The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1949-10-28
LAXATIvES AND
CONSTIPATION

There are literally hundreds
of substances found in nature
which will produce a Laxative
action. At the present time the
sale of laxatives to the genera
public accounts for the largest
amount. of over.the.counter drug
sales.
There have been estimates that
as many as three to four per.
sons out of every five sufter
from what they believe to De
constipation and take laxatives
for this condition more or less
frequently. This situation IS par
ticularly astonishing because
modern medical science mas
shown that the logical indica-
tons for the use of laxative
drugs are comparatively rare.
The average person has re-
ceived from one source or anoth.
er considerable misinformatlon
regarding constipation and turns
quickly to the use OF laxative
drugs when he believes he is
suffering from this condition.
It has been said that constipa-
ton is the disease OF civillza.
ton. There is some truth to this,
because the demands of living
and the social obligations with
which the average individual is
confronted put him under such
stress that two things are likely
to happen. He is likely to eat an
inadequate diet, both as to va
riety and bulk and he is likely to
ignore the stimulus which arises
when there is need for bowel
movement. When the need for a
bowel movement is ignored, the
stimulus diminishes and may
not reoccur for a considerable
time.
However, since the social con.
ditions which brought about the
original situation are likely to
continue, the situation will reoc.
cur and the person soon be.
comes dependent on the use OF
laxatives. In many cases the
original laxative becomes inef.
fective and he therefore turns to
other laxatives.
Eventually such a person may
seek the advice of a physician
His problem Is not so much that
of prescribing, as the patient
expects, q new and better Taxa
tive, but that of educating the
patient as to the physiology Of
the gastro.intestinal tract and
attempting to re.establish the
natural Physiological cycle Of
evacuation.
This re.education often con
sists of clearing up certain mis-
conceptions. Many people believe
that it is necessary for health II
have one bowel movement a day
This is incorrect. Individuals
vary in the time period of thei
normal gastro-intestinal cycle
But the stimulus must not b
ignored when 1t occurs.
Another factor is a normal
adequate and varied diet. On,
of the most pernicious dietar.
habits Of the American is that o
eating a small breakfast. Moth
ing is more conducive to the de
vel6pment of chronic constipa
ton than arising in the morning
in a hurry a little late after tn,
alarm clock has gone off, grab
bling q slice of toast, gulping /,
cup of coffee, and having a Gig
arctic, and then rushing to worl
in the office, the shop or in tn,
home.
With most people the stimulu
for a bowl movement is mos
powerful after breakfast. Thi
Is the result Of a reflex which
occurs when food is taken int,
the stomach which has not re
ceived food for the previous 4
or "a hours. This stomach activi
ty causes the movements Of tn
colon which give rise to tn
stimulus for DELEGATION. There
fore, the most important facto
in avoiding constipation ID
letsurely morning period wit
unhurried attention to the colon
lie stimulus.
Ia the natiau< xr,ho ho. =.