My father’s constipation

My father who is in his late 70s now finds it difficult to go to the toilet because of incessant constipation. The last time was so bad that the doctor had to manually remove hard stools from his anus. Kindly advice .

Jimoh (by SMS)

Due to ageing, some of the body functions including bowel movement may appreciably reduce, causing constipation. In order to avoid this, it is important to advise your father to eat a healthy diet which should include high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. He should also limit high-fat meats, dairy products and sweets, which might cause constipation. In addition, consumption of plenty of water and other fluids as well as regular physical activity can help prevent constipation. He should also not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement since holding in a bowel movement for too long can cause constipation.