Constipation Causes More Trouble Than You Think

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones Now and again, friends confide in friends that they have big problems. Dreaded are the occasions when the problem is a serious medical diagnosis. But when the problem is persistent constipation, it’s better to air the issue and not suffer in silence. Drug store remedies for constipation can fail to have effect. For many sufferers, the ailment involves days without a bowel movement. Ignoring the problem can lead to disturbing complications, to be avoided at all costs. Dr. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Prize winner, believed we are all living with sub-optimal levels of vitamin C. His primary interest was in studying the effects of high doses of vitamin C in protecting against heart disease. But in an interview with him, he added, “High doses of C also resolve constipation.” It’s a natural remedy for constipation and a sad fact most people, including doctors, are not aware of this A lack of dietary fiber, which holds onto water, sets the stage for constipation. Fiber will change bowel movements from hard rocks to stools as soft as toothpaste. When on a high-fiber diet, if you look in the toilet bowl, you’ll see stools that float. One reader of this my column said it gave her a stiff neck! But she was grateful for the relief provided. So how much vitamin C is required? It depends on bowel tolerance. Vitamin C in high doses will cause diarrhea. So, take 2,000 milligrams (mg) at bedtime. If this doesn’t produce a result take 3,000 mg the following night, and so on. It will eventually have effect. A component of our natural physiology called the gastrocolic reflex also helps to prevent constipation. A high fiber cereal with fruit and a hot tea or coffee stimulates nerves in the stomach to trigger a bowel movement. The great concern with constipation is the possibility of fecal impaction, when a bowel movement becomes impossible. This demands a visit to the hospital emergency room. The solution is an enema and sometimes manual removal of the impacted feces. Having this treatment just once quickly convinces anyone to use high-dose vitamin C and more fiber. Chronic intestinal pressure may cause small hernias to appear in the large bowel. These bowel out-pockets are referred to as diverticulosis and may be present for years without people knowing. For the unlucky, diverticulosis can change to diverticulitis when small particles of food become stuck in one of the hernias. This can cause mild pain and inflammation, usually cured by antibiotics. Or it can be worse and trigger a severe inflammatory reaction causing acute pain and a life-threatening situation requiring an emergency operation and removal of the inflamed bowel. Busy doctors normally don’t spend much time on diagnosis of constipation unless patients complain of this trouble. Circus promoters used to say, “There’s a sucker born every day.” They’re right, as millions of unsuspecting consumers use over-the-counter laxatives which injure the large bowel. So remember, vitamin C is nature’s natural laxative that cannot injure the intestines. It also decreases the risk of overall disease and has a positive effect on cardiovascular problems. Moreover, you cannot overdose with C. It’s a win, win situation. Some worry about kidney stones. The majority of renal stones occur in alkaline urine. But since vitamin C acidifies urine, there’s less chance of this happening. Linus Pauling took 20,000 mg of C daily for years. We take 4,000 mg and 10,000 mg respectively of C daily – and one of us is 98. Are you among those suffering silently from constipation? The natural solution is one of nature’s best kept secrets. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones