Patho discussion 5 | Nursing homework help
Constipation is a condition in which bowel movements (stools) are difficult to pass or infrequent. It can be caused by various factors, such as diet and lifestyle habits, medications, or an underlying medical condition. Signs and symptoms of constipation include abdominal pain or discomfort; feeling bloated; having hard, dry stools; straining when trying to have a bowel movement; having fewer than three bowel movements per week; and experiencing a sense of incomplete evacuation after having a bowel movement.
The case study for R.H describes several signs and symptoms that are compatible with the diagnosis of constipation: abdominal pain or cramping (which may occur while passing a stool), bloating, excessive gas production with episodes of diarrhea alternating with periods of constipation, feeling full after only eating small amounts of food at meals, passage of hard stools that may require straining during defecation some days being unable to feel any urge to move the bowels at all, diminished appetite over time due to nausea associated with attempts at eating large meals.,and ect.. The patient also mentions losing 18 pounds gradually over six weeks which could be indicative of possible malabsorption due to chronic constipation leading to reduced calorie intake from lack of appetite as well as nutrient deficiency due to poor absorption.
Other non-specific physical manifestations like fatigue, insomnia and general malaise can also indicate long term chronic cases of constipation due the body’s difficulty in removing toxins from it’s system efficiently leading to systemic effects on other organ systems where this waste builds up causing further complications down the line if not addressed promptly and appropriately.