Struggling with Constipation? Discover Constipation Causes, Symptoms, and Risk Factors
Table of Contents Help Others Discover – Click to Share! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Table of Contents Tyson had been complaining of constipation for months. He was a 34-year-old busy professional, and this condition: the bloating, aching, and irregular bowel movements, was curtailing his energy and productivity. He had tried over-the-counter medicines without much success before finally he deciding to see a doctor. However, his busy scheduled meant he neither had time for a phone call nor a long wait at the clinic. Fortunately, with Cellmaflex, within minutes, Tyson successfully booked an online appointment with a specialist without any phone call and chose the best available time for himself. Based on the symptoms presented to him, the doctor concluded that Tyson suffered from chronic constipation and prescribed a treatment plan tailored to his case. It was a relief to learn that technology was not just able to make booking easier but could, in fact, also make the healthcare journey simpler. This blog goes through constipation causes, its symptoms, complications, and how it can affect quality of life. Lifestyle determinants, potential treatments, and how Cellmaflex is modernising the face of healthcare. What is Constipation? Constipation is one of the common gastrointestinal problems and is defined as a bowel movement that occurs less than three times a week; these bowel movements may be painful, hard, dry, and difficult to pass. Although occasional constipation is normal, persistent cases can have a more considerable influence on the quality of life of an individual. According to National Library of Medicine, approximately 12% of the global population experiences constipation. And according to the Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Constipation affects between one in six and one in ten people globally at any point in time. Influence of Age, Gender, and Lifestyle Constipation does not discriminate according to age and gender; however, some people are more susceptible than others. Some of the most affected include women, particularly when pregnant or post-partum due to hormonal fluctuations. Older people are also at risk due to slow digestion and other factors of old age. Lifestyle influences, such as a lack of physical activities, inadequate hydration, and poor dieting habits, also contribute to constipation. People who are accustomed to jobs that have extended periods of sitting on a daily basis contribute to constipation. What are the Constipation Causes? Constipation occurs because the colon absorbs too much water, or the large intestine makes the poop turn hard in consistency, making it difficult to be pushed out. Typically, as the food travels up the digestive tract, your intestines absorb the nutrients, and the digested food (waste) that goes from your small intestine to your large intestine is the stuff that becomes your poop. This waste contains water that your colon absorbs so as to make it more solid. In the case of constipation, food moves slowly through your digestive tract. This occurs because the colon has too much time–more than enough time–to absorb water from the waste, thereby leaving the stool dry and hard, and unable to pass without much resistance. Lifestyle causes: Slow movement of stool may result when a patient does not: Drink sufficient fluids. Consume enough dietary fibre. Exercise regularly. Use the toilet when the urge to pass stool arises. Medications:Constipation may be a side effect of some medications, such as pain relievers. Some medicines used to treat the following conditions may also be constipation causes: High blood pressure Convulsions Depression Diseases of the nervous system Allergies Diseases of the pelvic floor musculature:The pelvic floor muscles add support for the walls of the torso. The elimination process for stool from the rectum requires relaxation and straining of these muscles. Chronic constipation may be caused by weaknesses or coordination issues with these muscles. Obstruction of the colon or rectum:Damage or alteration of the tissues in the colon or rectum can block the flow of stool. It can also be caused by tumours in the colon, rectum or other tissues nearby. Different aspects:Several diseases may affect the muscles, nerves, or hormones that regulate the passage of stool, thus causing chronic constipation. The following could be responsible: Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diabetes Multiple sclerosis Nerve dysfunction or damage Overactive thyroids, also known as hyperthyroidism Parkinson’s disease Pregnancy In some situations, the constipation causes are unknown. The Symptoms of Constipation Include Having fewer than three bowel movements a week. Having had dry, lumpy or hard stools. Stools being either painful or difficult to pass. Getting cramps or stomach-ache. Feeling bloated and nauseated. Feeling that you did not entirely empty your bowels after that movement. What are the Risk Factors for Constipation? Constipation can happen to anyone at any age. But there are some risk factors, wherein certain characteristics increase a person’s chances of becoming chronically constipated (chronic constipation) Dietary and behavioural risk factors:Some dietary and behavioural habits pose the risk for chronic constipation. Low fibre intake: Fibre helps add bulk to stools and promotes regular bowel movements. Poor fluid intake: Fluids soften the stool so that passing it becomes easier. Inactivity: Exercise causes stimulation of intestinal muscles and aids in the smooth running of the digestive system. Overlooking the urge to go: Very often, overlooking the urge to use the bathroom can cause an imbalance of bowel function, leading to constipation in time. Often, by upgrading diet and lifestyle, most people prevent and control constipation from occurring well. What are the Complications? Chronic constipation complications can be: Swollen tissues around the anus, known as haemorrhoids. Ripped tissues of the anus, also known as anal fissures. Hard stools that build up in the large intestine, called faecal impaction. Exposed tissues of the rectum that have slipped out of the anal opening, popularly known as rectal prolapse. Effective Treatments and Lifestyle Changes Treatment depends on the intensity as well as the causes. These are regular treatments that include: Dietary supplements and changes: Taking more fibre through fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helps soften the stool and regulate bowel movement. Laxatives: Over-the-counter drugs should not be used for long-term
Boosting Efficiency in Sexual Health Departments with Cellma our Pioneering Electronic Medical Records Software.
Table of Contents Help Others Discover – Click to Share! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Table of Contents Sexual health involves an essential dimension of health care, which includes reproductive health, sexual relations, and safe practice. In health facilities, sexual health concerns include sexually transmitted infections (STIs), education on reproduction, family planning, and counselling for sexual health issues. However, running such a sensitive and complex department requires the state-of-the-art technology that can promise confidentiality, precision, and smooth operations. Cellma is our electronic medical records software, the high-tech HIMS, designed especially for healthcare providers as well as patients. When patient records are digitised with automated workflows and modules available in the sexual health field, Cellma is changing departments’ workplace ways in sexual health. Continue reading the blog to discover how Cellma, our electronic medical records software helps in sexual health department management. Relevant challenges with the department facing the sexual health in UK range from patient confidentiality, accurate record-keeping to effectively handling large numbers. Sexual health services are crucial. Numbers and statistics demonstrate the rise in demands for comprehensive sexual health care. According to the UK Government, in 2023, UK saw a spike in the number of reported STI cases. With a 4.7% rise from the previous year, new diagnoses jumped from 383,789 to a hefty 401,800. Gonorrhoea cases jumped up as well, increasing by 7.5%, rising from 79,268 cases in 2022 to 85,223 in 2023. With a 9.4% boost, syphilis diagnoses have reached 9,513 diagnoses up from 8,693. It is a reminder for everyone to stay informed, stay safe, and keep health at the top of the checklist! Common Challenges in Sexual Health Departments Include Patient Confidentiality: Safeguarding patient privacy and sensitive health information is crucial yet challenging in traditional paper-based systems. Resource Limitations: Departments often face staffing limitations, impacting service quality and efficiency. High Patient Volume: A high patient volume requires effective management that ensures the diversification of needs and is apt to not cause long wait times, thus improving the patient experience. Documentation: Manual documentation is a very time-consuming process and also probable to make errors. Digital Management: Most of the cases involve follow-up and follow-through; hence most follow-up is hectic to monitor unless managed digitally. How Cellma Revolutionises Sexual Health Department Management As the leading electronic medical records software, Cellma provides an integrated electronic means of managing patient data, automating workflows, and, respectively, ensuring better communication between healthcare professionals and their patients. Here’s How Cellma Directly Aids the Sexual Health Department Electronic Patient Records (EPR) module: In the Electronic Patient Records module of Cellma, information pertaining to a patient can be stored in one location, thereby keeping it safe. This module allows health care providers to record structured consultations with the patient; their medical histories; made diagnoses; treatment plans; and follow-up notes. This, therefore, is significantly important in an area like sexual health where information must be restricted to just the right personnel only and all those risks that accompany paper records. Only the personnel with appropriate role access can have direct access to patients’ information and the opportunity to review past treatments, test results, and previous consults for truly timely decisions in appointments. Patient Administration System (PAS) module The PAS module in Cellma makes the process of registration fast and efficient; it manages patient appointments, check-in, and waiting lists for departments to take large volumes of patients. As large number of patients pass through some specific points of the day in departments, PAS automates various administrative tasks that free the time of staff to focus on urgent issues relating to the patients. In addition, a patient who requires follow-up can be monitored through PAS to maintain continuity in care. Document Management ModuleSexual health department have tons of paperwork: consent forms, treatment summaries, etc. Cellma’s document management module allows these documents to be administered electronically, from where authorised personnel can access them, upload, retrieve, or even update them without needing any physical storage space; all this would bring down clutter in a room, providing so much transparency and engagement with patients. E-Pharmacy The module streamlines the prescription process for patients who need treatment through medication with STIs or other sexual health-related complaints. The Cellma’s E-Pharmacy module enables doctors to send prescriptions electronically such that the patient may retrieve them at the associated pharmacies. It eases medication processes, saves time, and ensures that the patients may start their treatments promptly. Lab ModuleThis module streamlines the whole process of diagnostic testing with full integration between the patient record and lab results, direct assistance for sexual health departments conducting high volumes of STI screens, HIV tests, and other diagnostics in an orderly workflow from order placement to result entry. Because lab results are automatically linked to the electronic record of a patient as soon as they become available, wait times are lowered and so is the likelihood of lost paper. Results can be immediately accessed by healthcare providers for immediate discussion with patients and thus, prompt and informed decisions regarding treatment. Imaging Module Cellma’s imaging module is designed to be used within the departments of diagnostic imaging for accurate assessments, such as ultrasound or radiology services often required in reproductive health settings. The imaging module integrates directly with the imaging devices and systems and allows the healthcare providers to view and review the diagnostic images right there within the electronic record of the patient. Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) module Cellma’s MDT module enables comprehensive treatment of complicated cases through frictionless collaboration among teams consisting of healthcare providers with different specialties while developing an integrated treatment plan. Sexual health departments often pose a case that requires coordinated care. This module supports case reviews, and easy documentation to enable holistic, time-effective patient care. With streamlined teamwork, the MDT module enhances communication, so there is minimal delay and further improved outcomes for patients. Reporting ModuleSexual health department needs proper data analysis and reporting about current operations. The Reporting and Analytics module within Cellma allows one to know demographics about patients, treatment outcomes, and resource utilisation. This is important in identifying trends, understanding what the patient needs are, and improving service delivery based on data-driven decisions. Patient Portal Patient portal of Cellma empowers patients as they get
