Brief Answer: constipation is common Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic Constipation is the most common problem that can occur in the digestive system. Medical care focuses on diet and physical activity (activity is thought to stimulate bowel motility). In terms of acute treatment : (1)increased fibre intake- this is in the form of fruits and vegetables. In particular prunes are very helpful for constipation and normally allows relief within hours, using the prunes is better than the prune juice You should try to use at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. In addition to these natural fibers, you may also want to consider using fiber supplements such as sugar free metamucil. The sugar free metamucil is stronger than the standard metamucil. (2)Drink water- at least 8 glasses of water is encouraged. A lot of persons count using tea, alcohol and coffee as fluids but because these drinks cause fluid loss they may actually worsen constipation. Avoid milk and milk products for a few days at least (3)if the above is not effective for you, you can consider a laxative or stool softener but these should never be used on a long term basis Ducolax is a stimulant laxative that may be available over the counter if using increased fiber and fluid is not helpful. Should only be used for a short time. It normally causes evacuation of the bowel within 24 hours. Another example is senna. Summary: (1)increased fluids- 8 glasses a day (2)increased fibre with fruits and vegetables, use prunes, metamucil (3)if not effective can use ducolax or senna I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

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