A co worker of my husband died of a heart attack last week. She was only 50 and had no history of heart disease. And was a nurse so probably knew a lot of staying healthy. But what they think is that when she was in the bathroom at night, she might have strained while having a bowel movement. I'd never heard before that this can lead to heart attacks. A friend told me that her niece had a stroke at age 11 and was told never to strain in the bathroom or it could cause a heart attack.
I understand that heart attack symptoms and causes are different for women and men. We need to know these things!

It's true. Straining to have a bowel movement is a risk factor for older people.

If someone is chronically constipated, they should get on some type of bulk fiber regiment treatment.

I guess this means I don't have to worry with my Colitis? Actually, I had never heard this and it's really scary! Thanks for posting it.

Remember when I recently ended up in the hospital with off the chart heart rythms, diabetes way high? Well the trigger to all of it was the fact that I had been constipated terribly for "2 weeks." I was taking stool softners, enemas and even pain pills. Once in the emergency room they gave me a shot that managed to finally break the chain so to speak and I filled two bed pans plus another trip to the bathroom once they let me get up. I use to complain because I suffered from colitis most of my adult life but never knew, although inconvenient it was actually a blessing. I know now!!!! I now take one Aloe Vera capsule each morning and another with dinner plus a Fenugreek tablet. These two are inexpensive and keep you normal plus keep thye colon area free from toxins. Betty Boop told me about them and I researched for myself and found they are a miracle for folks that have any kind of bowel problems. I will never be without them....Not a gentile topic but one every human being has to deal with and I for one am happy someone started it.... By the way so you know. The longer your stool remains inside of you the more toxic waste that bleeds through the rectal walls into your bloodstream and yes it can cause all sorts of problems and straining can and has caused heart attacks. My father died in the bathroom on the toilet, constipated. His wife found nim there....

The things you learn at BWS. They can save your life!

[ March 22, 2005, 12:04 PM: Message edited by: Dotsie ]

I too suffer from Ulcerative Colitis, but luckily haven't had a flare up for a long time (touching wood, as I write this!). I've rarely had the constipation, but I know how terrible it is when it happens. I never knew that straining could trigger a heart attack, but I'm not surprised.

chattylady, I'm glad you've found something that works for you. I used to take aloe vera, but a naturopath suggested I try ground flax seeds and flax oil for regularity, and I find it really works for me. I put them both in a blueberry/soy milk soothie, every morning...delicious! I highly recommend the combination for "smooth" bowels

Wishing good health to all,
cheers,
Donna

Donna D, yes I agree and do take flax seed daily I grind it into biscuits muffins, cereal too. I actually forgot about that being good for constipation. I do it for heart health and it keeps my skin soft and my hair shiny.

We eat Prunes for constipation . This is if you like prunes . We eat two prunes a day and love them and good dessert also.

Flax seed oil is good also.Just some thoughts!

[ March 24, 2005, 01:38 AM: Message edited by: Nancy50 ]

Lord, what a topic. I wanted to add that before I had my colonoscopy, one of the questions that I answered that alerted the doctor was switching between being constipated and having diarrhea. This is one of the signs of colitis or in my case, Lymphcytic Colitis. That sounds so royal, doesn't it? Anyway, she took a small tissue sample and there it was! Lucky me.

[ March 25, 2005, 05:07 PM: Message edited by: Dianne ]

PS: Do you suppose this is what happened to Elvis?

it's also a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
There's soooo much new information about how the digestive/lymphatic/auto-immune systems all work together and how to maintain a balance among them. So many of the modern illnesses seem to be caused by an imbalance among these systems -- reflux, adrenal exhaustion, thyroid problems, chronic fatigue, etc. etc. As has been pointed out elsewhere, we Americans generally like to find a drug to cure (mask?) the symptoms. But in order to be _well_ and get rid of the underlying condition, probably the thing to do is to change our diets. It's difficult, it's challenging, but it can also be liberating and exciting (exploring new foods, etc.)

Just a quick update. I've had to wear a heart monitor for 4 weeks (2 weeks longer than necessary because the first one didn't record) and I got the test results back this week.

I'm normal.

Okay, don't everyone laugh at once.

But, my results were normal, so no silly heart problems to worry about. Just a couple of leaky valves and some arrythymia.

Vicki, glad to hear that your results were good. What are they going to do with the leaky valves, if anything.

chickadee

nothing medically. I just have to have an ultrasound every year to take a look at them.

Whew...I'm glad I read this.

I have strained on the potty, and I know that it was a strain on my system.

I eat high fiber cereal and bread and that has helped me tremendously. I think one thing that alot of us don't do is drink alot of water. I know I don't, even though I try to remember to do so.

Thanks for the info!

My problem is I take a lot of medications that cause constipation. I take 2 kinds of fiber support and a stool softener. Plus I eat prunes on occasion. And, I drink more than 8 glasses of water a day. And I'm still constipated.

I ended up in the hospital when this happened to me and it was serious. Now every day I take one ALOE VERA capsule with breakfast and at dinner I take a FENUGREEK and an ALOE VERA capsule and have never suffered constipation again and I know I don't drink enough water. I also eat Flax on cereal or desert but not often enough. It is the Aloe Vera and Fenugreek keeping me regular. There is a sale right now at Puritan Pride. The Aloe is #5101, you get 100 for $9.95 and you also get 2 more bottles for FREE. Thats 300 for $9.95.....
The Fenugreek is #6020, you get 100 for $8.99 and also get 2 more bottles free. Thats 300 for $8.99......
The number to call is 800/645-1030...
I have used them for years and their quality can't be beat...They'll send you a catalog with thousands of items for sale.

Vicki,
Perhaps you should go to a health food store and ask for some of the products that replace the normal flora in your intestinal tract. Be sure to get the live cultures which are kept refridgerated.
Foreign research (not supported by pharmaceutical companies) is showing the importance of maintaining the normal flora of the intestinal tract. Anti-biotics disrupt it and result in overgrowth of fungus, yeast, and other normally present micro-organisms. In excess those micro-organisms produce toxins which can affect every body system.

Live culture yogurt, buttermilk and other products are also helpful, but the health food stor products might also be worth a try.
smile

Thanks for all the suggestions, ladies. I appreciate your input. I'm going to try as much as I can because it sure isn't any fun being constipated all the time. But, if you ask my mother, she'd say I was full of Sh** anyway.

Its not only not fun, but it is extremely unhealthy...the live flora is very imnportant to intestinal health and the Aloe and Fengreek will keep the mass soft enough to be eliminated easily and often enough to keep you "whistle clean." It is something you may have to take for life, I have to. When I test it and stop for a couple days, BAM, constipated again.

While we are on this topic. Another problem that can occur through straining and constipation is a prolapsed rectum. It's when the muscles can no longer keep the rectum inside and in place where it belongs. I found out the hard way when I was going through many different illness at one time.
Two weeks of antibiotics while hospitalized and another 3 weeks of IV antibiotics at home caused the constipation and then the rectum problem.
So please ladies be careful never let something like that go on for too long.
Mary