Chronic Constipation

What is chronic constipation?

Chronic constipation is a common health problem that affects an estimated 20 million people in the western world alone.
It is a condition in which stools turn too hard to easily pass.
Symptoms associated with constipation include sharp abdominal cramp, especially before and after bowel movement,
and passing of very dry and hard stools. Since the stool is so hard, it may injure the lining of the rectum and anus,
resulting in pain, bleeding and at times, hemorrhoids. The discomfort symptoms of hard stools can be overcome with Free-Lax,
 a safe device that poses no symptomatic, long-term side effects, as is the case with chemically formulated stool softeners.

Chronic constipation is diagnosed (Rome II consensus) when the following criteria exist for at least 3 months:
• At least two of the following phenomena occur for at least 25% of the time.
• Fewer than 3 bowel movements per week.
• Hard or lumpy stools.
• Straining with evacuation or a sensation of incomplete evacuation
• A sense of anorectal obstruction
• Use of manual maneuvers to assist defecation.

Constipation is associated with inactivity, irregular eating habits, stress, low calorie intake, crash diets,
 taking specific medications, certain chronic illnesses, and stress.
The diagnosis of constipation consists of several medical tests to find the cause of the chronic constipation,
 such as: Colonic Transit Time (CTT) to measure the colon’s function,
anorectal manometry to measure the function of the rectum, and tests to identify possible physiological reasons.
In vast majority of cases, the reason for constipation is not found and treatment is often given symptomatically.
 Medications and food supplements lose there effectiveness when the body adapts itself to them- often within 3-6 months.

Sufferers of chronic constipations come from all walks of life, but are most prevalent among post-menopausal women,
the aged, paraplegics of the lower limbs, and the chronically ill.  Although there is no real cure as such,
 there are various effective treatments to relieve constipation,
including a variety of herbal formulations and formal laxatives.
The prevailing medical view is that natural treatments are best in order to avoid side effects.
Long-term laxative treatment is not recommended, due to potential habit forming and adverse side effects.

Free-Lax is the world’s first natural, non-drug, non-invasive, non-habit-forming constipation relief device.