How to Squeeze and Relax Your Pelvic Floor

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

The first test is called defecography. And so otherwise known as evacuation proctography. This is a procedure where they use an x-ray machine or an MRI to visualize the rectum and the anal canal during a simulated bowel movement. It can reveal abnormalities that exist that would be missed by other tests such as a colonoscopy. So it sort of allows you to understand if actually maybe there's something to do with your muscles, which could have nothing to do with diet or microbiome.

The formal definition for constipation is ‘Having fewer than three bowel movements per week’. But, did you know that you can have a bowel movement every day and still be constipated? Recent data has shown that a quarter of people worldwide have at one point reported symptoms, suggesting that there is so much more to constipation than simply infrequent bowel movements.

In today’s short-ish episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Will attempt to dispel some misconceptions about constipation and empower you to have better bowel movements.

Studies referenced in today’s episode:

A redefinition of constipation by King’s College London, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology (2019) here
The State Of The Nation’s Gut, Love Your Gut here
Epidemiology of constipation in Europe and Oceania: a systematic review from Prichard & Bharucha via BMC Gastroenterol here
Recent advances in understanding and managing chronic constipation from Peppas, Alexiou, Mourtzoukou & Falagas via F1000Research here

Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide

Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/

Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theguthealthmd/

This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.