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Constipation is often part of living a fast paced lifestyle with many healthy - and some not so healthy - food choices available. It is not at all unusual for an average person to now and then suffer from temporary bouts of constipation. Unfortunately, there is a chance temporary constipation may turn into a condition of chronic fecal impaction, which requires decisive action to forestall any systemic far reaching consequences.

When seeking to counteract fecal impaction and temporary constipation, it is wise to begin with an examination of eating habits. While many Americans are now trying harder to eat healthy and ideal food options are readily available, there is a good chance that it might not necessarily be what you eat. Instead, the focus might be more on how you eat it. Remember, digestion actually begins in the mouth where proper masticating permits enzymes to begin the breakdown of nutrients. Therefore, rather than virtually “inhaling” food, it is crucial to take the time to chew.

Choosing what you eat is a critical part of reducing constipation. If you’re experiencing constipation more often than usual, you may have slipped to a diet rich in fat and sugar. If this is the case, you should certainly supplement with fiber or simply add additional servings of vegetables to all meals.

Proper hydration is a vital component of maintaining a healthy digestive system and avoiding fecal impaction. Remember, coffee and sodas don’t properly hydrate. The main purpose of the digestive process is the increase of nutrients and the reduction of bodily waste. Thus, if you increase your fiber levels you must consequently increase your water consumption to avoid clogging your intestines.

People who eat a properly balanced diet may want to examine their vitamin intake. Many vitamins may consequently be the root constipation, even in safe doses. Iron supplements are the most notorious culprits.

Colon cleansing is one way to counteract constipation. Before undergoing a colon cleanse, you should consult with your doctor. This is especially true if you have underlying medical conditions. If your doctor doesn’t suggest colon cleansing, you may want try drinking prune juice after each meal.

Parents need to be particularly vigilant if their child exhibits signs of constipation. Do not let it develop into fecal impaction. Instead, find out when the first signs of constipation occurred and then backtrack in your mind to see if there were any dietary changes that took place recently.

If nothing has changed, you may wish to take a small child to the pediatrician for further examination. Small children are notorious for swallowing a plethora of items and one or more have become lodged in the child’s intestinal tract. Left untreated the obstruction could become life threatening and since a simple x-ray will quickly prove or disprove this theory, it is well worth the expense.