If you’re constipated, changing your diet may be all that’s needed to ease it.
Treatment
If your constipation is causing pain, take a painkiller, such as paracetamol.
Add more fibre to your diet, such as fruit, vegetables, wholewheat pasta, wholemeal bread, seeds, nuts and oats. This can take anything from a few days up to four weeks to have an effect.
If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and get constipated, it’s recommended that you increase the amount of soluble fibre you have. Foods that contain soluble fibre include oats, barley, bananas, apples, carrots, potatoes and golden linseeds.
Regular exercise will reduce your risk of getting constipation.
If diet and lifestyle changes don’t help, try an over-the-counter laxative. Ask your pharmacist’s advice and follow the instructions on the packet or leaflet carefully.
