Description and Possible Medical Problems
Like a crick in the neck or a headache that won’t go away no matter how many ^aspirins you take, if you become constipated, it tends to affect everything you do. Constipation that appears all of a sudden or over the course of several days is usually due to a recent change in your lifestyle.
The most common cause of acute constipation is a sudden change in your diet, such as going on a strict weight-loss plan, or sudden inactivity, which often occurs after an injury or accident for which your doctor prescribes bed rest. Pain medication such as codeine can also cause constipation. I’ve seen weekend athletes who get hit in the chest playing basketball, fracture a rib or two, and take Tylenol with codeine for the pain. The combination of sudden inactivity and medication results in a severe case of constipation.
If you become constipated and suspect that it’s due to a sudden change in your lifestyle, you can try one of the many laxative preparations that are on the market, such as Ex-Lax, taken several times a day, until your constipation clears up.
This should help relieve your constipation. If, however, your lifestyle change is going to continue, whether it’s enforced bed rest, a change in diet, or continuation of a medication, you should ask your doctor for advice.
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