How long before a laxative damages your colon?
Laxatives are unhealthy. For constipation, medication is only a very temporary solution if it works. Wheat germ and wheat bran are very high fiber foods that often help for constipation. Constipation can cause anal fissures, hemorrhoids and also some far more serious problems as in http://au.search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22r... . You probably need to improve your diet as you seem to have a constipation problem. For constipation, castor oil is very good for a one-off remedy as in http://au.search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22c... but it is unsuitable for regular use. For constipation, suppositories, laxatives, fiber supplements and enemas are all totally unnecessary if you eat the right foods. All fruit and vegetables in very large amounts are laxative. You need to permanently change your diet or you are likely to get colon cancer. Constipation can make you extremely unwell and can lead to colon cancer as it causes a build up of carcinogenic toxins in the system. The intake of foods such as milk, cheese, white rice, white flour and red meat should be restricted, because they tend to contribute to constipation. Any food that has had the fiber stripped out, the nutrients processed out or slows down the digestion is a constipation culprit. Here's a list of foods shown to cause constipation problems: •Meats, especially fatty meats, red meat and processed meats, •Dairy Products, such as cheese, ice cream and whole milk, •Fast Foods – burgers, French fries and other fried foods, pizza, etc., •Refined grains, like white rice or any refined white flour products, •Highly starchy foods – white potatoes, corn and all refined grains, •Pastries and other high sugar products, such as cakes, cookies and pies, •Deep-fried foods, chips and other foods that are high in bad fats. You can see lots more in http://au.search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22n... which tells you "Natural Ways to Relieve Constipation" and the right foods to eat.
Is a colon cleanse pill the same thing as a laxative?
To understand the difference, it is best to know how supplements work. A laxative works because it is a mild toxin. This toxin enters your body, your body recognizes it as a toxin so treats it as such. Your body's response is to send "water" from all other parts of your body to your intestine or colon to dilute the toxin, then spasms to move the toxin out. This is why cramping often occurs, though some may not even feel the cramping. It can also be very dehydrating in the long run. This toxin in question may be a pharmaceutical or could be "natural." The natural toxin most used is an herb called senna. This toxin can be habit forming. It only takes a few days to become dependent on it. If you use a product with senna in it, it is best to slowly "wean" yourself off the product, not just suddenly stop using it. This could lead to constipation as your body has become used to a stimulant "forcing" it to work. Natural stimulants such as cascara sagrada, buckthorn bark and triphala work better for a cleanse. All of these stimulate the release of natural hormonal oils in the intestinal tract, which then leads to peristalsis (muscular contractions of the digestive tract). This natural release, in a way, "trains" your body to work on it's own, instead of forcing it to work. As you come off of a colon cleanse with this type of herb, your system should be able to work on it's own naturally, providing you are eating well and you "cleansed" long enough. A laxative works as an IRRITANT to the nerves of the colon. Long term laxative use can actually damage the nerve cells in the colon, causing it to lose its natural ability to contract. Laxatives can create a physical dependency. When you stop taking laxatives, the bowel is unable to function normally and constipation will be CREATED. True cleansing will help the body release the buildup of toxins and mucoid plaque. When searching for a good colon cleanse product, be sure to check your ingredients. True body cleansing will assist your body's natural ability to cleanse itself. The herbs should provide nutrition, which gives strength to your organs. It is a slow process since it can take 10-30 years to build up the excess waste. Knowing this, you see that it may take a year or two to undo the damage.
What r the dangers of laxative abuse?
This is one of the most dangerous things you can do for weight loss. Karen Carpenter and others have done this and have caused severe damage to the system. You flush out the vitamins and other nutrients that your body needs before they have a chance to enter the blood stream to help provide the nourishment you need. While weight loss can be guaranteed by overdosing on laxatives, it may also cause permanent damage to the gastrointesitinal tract and the weakening and softening of the bones, a condition known as osteomalacia. It was also reported that excess use of stimulant laxatives cause severe constipation and pain for long periods (as much as for decades) due to the colon losing its function. It eventually led to surgery removing the colon altogether. I found this information in a article by Andrew Greene and this information was also on Oprah. Please stop many people with Anorxiea have died this way.
How long does it take for laxatives to cause damage?
Laxatives are unhealthy and unnecessary if you eat the right foods. You probably need to improve your diet as you seem to have a constipation problem. For constipation, castor oil is very good for a one-off remedy as in http://au.search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22c... but it is unsuitable for regular use. For constipation, suppositories, laxatives, fiber supplements and enemas are all totally unnecessary if you eat the right foods. All fruit and vegetables in very large amounts are laxative. You need to permanently change your diet or you are likely to get colon cancer. Constipation can make you extremely unwell and can lead to colon cancer as it causes a build up of carcinogenic toxins in the system. The intake of foods such as milk, cheese, white rice, white flour and red meat should be restricted, because they tend to contribute to constipation. Any food that has had the fiber stripped out, the nutrients processed out or slows down the digestion is a constipation culprit. Here's a list of foods shown to cause constipation problems: •Meats, especially fatty meats, red meat and processed meats, •Dairy Products, such as cheese, ice cream and whole milk, •Fast Foods – burgers, French fries and other fried foods, pizza, etc., •Refined grains, like white rice or any refined white flour products, •Highly starchy foods – white potatoes, corn and all refined grains, •Pastries and other high sugar products, such as cakes, cookies and pies, •Deep-fried foods, chips and other foods that are high in bad fats. You can see lots more in http://au.search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22n... which tells you "Natural Ways to Relieve Constipation" and the right foods to eat.
Is it bad to take a laxative everyday?
yes it s bad because your body starts to relie on them. it even says do not use daily. id eat lots of prunes and cherries when you get off your laxative. ou can t die from being constipated my brother was in a full body cast he did not go for two weeks straight.
Is it bad to take laxatives when you don't need to?
Why do you take laxatives in the first place, if you don't need to?Yes it is bad. Following health effects are seen with laxative abuse. I copy pasted from another website. Disturbance of electrolyte and mineral balances. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus are electrolytes and minerals that are present in very specific amounts necessary for proper functioning of the nerves and muscles, including those of the colon and heart. Upsetting this delicate balance can cause improper functioning of these vital organs.Severe dehydration may cause tremors, weakness, blurry vision, fainting, kidney damage, and, in extreme cases, death. Laxative dependency occurs when the colon stops reacting to usual doses of laxatives so that larger and larger amounts of laxatives may be needed to produce bowel movements.Internal organ damage may result, including stretched or “lazy” colon, colon infection, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and, rarely, liver damage. Chronic laxative abuse may contribute to risk of colon cancer.Some basic facts about laxative abuse can be found in the link below. Laxative Abuse: Some Basic Facts Don't read below this. I don't know what else to do to prevent it from collapsing. Sometimes I type random things to fill up spaces, to make it large enough to prevent it from collapsing. I copied the response and saved it in a text file so that it can be used for answering some other questions. I don't know what Quora is gaining by this policy. Now everyone have to read these lines because of their idiotic policy. Laxatives (purgatives, aperients) are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives vary based on how they work and the side effects they have.Certain stimulant, lubricant and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under certain circumstances. Sufficiently high doses of laxatives may cause diarrhea.Some laxatives combine more than one active ingredient. Laxatives may be oral or suppository in form.
Can you die from taking too many laxatives?
Yep.Excessive laxative intake can kill you a couple of ways. Not directly, but through related complications.Dehydration - stool moving abnormally fast through the bowel does not allow time for water to be reabsorbed in the large intestine. Large enough doses of laxatives for long enough can lead to organ failure from dehydration and related electrolyte imbalance, quite apart from nutrient malabsorption.Rebound constipation can lead to bowel obstruction, which can be fatal if left untreated.Don’t abuse any drug or medication. The dose makes the poison, and more isn’t necessarily better.If you suffer from chronic constipation, consult a medical professional, and NEVER use laxatives as a weight-loss tactic.
Is it ok to drink alcohol with laxatives?
No. Laxatives are usually taken for short-term relief of constipation or in preparation for a medical exam or procedure. Though they are available over-the-counter for self medication, laxatives are best used under the advice of a healthcare professional because laxatives: • Have side effects • Can damage the colon • Can be habit forming • Can interact with other medications. Laxatives are not intended to be used as a means of achieving weight loss. Because laxatives have a diuretic effect; it is possible to temporarily lose “water weight” by taking laxatives. This practice should be avoided as rapid fluid loss places stress on the body’s ability to maintain hydration. With repeated use of certain laxatives; dehydration can develop very quickly. Dehydration causes electrolyte imbalances. Electrolytes regulate essential bodily processes, such as muscle contractions, including cardiac muscle contractions. With severe dehydration, there is a risk of heart stoppage, as well as muscle spasms, fainting, organ damage and even death. Dehydration and Organ Failure Weight lost after a laxative purge is almost entirely water drawn from the body. Without quickly replenishing this water, a laxative user can easily get dehydrated. Not drinking enough water after a purge, eager to sustain pounds seemingly lost can add to the dehydration problem. Moreover, alcohol being a diuretic can exacerbate this dehydration problem. That's why it's not a good idea to mix acohol with laxatives. Habitual use of laxatives can seriously damage several organs. The colon itself can become tolerant to the effects of laxatives Laxative abusers also seem more prone to irritable bowel syndrome; constipation, colon cancer and general infections. Alcohol can make constipation much worse. Because it too is a diuretic just like the laxative. It can pull the water from the body. Thus, both can exacerbate the constipation and dehydration problem. I assume that's why you're taking laxatives. Therefore, While you're constipated you need to stay away from the alcohol.
What happens if you take laxatives everyday?
You end up with a colon that is effectively dead in as little as two weeks. After that, you have a colostomy where they take all of your intestines out and replace them with a plastic bag and a catheter that hangs at your side with your liquid fecal matter dripping into it day and night. Really attractive beachwear.If I were you I’d make it my business to become an expert on vegetables and eat at least 8 different ones daily to avoid that fate.While you are at it, stay right away from any kind of dairy products including eggs and any kind of grain products and that includes all junk food, pizza, hamburgers, cereal and milk. That stuff causes constipation. Big time. You and that stuff are not friends if you feel you need to ask a question like that.NO sugar for you either in any way shape or form. This is really serious stuff for you Celine. This will be a big life change and is far from easy.Start taking flax oil as well. Follow directions on the label. Starting today if not sooner.
Is taking a stimulant laxatives constantly every 7 days may cause chronic disease?
It could be. Here are some consequences from the site:Laxative Abuse: Some Basic FactsHealth Consequences of Laxative Abuse:Disturbance of electrolyte and mineral balances. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus are electrolytes and minerals that are present in very specific amounts necessary for proper functioning of the nerves and muscles, including those of the colon and heart. Upsetting this delicate balance can cause improper functioning of these vital organs.Severe dehydration may cause tremors, weakness, blurry vision, fainting, kidney damage, and, in extreme cases, death. Dehydration often requires medical treatment.Laxative dependency occurs when the colon stops reacting to usual doses of laxatives so that larger and larger amounts of laxatives may be needed to produce bowel movements.Internal organ damage may result, including stretched or “lazy” colon, colon infection, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and, rarely, liver damage. Chronic laxative abuse may contribute to risk of colon cancer.