July 10, 2024
Welcome to The Climb, your weekly journey with Lifecycle Sherpa, where we explore Parkinson’s Disease, its symptoms, treatments, tips, techniques, and build a supportive and knowledgeable community.
This week’s trail leads us to…Constipation.
Question: What is it? Why does it happen? What can I do to manage it?
Answer: Straining to pass a bowel movement or fewer than 3 bowel movements per week. Complications can include bowel obstructions and perforations.
This can happen as a result of reduced movement in the intestines causing bowel to stay inside longer. Additionally, coordinated relaxation of the anal sphincter becomes impaired, leading to inability to defecate normally.
Tip: Here are FOUR:
1) Stay Hydrated!!! (I cannot express this enough, especially in the summer months!!)
2) Eat nutritious, fibrous foods (or try a fiber supplement, see last week’s issue for more information)
3) Exercise: By exercising the strengthening your abdominal muscles, you can stimulate intestinal contractions, which move stool through your digestive system
4) Medication: Talk to your doctor for more details.
We always encourage feedback, as it helps us enhance our community. Feel free to reach out regarding future topics you want to learn about, or how we can improve your experience.
See you next week!