Constipation is quickly treated by the best in class proctologists of the Proctology Institute of Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, and Huntington Beach.
What is constipation?
Constipation occurs when bowel movements become difficult to complete and occur less frequently. This can occur when the stool is either too hard or slow-moving. Although everybody produces bowel movements at their own pace, generally constipation is considered medically concerning if you have gone for three days without a bowel movement. As stools become harder over time, they become more difficult to pass and may lead to a split or tear at the anal opening, causing a very painful condition called an anal fissure.
Constipation can be caused by a wide array of factors, including:
- Insufficient hydration
- Inadequate dietary fiber
- Insufficient activity or exercise
- Stress
- Resisting the urge to defecate, a common response to painful hemorrhoids
- Hyperthyroidism
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Antacids that contain calcium or aluminum
- Medications (especially strong pain medicines, such as narcotics, antidepressants, or iron pills)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Pregnancy
- Colon cancer (we offer full colonoscopy services)
- Colonic inertia (slow transit constipation)
- Hirschsprung’s disease
Symptoms of constipation can include:
- Slow-moving bowel movements
- Infrequent bowel movements
- Difficulty with defecation
- Hard or small stools
- Sense of incomplete bowel movement
- Swollen abdomen
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- You may also experience occasional diarrhea due to obstructions within the colon from fecal impaction.
How is constipation diagnosed by the proctologist?
The proctologist may have you undergo a Sitz Marker Test, where you swallow a capsule with radiopaque rings or markers and the doctor has you undergo serial x-rays to determine the distance the markers have traveled in your colon at 4 and 7 days.
How is constipation treated?
Constipation is a treatable disorder that typically responds to exercise, dietary changes, and laxatives. During your visit with the proctologist, the doctor may release hardened material in the rectum by inserting a gloved finger and manually breaking up the solidified stool if you have fecal impaction.
Maintaining A Relationship With Your Proctologist
Should you elect to move forward with one of our best in class proctologists in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Huntington Beach, or Newport Beach any and all questions regarding your treatment will certainly be answered in advance by your proctologist. Please remember that the relationship with your proctologist does not end when you leave the medical practice. If you have questions or concerns during your treatment and recovery or need additional information at a later time, you should always feel free to contact us. Our proctologists take pride in putting the patient first and the best and fastest treatment outcome.
Our best in class proctologists pride themselves on providing you highly personalized and comprehensive care before, after, and during your proctology treatment. The Proctology Institute of Beverly Hills, Irvine, and Los Angeles’ philosophy of direct proctologist to patient care at every visit has made us one of the most trusted and respected medical practices in California. For more information or to schedule a consultation please feel free to contact us:
Proctology Institute Beverly Hills
300 South Beverly Drive, Suite 105
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(800) 280-6384
Proctology Institute Newport Beach
500 Superior Ave, Suite 320
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 467-9187
Proctology Institute Los Angeles
11601 Wilshire Blvd, 5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 844-9170
Proctology Institute Huntington Beach
17011 Beach Blvd, Suite 900
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
(714) 756-2236
