How to fix constipation | Constipation treatments by an MD

This video tells you how to fix constipation. I talk about how we as doctors define constipation. The symptoms of constipation are discussed. Constipation treatments including lifestyle changes and diet are reviewed. Proper posture on the toilet is shown as well as the importance of establishing a regular bowel regimen. Risk factors for constipation are presented. Dietary interventions as well as natural products are presented first. The utility of different laxatives are presented to show you how to fix constipation.

DISCLAIMER : Thank you for watching my YouTube video. The content of my video is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. No doctor-patient relationship is formed by viewing this video. For further details, please click the following link below for my full disclaimer.

Dr. Keith Moran MD, RCPSC, DABIM, RCS, NBE Biography:
I am a consultant in Internal Medicine with special medical interests in gastroenterology, cardiology, and echocardiography. I am a a full-time practising physician in these areas. I was an undergraduate at the University of Toronto, Trinity College where I received a number of scholarships including one for top student at Trinity College. I attended medical school at the University of Toronto graduating with a gold medal. My internship was completed at McMaster University in Hamilton followed by a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Western Ontario in London. I then completed a fellowship in General Internal Medicine at the University of Western Ontario. I have active staff privileges and work as a consultant at my hospital managing the intensive care unit and providing consultative care in all hospital departments. I am a past clinical preceptor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. I am an active echocardiographer who has been certified and recertified by the National Board of Echocardiography. I am certified in cardiac sonography and have trained and completely educated a number of cardiac sonographers. I am the medical director of my cardiology laboratory which was established in 2001. My laboratory performs echocardiography and stress echocardiography amongst other tests. I maintain my certification in the American Board of Internal Medicine.

#MedicinewithDrMoran

[tulefogger]

I very much wish this topic were discussed more with patients

[josies]

Hi Dr. Moran,
Thank you for your helpful videos! I love your cat!! The cat is so Beautiful and such an added benefit to your videos!!

[jjohn]

What's alarming to me is that "medications" seem to be a given part of daily life (at least elder life). That's just wrong to me. My parents and in-laws and elder friends are so pilled-up it's scary. Every doctor only seems to prescribe more drugs, without a very, very stern and strong emphasis on changing lifestyle to stay off drugs and get healthy.

[ledadicamilo]

I love your cat!!!!And your programmes!😄😻😻

[mjss]

Whole food plant based works for me. around 80 grams of fiber per day.

Eventually my wife changed over to whole plant food based diet and she went from a BM every four to seven days to every single day.

If you eat a healthy diet you almost can't get below 50 grams of fiber.

If your fiber intake is low, that means your intake of whole plant foods is too low.

[basketballfan]

I can't concentrate with that cute cat!!! Don't take him/her away as i love looking at the kitty! So sweet!!🐱🐈🐱🐈🐱🐱🐈🐈 I've had constipation all my childhood from a spasm in my lo bowel I now believe. I also suffer from IBS now and that's spasms! I have leg spasms and a jaw that locks and neck spasms so i think it's obvs! I believe mine is spasm related!!!

[pamisjamming]

Is magnesium citrate good for relieving constipation? If so, then how much to take?

[mikeharrington]

There tend to be a few vicious circles once on the medication roundabout. As a normally healthy eater I found a lactulose supplement more helpful than senna as it moistens the stools, After trying both together I found I didn't need the senna. Unfortunately the lactulose has taken me into the uncomfortable gassy IBS scenario. I guess you can't win them all.

[glion]

I eat the same diet as my wife. I do more physical activity throughout the day and yet, it takes her 10 seconds to pass stool, on a daily basis whithout straining and I am constantly constipated.Any advice?

[mikeharrington]

Evacuation signals do get fainter with age. Use those opportunities!

[DennisRogersFeatheryournest]

Eat a couple dates every day makes a big difference

[bmg]

Is taking milk of magnesium once a week 1 tablespoon harmful?

[dvox]

You forgot to mention another solution to constipation Dr. Moran: an animal based diet of just fatty meat/water/salt.

[janinawalker]

Using vitamin C throughout the day in divided doses solves all sorts of issues as it donates electrons to balance free radicals. Also since the effect of taking too much vitamin C is loose stools you will find that you have elimination that looks more like a long toothpaste excretion that is soft. So there needs never be any hard stools with enough vitamin C. You will know how much vitamin C to take based on stopping just short of the daily dose that would cause a problem if you think you are passing gas and instead make a mess. You don't want that. Also definitely never take all the day's dose of vitamin C at once as that wastes it as most will then go down the toilet when you pee. A person generates free radicals through-out the day so to combat that the divided dose approach is best.

The body will not develop loose stools until the body has more than enough vitamin C as then the loose stools is a sign of having reached the dose that is more than you need.