Gastric peristalsis: symptoms of its disturbance, signs of diseases, their treatment. Increased intestinal motility

The main manifestation of intestinal atony is frequent, prolonged constipation, which is difficult to cope with with conventional laxatives.

Causes

Most often, intestinal atony develops against the background of general muscle weakness and impaired conduction of impulses, under the influence of which a contraction of the smooth muscles of the intestinal wall occurs with a sedentary lifestyle, after abdominal operations, and prolonged bed rest.

Another common cause of atonic constipation is an unbalanced diet, especially a lack of fiber and other coarse fibers in the diet against the background of an excess of calories, as well as non-compliance with the water regime. The systematic lack of fluid intake is compensated by the active absorption of moisture, which leads to compaction of the stool. Education large quantity toxic compounds during the putrefactive decay of undigested food debris, in turn, prevents the perception of impulses by muscle cells. Sometimes the movement of feces is limited by mechanical obstacles: diverticula, additional pockets of the colon, adhesions, coprolites (fecal stones), neoplasms, compression of the rectal wall by other organs, etc.

Also, a number of factors that influence the processes of neurohumoral regulation of gastrointestinal tract functions are involved in the development of intestinal atony:

• laxative abuse;
• prolonged fasting;
• taking certain medications (painkillers, antacids, antidepressants, antiulcer and antiepileptic drugs, etc.);
• prolonged stress;
• diseases of the anorectal region, prompting the patient to postpone visiting the toilet;
• bad habits: smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, use of morphine-type drugs;
• obesity;
• intestinal infections and changes in intestinal microbiocenosis;
• helminthiases (the waste products of some helminths contain substances that inhibit peristalsis);
• endocrine disorders and electrolyte imbalances;
• traumatic injuries or degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine and spinal cord, as well as traumatic brain injuries;
• pregnancy. Intestinal atony in pregnant women is a side effect of the relaxing effect of progesterone on smooth muscles.

Sometimes the tendency to atonic constipation is hereditary. Cases of intestinal atony in close relatives are a reason to think about prevention.

Forms

Depending on the degree of inhibition of the motor-evacuation function of the large intestine, complete and partial forms of intestinal atony are distinguished. The most common is partial intestinal atony - slowing and weakening of peristaltic movements, which leads to chronic constipation. Complete intestinal atony is characterized by an absolute absence of peristalsis and paralytic intestinal obstruction.

If acute abdominal pain is observed against the background of stool and gas retention, there is reason to suspect surgical pathology - diverticulosis, volvulus, intestinal infarction and other pathological conditions that threaten the patient’s life. The patient should be taken to a medical facility as soon as possible.

Symptoms of intestinal atony

A specific sign of intestinal atony is chronic constipation, which is characterized by a long and persistent course. In some cases, “lazy bowel syndrome” develops, in which the patient is unable to defecate on his own.

In this case, constipation is considered not only a long-term retention of stool, in which there is no bowel movement for two or more days. Possible symptoms of intestinal atony with regular bowel movements are quite varied:

• feeling of discomfort and straining during bowel movements;
• insufficient bowel movement;
• streaks of blood in the stool;
• compaction and hardening of feces;
• so-called Sheep feces - the discharge of a small amount of dense, dry excrement.

If there is no stool for more than three days, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the large intestine develops, preventing the absorption of nutrients. At the same time, the optimal balance of intestinal microflora is disrupted: the active proliferation of putrefactive bacteria inhibits the vital activity of beneficial microorganisms. As a result, signs of digestive disorders and general intoxication of the body caused by the absorption of toxic products of putrefaction of intestinal contents appear:

• bloating;
• weakness and apathy;
• irritability and fatigue;
• sleep disorders;
• anemia;
• frequent headaches;
• pallor and/or yellowish complexion;
• pain and feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, disappearing after defecation;
• purulent rashes on the skin.

Features of the course of intestinal atony in the elderly and children

Intoxication of the body during prolonged constipation is especially pronounced in children and the elderly: body temperature may rise to 37 ° C or more, nausea and vomiting may occur. In older people, blood pressure rises sharply.

Intestinal atony is widespread in older age groups. The tendency towards muscle atrophy is one of the manifestations of aging; in addition, older people tend to lead a sedentary lifestyle, and the options for nutritional therapy for the elderly are limited. In particular, it is not recommended to increase your fiber intake without consulting your doctor, since in case of chronic constipation, eating large amounts of coarse fiber foods can worsen the patient's condition.

Atonic constipation, which first appears in old age, is sometimes a consequence of pathological elongation of the sigmoid colon or sclerotic changes in the mesenteric arteries, which can lead to mesenteric thrombosis. To exclude surgical and vascular pathology in intestinal atony in older people, consultation with a phlebologist and proctologist is mandatory.

In young children, atonic constipation often occurs with a sharp change in diet during weaning, as well as on psychogenic grounds. In this case, intestinal atony must be differentiated from intestinal obstruction and congenital anomalies of the structure of the large intestine.

To prevent “lazy bowel syndrome,” laxatives and enemas should be prescribed to children with great caution and only as prescribed by a doctor. Irritants are contraindicated in young patients; Usually, osmotic preparations based on lactulose and glycerin suppositories are prescribed, which stimulate reflex bowel movement.

Diagnostics

Intestinal atony is diagnosed by a therapist or gastroenterologist based on medical history, study of the patient’s diet and lifestyle, and clinical picture. To identify the causes of weakened tone of the intestinal walls and develop the most effective therapeutic strategy, a comprehensive examination of the intestine using instrumental and laboratory techniques is necessary.

The most informative method for studying the motor function of the large intestine is irrigoscopy - contrast radiography of the colon after a barium enema, which qualitatively visualizes hard-to-reach areas of the intestine that are inaccessible to colonoscopy (folds of the mucous membrane, bends of the colon and sigmoid colon, etc.). If perforation or obstruction of the colon is suspected, a water-soluble contrast agent is administered instead of barium suspension. After bowel movement, a study of the relief of the mucous membrane of the colon is carried out. If necessary, oxygen is pumped into the intestinal lumen to better visualize the inner wall of the intestine.

Endoscopic examination of the colon with biopsy sampling is advisable for differential diagnosis with oncopathology, Crohn's disease and other diseases characterized by specific changes in the intestinal epithelium.

The first step to restoring normal intestinal motility should be nutritional correction. For atonic constipation, a study of the patient’s diet and lifestyle is indicated: therapeutic diet No. 3: the basis of the diet is milk-vegetable, while astringent products that stimulate gas formation must be excluded from the menu, as well as the calorie content of dishes must be reduced. First of all, rich soups, smoked meat and fish and canned food, mushrooms, legumes, whole milk, hard-boiled eggs, strong tea and coffee, as well as some fruits and berries - dogwood, blueberries, pears, pomegranate, cabbage, radishes, etc. onion and garlic. To compensate for the deficiency of fiber and pectin substances, the menu includes wheat bran, wholemeal bread, buckwheat porridge, fresh fruits and vegetables, vegetable oils and melons. Particularly useful are apricots, plums, melons, apples, rhubarb and seaweed, which have a mild laxative effect.

In addition, you will have to seriously limit the consumption of instant carbohydrates - chocolate, white bread, pastries and confectionery. It is recommended to replace sweet carbonated drinks and industrial juices with water, compote and fruit drinks; In this case, you should drink at least 1.5–2 liters of liquid per day. Normalization of peristalsis is also facilitated by a split diet with meals taken at the same time.

Increasing physical activity will help quickly improve bowel movements in patients leading a sedentary lifestyle. A good effect for intestinal atony is provided by race walking, swimming, dancing and yoga, as well as performing special exercises for the abdominal muscles and abdominal massage.

Drug treatment of intestinal atony involves the use of only mild laxatives. Preference is given to drugs with osmotic and prokinetic action and choleretic agents. According to indications, cholinesterase inhibitors may be included in the therapeutic regimen; for severe abdominal pain, antispasmodics are additionally prescribed. In order to prevent intestinal dysbiosis, the use of enemas for intestinal atony is not recommended; It is permissible to use oil suppositories and microenemas to facilitate the evacuation of feces.

In case of severe intoxication, it is advisable to carry out detoxification therapy and deep intestinal lavage through colon hydrotherapy, subaqueous baths and intestinal irrigation. If intestinal obstruction, neoplasms and anatomical abnormalities of the intestine are detected, surgical intervention may be required.

Prevention

Prevention of intestinal atony is not difficult. It is enough to lead an active lifestyle, control body weight, give up bad habits, avoid stress if possible and monitor nutrition, avoiding deficiency of ballast substances, vitamins and minerals. At the same time, it is important to eat small portions 5-6 times a day, adhere to the optimal drinking regime and avoid long intervals between meals.

To prevent intestinal dysbiosis, you should not take antibiotics without consulting your doctor. It is advisable to teach children to go to the toilet at the same time and not suppress the urge to defecate out of false shame at school or kindergarten.

Consequences and complications

Constant constipation caused by intestinal atony seriously impairs the patient's quality of life. Patients become lethargic and apathetic or, on the contrary, irritable and touchy; the patient’s emotional lability prevents full communication and social life. The patient’s appearance also leaves much to be desired: the complexion deteriorates, skin rashes and bad breath appear, and skin diseases may worsen.

Putrefactive processes caused by coprostasis disrupt the balance of intestinal microflora and suppress the immune system, provoke allergic and atopic conditions, and due to disruption of the absorption process in the intestine, people prone to atonic constipation often experience vitamin deficiencies and iron deficiency anemia. In the absence of adequate treatment, intestinal obstruction may develop against the background of intestinal atony, causing severe intoxication of the body.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".

The information is generalized and is provided for informational purposes. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor. Self-medication is dangerous to health!

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How to identify and treat intestinal atony

Constipation is a disease caused by intestinal atony. Many patients do not pay due attention to constipation, citing the fact that it can go away on its own, and are embarrassed to consult a doctor on such an “intimate” issue. In fact, fecal retention in the intestines can have a very negative impact on the general condition of the patient, leading to intoxication, the appearance of inflammatory processes, and even the need for surgery.

Intestinal atony - what is it?

Intestinal atony is a violation of the tone of the intestinal walls, as a result of which they cannot contract and relax normally to push feces to the rectum and subsequent exit. With atony, intestinal motility (the contractility of the muscles of the walls of the gastrointestinal tract) is disrupted, which leads to constipation in humans, difficulty or impossibility of excreting feces. In summary, atony is not constipation, but a dysfunction of intestinal motility, which leads to stagnation of feces.

Causes of intestinal atony in adults

Atony occurs as a consequence of one or more factors that adversely affect gastrointestinal motility. It can be an independent disease (for example, genetically determined), a side effect of another disease or taking pills (for example, intestinal infections, helminthiasis, taking antispasmodics), or an unhealthy lifestyle (excessive drinking, sedentary lifestyle). At increased risk of developing atony are people who:

• They experience constant stress that overloads the human central nervous system, which can lead to organ failures;
• Poor diet (eating high-calorie foods with low fiber content);
• Lead a sedentary lifestyle (as a result - a decrease in the innervation/impulse conductivity of the intestinal muscles, which forms peristalsis);
• Antispasmodics and painkillers/anesthesia containing morphine are taken for a long time, in large doses;
• Suffer from intestinal dysbiosis (toxins produced during indigestion reduce peristalsis);
• Suffer from intestinal infections;
• Have a genetic predisposition to atony;
• Have malignant intestinal tumors (they release toxins that disrupt the functioning of the nervous system);
• Smoking, abusing alcohol (affect the functioning of the nervous system);
• Use opiate drugs (reduce the tone of the hollow organs);
• They suffer from helminthiasis (worms produce toxins that affect peristalsis);
• Survived an unsuccessful caesarean section.

In children

Atony in a child may occur for the following reasons:

1. Hereditary during pregnancy and lactation;
2. Stress of various kinds;
3. Change in the nature of nutrition (for example, as a result of weaning from food);
4. Insufficient water consumption.

The appearance of childhood atony can be prevented by proper abdominal massage. For treatment, glycerin suppositories are prescribed, which promote reflexive rejection of feces (placed 20 minutes after the first meal) and improve gastrointestinal motility.

In older people

Senile atony occurs:

• due to a sedentary lifestyle;
• as a side effect of operations.

Steps to treat and reduce the risk of intestinal atony in older people:

• frequent walks, chamomile enemas;
• introducing an abundance of vegetable and dairy foods into the diet,
• eating grated, liquid and soft foods, as well as foods that have a laxative effect, improves gastrointestinal motility.

Symptoms of the disease

There are a number of symptoms by which a patient may suspect atony. If such signs are detected, you should consult a doctor, because... they indicate a disruption in intestinal motility, and this, without appropriate treatment, can lead to dangerous complications. Symptoms of atony are as follows:

• Constipation (you should pay attention even when bowel movements occur less than once a day);
• Bloating and gas;
• Hard stool;
• Weakness and poor sleep;
• Pale complexion;
• Anemia (anemia);
• The skin takes on a marbled color.

Diagnostics

If you suspect a disturbance in intestinal motility, including the presence of atony, you must consult a proctologist or gastroenterologist to establish an accurate diagnosis, determine the severity of the disease and the cause of its occurrence. Since self-medication can lead to worsening of the condition and atony!

Doctors easily diagnose atony by asking the patient about the symptoms of the disease that are bothering him. It is much more difficult to establish the cause of the disease. For this, the following methods of treating atony are used:

1. A survey to find out the patient’s lifestyle, the characteristics of his diet and hereditary predispositions to atony;
2. Stool analysis and stool culture;
3. Colonoscopy;
4. X-ray (in some cases, X-ray images reveal areas of accumulation of stool, which helps identify places of possible adhesions or fecal blood clots in the intestine).

How to cure intestinal atony?

Treatment of intestinal atony should be comprehensive, aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease and eliminating factors that negatively affect intestinal motility.

For atony, the following are used simultaneously:

• drug treatment (homeopathic remedies that restore normal innervation of the muscular walls of the intestine, remove the effects of fecal stagnation, regulate fecal excretion, eliminate the underlying diseases);
• treatment with a diet that helps normalize stool (liquid, laxative, plenty of fiber);
• physical exercises (special gymnastics that help normalize the excretion of feces);
• general normalization of lifestyle (fighting a sedentary lifestyle, bad habits and stress).

By combining all of the above treatment methods, you can quickly achieve a good result and prevent the recurrence of atony by improving gastrointestinal motility.

Treatment with drugs

When treating intestinal atony, medicine uses the following medications:

• Laxatives (for example, Regulax);
• Enzyme preparations aimed at improving food digestion (for example, pancreatin);
• Anti-bloating medications (for example, espumisan);
• Antiemetics and peristalsis enhancers (for example, cerucal, metoclopramide);
• Drugs that improve impulse transmission to muscles (for example, amiridine). Use only under medical supervision;
• Proserin (used on an outpatient basis if other medications have not led to an improvement in intestinal motility).

Special diet and nutrition regimen

When diagnosing “intestinal atony”, the patient needs to include in his menu products that facilitate the passage of feces through the colon:

• Vegetable juices, fruit compotes, jelly;
• Curdled milk, yoghurts, sour cream, kefir;
• Stale bread, dry biscuits;
• Vegetable soups, borscht, cabbage soup;
• Lean meat, poultry, veal;
• Sausages;
• Cauliflower, zucchini, tomatoes, carrots;
• Barley, millet and buckwheat cereals;
• Pasta;
• Sea kale, greens;
• Baked apples;
• Prunes, dried apricots;
• Lingonberries, oranges, peaches;
• Pumpkin;
• Rhubarb.

It is advisable to eat small portions - 5 times a day, at the same time, combine proper nutrition with walks and exercises. It is advisable to eat food not dry, cook or bake food, and not smoke or fry. By adhering to this treatment, you can improve gastrointestinal motility.

The absence of the following products in the diet also helps to normalize intestinal function and motility:

Folk remedies

Promote the treatment of atony with folk remedies, including in the diet the frequent use of mixtures made from products that have a beneficial effect on intestinal motility.

1. Aloe mixtures: wash several aloe leaves, remove thorns, and chop. Heat one and a half glasses of honey in a saucepan (the temperature should not be higher than 40 degrees, otherwise honey may lose its beneficial properties), add aloe and leave for 24 hours. Reheat again, take 1 tbsp every day 1 hour before breakfast. within 7-10 days. After completing the treatment, take a week break and repeat the course again.
2. Leaf tea powder: Grind loose leaf tea in a coffee grinder and take half a dessert spoon in powder form four times a day before meals.
3. Roast pumpkin and beans: cut a quarter of the pumpkin into cubes, chop the onion, mix with the pumpkin and simmer in a frying pan in vegetable oil. When the pumpkin becomes soft, add the boiled beans and simmer for another 5 minutes.
4. Semolina porridge: cook semolina porridge without salt and sugar. Add a little honey (optional). Consume regularly.

Video: exercises for intestinal atony

The functioning of intestinal motility at home can be improved by doing physical exercises, as well as properly massaging the abdominal area. This will help the intestines move feces to the exit, normalize the process of emptying and cure atony.

Remember that all this is done only when the person does not experience critical complications due to fecal retention (bleeding, inflammation, tears and perforations). In this case, physical activity can aggravate the patient's condition with atony. Watch a video that will teach you how to properly perform exercises and abdominal massage to improve the functions of intestinal motility:

The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and make recommendations for treatment based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

Symptoms and treatment of intestinal motility disorders

1 Clinical picture of the disease

The main symptoms of impaired intestinal motility are:

• regular constipation;
• heaviness in the large intestine;
• bloating;
• fatigue and lethargy;
• loss of appetite;
• headache, in rare cases dizziness;
• bad breath;
• weight gain;
• sleep disturbance;
• sudden change in mood;
• pale complexion;
• anemia.

2 Causes of pathology and diagnosis

The reasons for the deterioration of intestinal motility include:

• dehydration, insufficient fluid intake;
• long breaks between meals, overeating;
• abuse of high-calorie foods late in the day, as a result of which, over many years, a fecal film has formed on the walls of the stomach, which was not digested in a timely manner;
• a person has chronic liver or gallbladder disease;
• cancer affecting the intestines;
• surgical intervention in the abdominal organs;
• frequent stressful situations;
• use of medications that change intestinal motility;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• genetic predisposition;
• presence of intestinal infection;
• bad habits: drinking alcohol or drugs, smoking.

To identify changes in intestinal motility, it is necessary to conduct several studies, which include: scatology, endoscopy and irrigoscopy. With their help, the specialist determines from the stool whether the patient has dysbiosis and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The measures taken to establish a diagnosis and identify the causes of changes in intestinal motility, the symptoms described by the patient, will help to correctly determine how to improve intestinal motility. Sometimes an x-ray is taken to detect accumulations of stool, which can be used to identify stool blood clots.

The most important thing that a person with deteriorating bowel function and irregular bowel movements needs is to take laxatives.

3 Treatments

One of the main ways to improve intestinal motility is to follow a strict diet. The patient’s diet needs to include foods that contain plant fibers, and avoid eating foods that contain starch and easily digestible carbohydrates. It is worth limiting your intake of coffee and black tea, and eating chocolate, butter and chicken eggs less often.

To enhance intestinal motility, you should drink more berry and fruit juices, consume fermented milk products, dried fruits, oatmeal and buckwheat porridge are healthy, season salads with olive or sunflower oil, and bread only with bran. It is advisable to eat vegetables fresh. It is recommended to drink carrot and beet juice. Meals should be divided into 5 times a day. Smoked foods, spicy and fried foods should be excluded from the diet.

You should also drink at least 2 liters of water per day.

Treatment includes the use of enemas, massage, herbs, and compresses on the abdomen. To eliminate all toxins, it is necessary to carry out internal cleansing.

To improve the contraction of the intestinal walls, the patient is prescribed laxatives, for example, Guttalax or Bisacodyl. They are presented in the form of tablets or drops, and there are also rectal suppositories. Thanks to the use of these products, intestinal motility improves, they help get rid of constipation that occurred after surgery. However, it is worth remembering that with prolonged use of laxatives, addiction occurs and a person may experience allergic reactions.

To normalize the functioning of the central nervous system, the specialist prescribes antipsychotics or antidepressants, depending on individual characteristics.

A popular drug is called Duphalac. It regulates the rhythm of colon emptying and is used for persistent constipation. This medication is contraindicated for people suffering from diabetes, galactosemia, or who have intestinal obstruction. Side effects include bloating, vomiting and nausea. If the patient has taken a high dose of the drug, diarrhea and abdominal pain are possible.

To improve the breakdown of heavy food, the doctor prescribes it. With their help, intestinal motility improves. These drugs include: Mezim, Festal and Creon. The course of treatment is 10 days.

In addition to the above, the specialist prescribes antiemetics, for example, Cerucal or Metoclopramide.

4 Traditional medicine methods

You can prepare a laxative at home. To do this you need to take 1 tbsp. l. wheat grains, 2 apples, 2 tbsp. l. oatmeal, 1 tbsp. l. honey, half a lemon and 1 tbsp. l. carefully chopped nuts. First you need to grate the apples, then add all the remaining ingredients to them, add 2 tablespoons of heated water, squeeze out lemon juice. Afterwards you need to mix everything and consume it an unlimited number of times throughout the day.

It is useful to take prunes in combination with dried apricots. To prepare the mixture, you should take 400 g of prunes and the same amount of dried apricots, which do not have seeds. Grind both components using a meat grinder, then add 2 tbsp to the mixture. l. propolis tincture and the same amount of liquid honey. Then you need to mix everything and consume 2 tsp. before going to bed, drinking a small amount of warm water.

A decoction of buckthorn bark is effective in treating intestinal motility disorders. To prepare it you should take 1 tbsp. l. bark, pour 3 glasses of hot water, leave for 20 minutes, then drink.

Brines, for example, cabbage, radish juice, tea, to which dried apples or cherries are added, work well as laxatives.

Don’t forget that you need to lead an active lifestyle, walk more in the fresh air, go to the pool, choose a certain sport and practice it.

Aloe is an effective treatment. You need to wash a couple of leaves of the plant, remove all the thorns, and chop thoroughly. Place a saucepan containing 250 g of honey on low heat, then add aloe to it and leave for 24 hours. After the time has passed, you need to warm up the product again, drink it every morning 1 hour before meals for 1 week. After this, you need to take a break for 7 days, then repeat the course of aloe treatment.

A good remedy is flax seeds. You need to take 3 tbsp. l. seeds and pour 500 ml of boiling water over them, then put on low heat and cook for no more than 15 minutes. Then remove from heat, cover and leave for about 8 hours. After the time has passed, you need to strain the mixture and consume 150 ml 3 times a day 40 minutes before meals, possibly together with prunes.

Fresh beets are considered a common remedy. You need to peel it, take 500 g of this vegetable, put it in a pan with boiling water and leave it on the fire for a minute, then remove it from the stove and put it in a warm place for 4 hours. After the time has passed, you need to add 2 tbsp. l. sugar and 1 tsp. yeast. The drink will be ready in 24 hours. You can drink it instead of water or tea throughout the day.

To normalize intestinal motility, it is recommended to regularly massage the abdomen, temper the body with a contrast shower in the morning, and carry out special exercises that strengthen the abdominal muscles.

These include the following:

1. You need to lie on your back and twist your legs, imitating riding a bicycle. With the help of this exercise, the abdominal muscles become toned and blood flow in the pelvis improves.
2. Lying on your back, bend your knees and press them to your stomach, holding this position for seconds. Thus, gases pass away much faster, and intestinal activity is stimulated.
3. You need to kneel, the main emphasis is on your elbows and hands, your head needs to be lowered. Then you should alternately squat on the right and then on the left buttock. This exercise restores peristalsis and reduces the amount of gas; it is called “Cat”. It must be repeated at least 30 times.
4. It is useful to pump up your abs in the morning.
5. Jumping in place stimulates intestinal activity.
6. The final exercise of the complex is slow squats.

Elderly people who experience frequent constipation need to spend more time in the fresh air, do enemas using chamomile, and introduce vegetables and dairy products into their diet. To improve gastric peristalsis, you should eat grated foods, liquid and soft foods. Meat should be consumed only with vegetables. It is useful to drink mineral water, but without gas. Food should be eaten by chewing thoroughly.

It is important to begin treatment immediately so that intestinal motility improves and serious consequences do not arise over time.

• Symptoms and treatment of stomach ulcers

- This is motor activity associated with the work of its smooth muscles. Regular contraction and relaxation of muscles promotes digestion and movement of contents through the digestive tract. If motor function is impaired, the bowel movement pattern changes and the state of health worsens.

The muscular lining of the intestine consists of two layers, which differ in the arrangement of the fibers: longitudinal outer and circular inner. Coordinated muscle contractions produce bowel movements.

Types of physiological contractions

Regulation

Intestinal motility is the result of the coordinated work of hormones, the autonomic and central nervous systems.

• cells of the neuromuscular plexus of the intestinal wall provide background rhythmic activity;
• motility is enhanced by the influence of food breakdown products;
• irritation of rectal zone receptors inhibits upper motor skills;
• food intake first reflexively inhibits, then stimulates the motor activity of the intestines;
• hormones that enhance motility: gastrin, histamine, vasopressin;
• hormones that reduce motility: secretin, vasoactive intestinal peptide.

With normal intestinal motor function, the digestion process lasts from 1 to 3 days.

Weak motor skills

Decreased motility leads to infrequent and insufficient bowel movements. Chronic constipation appears.

Symptoms

Causes

Enhanced motor skills

With high intestinal motility, food remains in the body for less than a day. During this time, it does not have time to be completely digested and absorbed. Arises.

Symptoms

Causes

Improving intestinal motility

Diet

If you have intestinal atony, eat regularly, at least 4 times a day. Drink at least 2 liters of fluid per day. Include foods with a laxative effect in your diet.

Grocery list

Set of exercises

Do morning exercises, do exercises to stimulate intestinal function:

Drugs

Reducing intestinal motility

Diet

Nutrition during accelerated peristalsis should be gentle. Eliminate fatty, fried, spicy, rough foods. Eat small portions up to 6 times a day. For diarrhea, prepare pureed dishes: casseroles, puddings, soufflés, purees. The basis of the diet should be foods with a fixing effect.

Any failure digestive system can lead to the development of serious diseases of other organs. At the same time, immunity decreases and the general condition of the body worsens. That is why, to get rid of a wide variety of diseases, many experts recommend immediately changing your eating habits and following a diet.

The condition of the digestive tract itself directly depends on intestinal motility. Any of its violations, called dyskinesia, lead to unpleasant consequences, which will be described in detail below. At the same time, they can be easily eliminated, thereby restoring the normal functioning of the digestive system.

Determination of intestinal motility

What is intestinal peristalsis? Have you ever wondered what happens in the body with any food a person eats? First, it enters the stomach, where it is digested using hydrochloric acid produced by the mucous membrane and turns into the so-called food bolus. At the last stage, this same lump moves into the rectum through wave-like contractions of the intestine.

It is these movements that are called peristalsis. In the walls of the intestine there are smooth muscles located in two layers, perpendicular to each other. Their coordinated contractions form a “wave” that brings the food bolus to the anus. The speed of its movement can be completely different depending on the circumstances. For example, along the small intestine the lump moves either very slowly, or, on the contrary, very quickly. This mainly depends on the characteristics of the food consumed. In the colon, wave-like contractions slow down, but powerful movements occur several times during the day, which help move the lump towards the outlet.

Peristalsis occurs immediately after any food enters the gastrointestinal tract. The frequency of smooth muscle contractions depends on the specific part of the intestine and can be:

• up to 3 within a minute in the rectum;
• 3 or 4 contractions per minute in the large intestine;
• 9-10 in the small intestine;
• about ten contractions in the duodenum.

When smooth muscle function slows down, serious problems with bowel movements (constipation) arise, and metabolism also deteriorates. Because of this, the entire body suffers. First, weakness and a feeling of constant fatigue appear, and then any diseases of the digestive tract and other organs may develop.

How to recognize slow intestinal motility?

Improper functioning of intestinal smooth muscles can be identified by a number of signs. The most important of them include:

• pain in the lower abdomen. They may resemble contractions (women will understand), or they may be mildly aching in nature. The bolus of food begins to decompose, which leads to. They can prevent a person from falling asleep and cause serious discomfort. The pain is felt especially acutely after eating, as well as after drinking drinks containing caffeine;
• constipation already mentioned above, which can only be relieved with the use of an enema. If treatment is not started in a timely manner, after a while the intestines will generally stop emptying on their own;
• bloating, which is a consequence of increased gas formation;
• the appearance of problems with excess weight;
• intoxication of the body. The food bolus quickly decomposes, releasing toxic substances that lead to poisoning. At the same time, the person begins to suffer from severe allergic reactions, the oiliness of the hair sharply increases, and the condition of the skin worsens;
• deterioration general condition body. It is expressed in sleep disturbances, lethargy and apathy, a person begins to rage with or without reason.

All these phenomena can be eliminated if you immediately seek the help of a gastroenterologist. The specialist will conduct the necessary research and prescribe the correct treatment, which will bring peristalsis back to normal.

Why does intestinal motility slow down?

Before treating any disease, you need to get to the bottom of the causes of its occurrence. The same applies to problems with peristalsis. Too slow contraction of intestinal smooth muscle may occur in the following cases:

• sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity, which allows
• constantly maintain muscle tone;
• consumption of foods that are high in calories. They are much less digestible, which slows down the progress of the food bolus;
• any chronic diseases of the digestive tract;
• age-related changes in the body;
• genetic predisposition to intestinal diseases;
• both benign and malignant neoplasms;
• consequences of surgery.

Regardless of why you have problems with smooth muscle contraction, the first step is to change your eating habits. Without a balanced diet, it is not possible to accelerate peristalsis. Over time, toxic substances can penetrate into other organs, causing serious intoxication. In addition, fecal stones appear in the intestinal cavity, which damage the walls and muscles, leading to cracks and bleeding.

Metabolic deterioration is also a serious problem. It entails changes in hormonal levels, causing exacerbation and rapid development of any chronic diseases.

Accelerating intestinal motility: drug treatment

Any medications listed below can only be used after consulting a doctor. Otherwise, there is a risk of causing irreversible damage to both the intestines and the entire digestive tract.

To speed up peristalsis, the doctor may prescribe several types of medications, which we will discuss in detail below.

Medicines that increase muscle tone

These include drugs such as Prozerin or Vasopressin. They are prescribed to improve motor skills. As a result, the rate of contraction of smooth muscles increases, which contributes to the normal removal of the food bolus from the body.

Laxatives

These medications are developed for different parts of the intestine and are divided into several groups:

• drugs for the small intestine, the most common of which is castor oil. It not only improves motility, but also softens stool, due to which their elimination is significantly accelerated;
• drugs for the large intestine. Strengthens smooth muscle tone to improve gastrointestinal function. An example is buckthorn bark and other medicines of natural origin;
• Guttalax and other synthetic drugs. They must be taken with extreme caution. The thing is that such drugs are addictive. After a long period of use, the patient simply cannot empty his bowels on his own.

There are also laxative medications that have a beneficial effect on all parts of the intestine simultaneously. These include preparations based on senna leaves, as well as some synthetic products. You should drink them only as prescribed by your doctor.

Foods that improve peristalsis

As mentioned above, to accelerate the wave-like contractions of smooth muscles, you need to completely change your eating habits. It is best to completely exclude from the menu or significantly limit the consumption of fatty, salty and smoked foods, refuse drinks with high content caffeine The following products have a beneficial effect on peristalsis:

• dried fruits. Figs, dried apricots, prunes and others should be in your daily menu;
• fermented milk products – kefir, fermented baked milk, high-quality yoghurts;
• freshly squeezed juices of cabbage, carrots, potatoes;
• fresh vegetables and fruits;
• flax seeds, all types of nuts, sprouted cereals;
• porridge. To prepare them you need to use buckwheat, oatmeal and millet. Semolina and rice should be excluded from the diet for a while, as they “strengthen” the stomach;
• lean meat with the addition of plenty of vegetables.

In addition, you need to drink at least 2 liters of water throughout the day. Avoid carbonated drinks completely. You should not remove hot and spicy dishes from the menu, as they stimulate the intestines.

It is better to exclude eggs in any form, pomegranates, pastries, potatoes, strong black tea altogether. The thing is that these products slow down peristalsis and can create serious problems with bowel movements.

In case of intestinal diseases, it is highly advisable to completely avoid foods containing sugar. The thing is that it enhances putrefactive processes in the digestive tract and often turns out to be the main cause of intoxication. We recommend replacing it with fresh vegetables and fruits or natural sweeteners.

An excellent solution to the problem of bowel movements is fractional meals. Food should be taken in small portions 5-6 times a day. By following this regimen, you can get rid of a wide variety of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

In no case should the urge to defecate be ignored, as this leads to a gradual relaxation of smooth muscles and often causes undesirable consequences.

We supplement proper nutrition with physical activity

If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, you urgently need to increase physical activity. Start with light exercises in the morning, gradually introducing exercises such as “bicycle”, raising and spreading your legs to the sides from a supine position. They increase muscle tone and have a beneficial effect on the entire digestive system.

The work of the gastrointestinal tract can also be improved by cycling, which is capable of renewing the body in a very short time, or exercising on special exercise equipment. Remember that physical activity is one of the prerequisites for accelerating peristalsis. If you cannot exercise due to a simple lack of time, try to walk as much as possible.

Peristalsis is a grasping and compressive, wave-like contraction of organs in the form of a tube (hollow): stomach, intestines, esophagus, ureters. Under the influence of such contractions, the contents (food bolus, feces) of the organs move towards the exit openings. The state of the digestive tract depends primarily on intestinal motility. If it is disrupted (this condition is called dyskinesia), trouble begins. Failure in the functioning of the intestines leads to a decrease in immunity, a deterioration in the quality of life, and the development of diseases and pathologies in other organs. Below we will look at what intestinal motility is, how to maintain it normally, and what to do to restore this function if it weakens.

The motor function of all parts of the intestine or peristalsis is wave-like compression of the walls of organs, at the moment of which the contents move to the anus. In another way, peristalsis is also called “food contraction”, because it ensures the correct digestive process, absorption and assimilation of necessary and beneficial substances and the removal of indigestible and unnecessary substances to the body.

Peristalsis in the intestines allows the bolus of food to move from the upper sections downwards. This occurs with the help of the smooth muscles of the organ, which are located in its walls in two layers. The first layer has longitudinal muscles, the second – perpendicular, and their coordinated wave-like movements are “food contractions”. For each section of the intestine, these contractions have characteristics.

Intestinal walls

The small intestine is endowed with muscles that contract at different speeds: very quickly, quickly, leisurely and very slowly. At the same time, several types of such contractions are triggered here, depending on the state of the body, the time of day, and the characteristics of the passing food.

The large intestine is distinguished by very slow peristalsis, but once or three times a day (it happens once every two or three days, this is individual) contractions of great force occur for a while, which push the contents into the anus. It is at this moment that a person feels the urge to defecate. These accelerated “waves” occur when the stomach is completely filled with food, and are necessary as a signal for a person to visit the toilet and make room.

Medicine has measured and identified the norms of peristaltic contractions in a healthy person. Let's look at this information in table form.

Table 1. Norms of peristalsis

If the violation is not corrected at this stage, serious problems will certainly begin - inflammatory and pathological processes, defecation disorders, tumor formation, growth, the appearance of ulcers, cracks in the digestive tract. Let's consider the causes of intestinal motility disorders so as not to miss risk factors.

Video - How intestinal motility occurs

Why is peristalsis in the intestine disrupted?

The weakening or even complete cessation of “digestive waves” may be the result of one or several factors, external and internal. These include:

1. Genetic predisposition.
2. Age factor (infancy, or, conversely, old age).
3. An unbalanced diet, one where food with a large number of calories predominates in a small portion size.
4. Physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle.
5. Stress, severe moral fatigue, depression.
6. Bulimia, anorexia.
7. Tumors of malignant or benign origin.
8. Chronic gastrointestinal diseases.
9. Taking pharmaceuticals that inhibit intestinal motility and the like.

For example, in older people, peristalsis is impaired due to muscle atrophy, a decrease in the overall tone of the body, hormonal “failure,” and the progression of a host of diseases. At older ages, people often suffer from atonic constipation, which occurs due to weak gastrointestinal motility, impaired innervation of nerve connections, and hypoxia of the tissues of the digestive organs.

Also, constipation in people of any age can occur due to the wrong diet. Some people prefer fast food, some eat “on the run” and dry food, some eat little during the day and gorge themselves in the evening. Modern people eat a lot of flour and sweets, washing this food down with soda, strong tea, cocoa, and coffee. The intestines react negatively, food lumps are poorly digested, begin to ferment, and rot. These processes are inevitable with frequent meals of fatty, starchy foods.

An incorrectly selected diet is a possible cause of constipation.

Toxins and wastes, toxic substances enter the peritoneum, and the liver and kidneys receive their dose of poison. By the age of forty, a person who does not pay attention to proper nutrition has a heavily clogged intestine, fecal stones form, damaging the mucous membrane when moving. Peristalsis weakens, as a result, blood stagnates in the pelvis, chronic constipation begins, and hemorrhoids develop. Often tumors and polyps are added to this condition.

Symptoms of weakened intestinal motility

Intestinal dyskinesia (impaired “food contractions”) is manifested by a number of different symptoms. The body will suffer and will certainly signal that it is not feeling well. What should you pay attention to?

Table 2. Symptoms of decreased intestinal contractions

How it manifests itself	Extended information
Frequent abdominal pain	The pain has different localizations and ranges in strength from slight discomfort to quite acute spasms. As a rule, the pain returns after eating or drinking strong or alcoholic drinks. After defecation, on the contrary, the pain syndrome becomes dull or subsides altogether.
Bloating, gas	Flatulence and the sensation of a balloon in the stomach are signs of poor digestion. Most often, these symptoms occur before bedtime.
Stool disorders	At the first stage, constipation alternates with diarrhea, later constipation becomes regular, chronic, up to the inability to empty the intestines without a laxative drug or an Esmarch mug.
Weight gain	Extra pounds appear due to a disrupted digestive process, lack of high-quality healthy food and poor absorption of vitamins, microelements, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Intoxication	Headaches, bad breath, allergies, skin problems (acne, purulent pimples, rashes).
General deterioration	Sleep disturbances, frequent mood swings, susceptibility to colds, decreased immunity, irritability, quick feeling of fatigue due to lack of activity.

Discuss your symptoms with your doctor and undergo prescribed examinations to identify the problem and begin to eliminate it.

Diagnosis of poor intestinal motility

As you can see, the symptoms of insufficient intestinal motor function are differentiated from a host of other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the doctor will not be able to be content with taking an oral history and examining the patient. Diagnosis requires a comprehensive, thorough, consisting of a number of studies.

In addition, it is important to exclude more serious diseases such as colitis, tumors, polyps, and oncology. Therefore, you should not be surprised when the hospital prescribes a series of tests: coprogram, blood and urine donation, hardware examination of the rectum (coproscopy), ultrasound of the pelvic organs and peritoneum. In this way, it will be possible to accurately determine the illness that is tormenting the person and prescribe adequate therapy.

Note that insufficient intestinal motility is treated conservatively, that is, with the help of pharmaceuticals. Also, the healing process necessarily includes adjusting the diet plan, using traditional recipes and exercises adapted to neutralize this disease. Let's look at how this happens.

Therapy for intestinal dyskinesia

As a rule, when treating intestinal motility disorders, a number of drugs are prescribed that help awaken motility and have a stimulating effect that increases the tone of the intestinal muscles. To normalize this function, laxatives are prescribed to enhance peristalsis and force the process of defecation to occur at the right time. Conventionally, these drugs are divided according to the localization of action.

Drugs that work in the thin section include: It improves and softens the process of movement of intestinal contents, stimulates motility, causes the urge to defecate, and reduces trauma to the mucous membrane. It lasts for two to three hours and may cause mild abdominal cramps. Medications like: "Regulax". They contain plant components, increase the tone of the rectum, relieve atony caused by poor diet and stress. Fight constipation. They can be addictive and therefore not recommended for regular use.

"Regulax"

Often used for stimulation Epsom salt. The product acts very quickly, helps well with acute constipation - the effect is achieved within one hour. This is a budget product that can be found in any pharmacy. There is one significant disadvantage - the saline solution tastes unpleasant, so not everyone can drink it.

Diet to improve intestinal contractions

A healthy and competent diet is an important point in case of intestinal motility disorders. The main rule is to exclude as much as possible from the diet foods that inhibit peristalsis and replace them with those that stimulate the work of “food contractions.” These two groups include a lot of products; we will look at this list using the most common examples.

Table 3. How to eat to normalize intestinal motility?

Included in the menu	We limit
Cool mineral water, kvass, juices from vegetables, berries, fruits	Red wines, wine drinks such as sangria
White wines	Hot drinks containing caffeine
One-day dairy products (yogurt, kefir, sour cream, yogurt)	White pastries, muffins, breads, buns, cakes
Ice cream, fruit ice	Milk chocolate, sweets
Watermelons, melons	Kissel, mousses, jelly
Beets, tomatoes, radishes, carrots, onions	Rice porridge, semolina, pearl barley, decoctions of these cereals
Dried and dried fruits, ripe soft persimmons, apricots, apples of any variety	Puree dishes (potatoes, vegetables, soups)
Gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries, grapes	Butter
Porridges made from egg, oatmeal, buckwheat, baked goods with these grains	Eggs
Vegetable oils	Pear, quince
Nuts	Bird cherry, chokeberry

The maximum inclusion in the diet of raw, fresh fruits and vegetables, berries, freshly squeezed juices, salads with vegetable oil: sunflower, olive, walnut, flaxseed is recommended. You need to eat five to six times a day, choosing a fist-sized portion. An hour before going to bed, it is useful to drink a glass of kefir, and in the morning, before breakfast, a glass of water, you can add half a spoonful of honey. This method enhances peristalsis. You need to drink at least one and a half liters of clean, cool water per day.

Folk remedies for stimulating peristalsis

To restore intestinal motility, you can resort to folk, time-tested recipes. There is nothing complicated in their preparation or use, and they do not contain any questionable components or components that could harm the body.

One of the effective methods of enhancing peristalsis is the use of bran. You can choose wheat or oatmeal, taking one or two tablespoons before meals with water. You can also eat bran as a separate dish by soaking it in a glass of yogurt or kefir. Bran will help cleanse the intestines, forming feces, preventing constipation and loose stools.

Using the same principle, dry plantain seeds are used, which help ease bowel movements and stimulate the intestines. The seeds should be crushed and eaten on a spoon before meals or added to various salads, cereals, and main courses.

Another safe and recommended remedy is a mixture of dried fruits. In a container you need to mix dried apricots and prunes in half, then pass them through a blender or meat grinder. Add a tablespoon of propolis, honey, nuts to the resulting mass and pour into a glass jar. The mixture is eaten before bedtime, washed down with water.

Exercises to normalize bowel function

Physical activity is needed to prevent gastrointestinal motility from falling asleep. You need to move every day, walk at least a couple of kilometers, visit the pool, master horse riding. Tennis, dancing (especially oriental), and doing exercises also contribute to increased peristalsis. Here are some exercises to stimulate intestinal function:

1. Abdominal pumping. It is acceptable to perform it in the morning right in bed, lifting the body 15-20 times.
2. Slow deep squats.
3. Jumping, you can use a jump rope to perform it.
4. “Bicycle” - a person lies on his back, raises his legs bent at the knees, and imitates pedaling.
5. “Boat” - a person lies on his back and presses his bent legs to his chest, wraps his arms around them and sways slightly on his back.

Exercise to improve gastrointestinal function

Let's sum it up

Weak intestinal motility is a nuisance for the whole body, but, fortunately, it can be easily eliminated. In the initial stages of slow motor skills, you can cope with the disease in a matter of days by building a diet and taking a course of the necessary medications prescribed by your doctor. The main thing is not to wait for complications, and to show attention and care to your own health in a timely manner!

When contractions of the intestinal walls become insufficient, they speak of decreased intestinal motility, and if they are increased, they speak of increased ones. Both of these conditions require correction. Often it is enough to change the diet and increase physical activity, but in some cases medication is necessary.

Physiological basis of intestinal motility

Intestinal peristalsis: what is it? Consecutive wave-like contractions of the muscles of the walls of the organ, necessary to move the contents.

Intestinal peristalsis is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The muscles in the walls are located in two layers: in one - longitudinally, in the other - circularly (ring-shaped). Information about their contraction or relaxation comes from the brain along nerve fibers.

Consecutive changes in these states ensure the movement of food, and then feces to the anus. The process of evacuation (defecation) also requires peristaltic movements of the intestinal walls.

Thanks to peristalsis, the supply of fluids to the digestive system necessary for the absorption of useful substances and the processing of the remaining ones is ensured: bile flows from the gallbladder into the small intestine, and pancreatic juice flows from the pancreas. Therefore, motor skills are important not only for transportation, but also for digestion of food.

Intestinal peristalsis in each section of the digestive tract has its own specifics. First, the contents of the stomach enter the duodenum. Muscle contractions in it occur in response to stimulation of the walls with food; they can be slow, increased or rapid. Usually several types of peristaltic waves move at the same time.

In the jejunum and ileum, motility is less intense. In the thick section, food takes a long time to digest. Contractions occur only a few times a day and move contents to the anal sphincter.

Reasons for violation

Enhanced, active intestinal motility is one of the types of intestinal peristalsis, in which contractions occur frequently and food moves very quickly, without having time to be absorbed.

The reasons for this dysfunction may be:

• substances that excessively irritate the intestinal walls - medications, sour or spicy foods;
• large amount of food;
• inflammatory processes in the intestines - colitis, enterocolitis, gastritis;
• psycho-emotional overload, stress, irritable bowel syndrome.

Inhibition or absence of peristalsis, when contractions of the walls are rare, slow or absent at all, occurs for the following reasons:

• frequent and uncontrolled consumption of high-calorie foods;
• chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - colitis, gastritis;
• tumors - polyps, cancer;
• abdominal surgery;
• age-related changes - muscle atrophy, hormonal imbalance, chronic pathologies;
• hypodynamic lifestyle;
• influence of drugs.

Symptoms

Symptoms of intestinal motility disorders depend on its type.

With increased, frequent contraction of the muscle walls,:

• Spasmodic pain. Irritation of the intestinal walls and increased peristalsis lead to a sharp and intense contraction of its walls. The symptom increases after eating, taking medications, and decreases during sleep.
• Frequent stools, sometimes loose (diarrhea).
• Increased gas formation, bloating.
• Changes in the nature of stool: it becomes liquid, mucus appears, and sometimes streaks of blood.
• After visiting the toilet, there is a feeling that the intestines are not completely emptied.

Weak intestinal motility has the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain of varying localization and intensity. During the day, they can manifest themselves either as barely noticeable discomfort or as severe cramps. Often this symptom subsides after defecation, release of gas, during sleep, and intensifies after eating.
• Excessive gas formation, bloating.
• Constipation. Stool disorders of this type are persistent, but in rare cases they alternate with diarrhea, and if left untreated they become chronic.
• Weight gain occurs due to disturbances in digestion and metabolic processes in the body.
• Signs of intoxication: deterioration in general health, weakness, headaches, bad mood, allergic reactions, skin rashes. Prolonged presence of processed foods in the intestines leads to the absorption of toxins from them.

Diagnostics

To know how to restore and normalize intestinal motility, it is necessary to find out the nature of the disorder and its causes.

The minimum set of diagnostic methods includes:

• Finger examination.
• Coprogram - analysis of stool to identify dysbiosis and other digestive disorders.
• Endoscopy is an instrumental examination of the intestine.
• Irrigoscopy is an X-ray examination with the introduction of a contrast agent into the intestines.

In difficult cases, an ultrasound of the abdominal and pelvic organs and computed tomography may be prescribed. Based on the results of the data obtained, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

What do intestinal motility disorders lead to?

Poor intestinal motility contributes to fecal stagnation. As a result, bacteria actively multiply there and rotting processes begin. The resulting toxins are absorbed into the blood and travel to various organs, disrupting their functioning.

The liver is the first to suffer. Receiving increased load, it cannot cope with the filtering function. Signs of intoxication of the body are increasing: headaches, lethargy, drowsiness, decreased mood, deterioration of the skin and hair, the appearance of acne and other rashes.

Reverse peristalsis of the small intestine and stomach can lead to heartburn, belching, and vomiting. Intensified and frequent contractions of the walls provoke diarrhea, which is dangerous due to dehydration.

With a large loss of fluid, chills, tachycardia, and dizziness develop. If medical assistance is not provided, these conditions develop into shortness of breath, convulsions, vomiting, and increased heart rate.

Another complication of increased intestinal motility is insufficient absorption of nutrients, which can lead to disruption of metabolic processes in the body.

Treatment

Impaired intestinal motility requires treatment, as it makes you feel worse and can lead to complications. The therapy is carried out comprehensively and involves correcting nutrition, performing special physical exercises and taking medications. The doctor makes all prescriptions after establishing the cause of the violations and determining their nature.

Treatment of sluggish intestinal and gastric peristalsis is aimed at stimulating it. It is necessary to exclude high-calorie foods from the diet: sweets, fatty foods. Also prohibited are foods that increase gas formation and fermentation: legumes, boiled eggs, fresh baked goods, fresh milk.

The basis of the daily menu should be vegetables, fruits, cereals, bran - sources of fiber. You need to eat food often and in small portions. Drink about 2 liters of water during the day.

When dietary changes are not enough, the doctor prescribes medications to enhance intestinal motility:

• increasing muscle tone of the walls (Vasopressin, Proserin);
• laxatives (Epsom salts, castor oil, Senade, Regulax, magnesia).

Medicines are not always prescribed by a doctor, since intestinal motility can be increased by correcting nutrition and physical exercises aimed at stimulating blood flow and strengthening the abdominal muscles.

An approximate complex of morning exercises could be like this:

1. Exercise "bicycle" lying on your back. Perform 25 times.
2. Lying on your back, bend your legs and pull them to your chest, hold for 5 seconds, return to the starting position. Perform 10-12 times.
3. Lying on your back, raise your legs straight and behind your head, slowly lower them. Perform 10-12 times.
4. Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, twist your body left and right. Perform 10-12 times in each direction.
5. Walk in place for 3-5 minutes.

With increased and frequent contractions of the intestinal walls, another treatment is prescribed, since in this case it is necessary to reduce peristalsis. The diet is compiled individually, based on the patient’s observations.

It is necessary to determine which foods cause irritation and the development of spasms. Most often these are spicy, smoked, fatty foods, carbonated drinks and alcohol, and milk. Products to reduce intestinal motility - stewed and boiled vegetables, rice, oats, jelly.

To eliminate increased intestinal motility, drugs are prescribed that slow it down: Imodium, Loperamide, Lopedium, Diara. Therapeutic gymnastics is aimed at relaxing muscles, physical exercises are combined with breathing. When selecting them, the main thing is to avoid stress on the abdominal muscles.

Starting position: standing on all fours or lying on your back. Exercises from yoga, Pilates ("cat", stretching the oblique muscles) are suitable.

Prevention

Since it is often not easy to establish peristalsis in an adult, it is worth paying attention to the prevention of its violations:

• visit a gastroenterologist at least once a year to promptly identify and eliminate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• maintain moderate physical activity - walking and cycling, visiting the pool, etc.;
• follow a diet and adhere to a healthy diet - a diet for normal intestinal motility includes eating foods high in fiber, avoiding sweets, legumes, baked goods, spicy and seasoned foods.

Intestinal peristalsis is its ability to rhythmically contract the walls. It is necessary for moving food from the stomach to the anus, as well as for its digestion.

If peristalsis is disturbed, it weakens or strengthens. Both conditions bring discomfort, complications and require treatment. To restore normal bowel function, nutritional correction, medication, and physical exercise are necessary.

Useful video about normalizing bowel function