Ayesha Singh By

When Amitabh Bachchan in a very serious and matter-of-fact voice said, “Motion se he emotion”, everyone watching the movie Piku might have had a mighty laugh. With his role of a hypochondriac, the superstar might have made the issue of erratic bowel movement seem funny, but in real life the matter can be quite a solemn one. According to a research conducted at the Department of Organ Surgery and Gastroenterological Clinic in Elsinore, Denmark, millions of people have large amounts of decayed faecal matter that blocks one’s colon to the point of extreme distress. Hidden Constipation Syndrome (HCS) could go unnoticed for years, before creating havoc in your colon.

With more than 62 per cent patients having completely chocked colons, the news comes as an alarming wake-up call. Cases of people suffering from constipation are rising by the day. The next time you wonder the reason for regular bloating, gas, abdominal cramps and recurrent painful constipation, don’t ignore it. “Constipation is a complex problem which is not understood well. Some people are troubled by hard stool, others are worried about the reduced frequency of bowel movements, while some are bothered by bloating, excessive gas and excessive straining—together referred to as a syndrome. It’s basically excessive bacterial overgrowth,” says

Dr. Vikas Singhal, Executive Consultant, Gastro and Bariatric Surgeon, Jaypee Hospital, Noida.

Research shows that over a period of time a toxic colon can cause auto-intoxication. It is a condition where wastes that are supposed to be thrown out of one’s system is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. Though, it’s still not clear why faecal matter sticks to the intestines of some people more than the others, it’s absolutely clear that it could be a serious long-term problem. “Continuous constipation can lead to anal fissure and hemorrhoids (piles), and contribute to diverticulitis, rectal prolapse, even rarely stercoral perforation (bowel perforation from hard stool). The presence of rotting faecal matter can be confirmed through various scan. “The primary reason for HCS is a simple one—taking your system for granted,” says Shilpa Mittal, Nutritionist at Shilpsnutrilife. Health experts from time immemorial have been emphasising on the merits of fibrous foods and whole grain foods, but it seems to always fall on deaf ears. “Refined foods for people with this syndrome is health -threatening. Fruits and vegetables should be had in good quantities as they’re rich in anti-oxidants, that in turn are great for combating stress, which is another common cause for chronic constipation,” says Mittal.

Besides the commonly known causes for HCS, there are others such as infection, inflammation or other kinds of obstructive growths that could trigger a painful reaction. While modern medicine has cures, yoga guru and weight management expert Dr Amrapali Patil of Trim N Tone in Mumbai feels yoga can treat constipation and help people clear their plugged-up systems. “Pawanmuktasana, supta pawanmuktasana, vakrasana, matsyendrasana and shankhaprakshalana are very beneficial. The last one is a set of five asanas that are performed after drinking a lot of water,” says Patil. She believes that HCS is not much different from constipation, but the only difference is that in the prior, because one hasn’t been mindful of what’s happening within their bodies, the issue aggregates. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule for people who have constipation due to hereditary factors and old age related problems like bowel muscles becoming week. “Other solutions are found in naturotherapy, wherein we treat it by colon therapy, in allopathic treatment it’s through enema. Basti treatment in Ayurveda is also effective where medicated oil or ghee is injected into a patient’s lower bowl through the rectum,” she says.

The latest findings have decoded an important but often taken for granted fact—listening to the body’s inner voice always proves useful. Stand up and take notice. Now.