examples of these are Glycerin suppositories and Lactulose. Its effect can be felt within 30 minutes and can work up to 3 hours.

A bulk-forming agent makes the stool more bulky and retains more water. Some popular brands include Metamucil (psyllium husk) and Citrucel (methylcellulose). Stool softeners cause fats and water to penetrate the stool. It makes the passing of the stool in the digestive system easier and faster. However, prolonged use of this laxative may lessen its effectiveness. This is usually recommended for occasional constipation.

Lubricants or emollients makes the stool slippery which causes its movement down the intestine faster and easier. Mineral oil is an example of this type of laxative. Stimulants works by stimulating the wave of contractions in the colon. Common brands that you can find in pharmacies are Dulcolax (bisacodyl), bisacodyl suppository and Microlax.

So before taking any laxative, it is still best to consult your doctor. They can give you advice on the appropriate laxative to take depending on your current health condition. Anyway, if you are constipated, there are still other natural methods that you can choose from to treat the condition. Don’t rely too much on synthetically prepared laxatives.

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