Causes of intestinal motility not working

Intestinal motility is the systematic contraction of the smooth muscles of the organ, which allows food to move through the gastrointestinal tract and ultimately remove undigested debris from the body.

Motor skills are also necessary for effective digestion: due to the contraction of internal muscles, enzymes from the gallbladder and pancreas are delivered to the hollow organs.

The proper functioning of the totality of all systems of the human body is directly related to intestinal health. A person’s immunity, well-being and performance depend on the state of the gastrointestinal tract. Often, malfunctions in the digestive tract become the basis for the development of other diseases.

Impaired intestinal motor function - what is it?

In normal condition, the hollow organ contracts systematically. Muscle fibers line the inner walls in two layers: in the first they are located longitudinally, in the second they are ring-shaped.

The amplitude of the wave-like movement of the muscles varies depending on the region of the intestine: the small intestine contracts at both a slow and fast pace. In addition, several reductions can be made simultaneously in a given department.

The food bolus moves much more slowly through the large intestine. The intensity of the peristaltic impulse increases several times a day at the time of the urge to defecate.

The frequency of contractions is considered normal: for the duodenum - 1-12 per minute, for the rectum - 9-12, for the colon - 3-4 and 6-12, for the rectum - 3.

What happens if intestinal motility increases or, on the contrary, decreases? The process of passage of a bolus of food through the intestinal tube is complicated, as a result of which digestion suffers: beneficial substances from incoming food are absorbed more slowly and not in the proper volume, undigested food stagnates in the body, releasing toxic toxins.

A pathogenic environment provokes the rapid proliferation of parasites, whose activities poison the life of the entire organism.

Impaired motor function leads to the development of a number of diseases that manifest themselves as intestinal disorders in the form of diarrhea or constipation, increased gas formation, abdominal pain, inflammation of the mucous membrane, and ulcerative damage to the walls of internal organs.

Factors contributing to the development of pathology

The main reasons for weakening motor function are:

poor nutrition, consumption of large amounts of simple carbohydrates, high-calorie foods;
eating disorders: long intervals between meals, overeating;
insufficient amount of fluid consumed; dehydration;
low level of physical activity;
chronic diseases of the liver, gall bladder, pancreas;
infection of the body;
malignant neoplasms in the intestines;
complications after surgical intervention on the abdominal organs;
chronic fatigue syndrome, constant stress, depression;
side effects of medications;
heredity and characteristics of old age;
bad habits: smoking, alcohol abuse, drug addiction.

Weak peristalsis, most often a consequence of poor nutrition, leads to constipation. Snacks on the go, junk food (fast food, sweets, flour products, coffee, carbonated drinks) cause digestive disorders.

Constant fermentation and rotting of undigested and unremoved food leads to intoxication: the destructive effect is first on nearby organs - kidneys, liver - then other systems are affected by harmful substances.

A high level of slagging and the formation of fecal stones negatively affect the condition of the mucous membrane. Persistent constipation contributes to the development of hemorrhoids, the formation of polyps in the intestines, which can develop into cancerous tumors.

Another less common variant of peristalsis dysfunction is increased muscle contractions. The following factors can enhance the motor activity of the digestive organs:

consumption of foods that irritate the mucous membrane: sour, spicy foods;
oncology;
dysbacteriosis;
chronic infectious diseases;
neuropsychiatric disorders;
taking certain medications (for example, antibiotics).

In this case, the patient suffers from severe pain and diarrhea: the stool is very liquid and has a foamy consistency. Frequent diarrhea leads to dehydration. Therefore, if motor skills increase, especially in children, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.

How to improve intestinal motility

All people should strive to normalize the peristalsis of the large and small intestine, since health, general well-being and even psychological mood directly depend on this. The good news is that you may not need medical help to achieve your goals. There are a number of recommendations that, if followed, will correct the situation. Medical intervention is required only in advanced cases - for example, when necrosis of the tissues lining the intestinal cavity or the previously mentioned peritonitis already occurs.

Diet

If you don’t yet know how to improve intestinal motility, then before taking pharmaceutical medications, adjust your diet. Not a single pill will have the desired effect if the diet is not thought out. The maximum that can be expected is a short-term effect lasting no more than a few days. The diet will need to include foods rich in fiber, vegetables, fruits, bran, herbs, seaweed, oatmeal and buckwheat porridge, kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk. To reduce motor skills, you need to indulge in sweets, flour and protein foods.

Medications

Pharmaceutical preparations for improving intestinal motility are presented on the shelves of pharmaceutical establishments in all their diversity. They are sold in different dosage forms (syrups, tablets, powders). Among the popular products, Guttalax drops have proven themselves well. Remember that the medicine must be selected depending on which part of the intestine the peristalsis is impaired. For example, castor oil is suitable for the small intestine, and laxatives are suitable for the large intestine.

The general condition of the body depends on the functioning of the intestines.

For any intestinal problems, it is recommended to take probiotics. They will maintain the normal state of the microflora and prevent medications from having a detrimental effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Choose any drugs from this group - they all act on the same principle, differing only in price. Among the most well-known remedies are Linex (child and adult forms), Bifidumbacterin, Baktistatin, Bifiform.

ethnoscience

In folk medicine, intestinal motility is corrected using herbal medicine. This is licorice root, which must be brewed with boiling water and drunk throughout the day, rhubarb, buckthorn. Fresh kefir with vegetable oil is suitable as a laxative to combat constipation. Elderly people resort to such a popular folk remedy as a cleansing oil enema. It is better to do it after consulting a doctor, since the method has certain contraindications.

Recipes containing products with astringent and tanning properties can slow down peristalsis. First of all, this is rice water, which you need to drink several times throughout the day. To eliminate colic in young children, traditional medicine traditionally recommends dill water, medicinal solutions infused with fennel seeds, and herbal mint teas (without added sugar). By enveloping the walls of the intestines and mixing with food, such herbal medicine helps reduce increased gas formation and relieve attacks of pain.

Impaired intestinal motility is a condition that is not recommended to be ignored, even if the problem does not initially seem serious. If you start the situation, you will soon find yourself with signs of various diseases that require medical intervention. And most importantly: do not neglect maintaining a healthy lifestyle - this is the key to the normal functioning of all body systems, including the small and large intestines.

If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl+Enter.

Symptoms of impaired intestinal motility

Signs indicating dysfunction of the digestive tract are:

pain that has varying degrees of severity - from unnoticed discomfort to sharp spasms. Pain sensations decrease after going to the toilet and passing gas. They can also subside at night, and with food intake (with a morning cup of coffee or strong tea) they intensify again. Negative emotions can provoke increased pain;
Difficulty defecating (constipation). Over time, constipation becomes chronic. It becomes almost impossible to empty the intestines naturally;
feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen;
bloating, increased gas formation;
bad breath;
loss of appetite due to weight gain;
pale skin;
signs of general malaise: lethargy, fatigue, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, irritability;
dizziness: with anemia developed as a result of lack of nutrients;
signs of poisoning: allergies, deterioration of skin and hair.

Dysfunction, characterized by an increase in contractile movements of smooth muscles, is accompanied by:

acute pain in the intestinal area;
frequent diarrhea with mucus or blood particles;
flatulence, bloating;
lack of relief after defecation, false urge to defecate;
signs of dehydration are observed: dry mouth, weakness, drowsiness, chills, increased heart rate, decreased immunity.

The listed symptoms are warning signs that should not be ignored. To prevent serious consequences, you need to go to a clinic, where specialists, based on the results of tests and studies, will be able to determine an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective therapy.

Tips for improving bowel function

To prevent disturbances in intestinal motility, it is enough to follow simple rules. Adjust food:

eat more fiber-rich foods;
use first courses;
observe drinking regime;
Reduce fast food snacks to a minimum.

Try not to drink alcohol.

Walks in the fresh air are required. Experts recommend spending at least a third of the day outdoors. Don't forget about exercise and moderate physical activity. Yoga, swimming, running, and tennis are recommended. Implement these simple rules into your life, and your intestines will be healthy.

Impaired intestinal motility is a serious condition in which the entire digestive system malfunctions. The contents of the gastrointestinal tract cannot move normally, and food absorption is impaired. It is important to promptly recognize the first signs that intestinal motility has changed, undergo diagnostics and select treatment.

Diagnostics

During examination and palpation, bloating and pain when pressing on the abdominal area already manifests itself.

An effective laboratory test would be a coprogram - a stool test for the presence of blood and pathogenic microflora.

Among the instrumental methods the most informative are:

endoscopy - examination of the intestine with optics;
colonoscopy - using a special tube with a probe inserted into the anus, the doctor will assess the degree of patency of the organ, the condition of the mucous membrane, and take a sample of material for histological analysis;
irrigoscopy - x-ray with simultaneous administration of a contrast suspension;
Pelvic ultrasound and MRI are performed in difficult situations.

The concept of peristalsis

The intestine is the largest organ of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the final processing of food products, their neutralization and absorption of useful minerals into the blood occurs. If peristalsis (motility) is impaired, then all these processes are inhibited. This process causes harm to the body and inconvenience to the person.

Symptoms of intoxication and decreased intestinal motility include:

frequent headaches;
constant feeling of fatigue;
heaviness and pain in the abdomen;
loss of appetite;
a person gains weight, although he eats the same as usual, or even less;
the appearance of a rash on the face, possibly on the body;
sleep problems;
bloating, flatulence, which worsens after eating;
changes in stool, there are fewer of them, they take on a denser shape;
frequent and painful constipation, which can in rare cases be replaced by bouts of diarrhea;
general malaise and even fever.

Neither an adult nor a child will be happy with such symptoms of intestinal arrest. Therefore, you need to force your intestines to work on their own, or seek help from a doctor.

Moreover, the second option will be much better, because the cause of weak motor skills can be absolutely any disease , or the normal functional state of the body. But to figure out what exactly caused the intestinal stoppage can only be done by conducting an examination and passing tests.

One of the main causes of constipation and diarrhea is the use of various medications.
.
To improve bowel function after taking medications, you need to drink a simple remedy
.

Treatment of intestinal motility disorders

To restore the functioning of the digestive organs, an integrated approach is used, which includes changes in diet and physical exercise. In case of chronic constipation and fecal hardening, drug therapy is indicated.

Medicines

First of all, it is necessary to cleanse the digestive tract of stagnant feces. For this purpose, laxative medications are prescribed (Guttalax, Phenolphthalein, Duphalac), presented on the pharmaceutical market in various forms - in the form of tablets, drops, rectal suppositories.

Natural laxatives are rhubarb roots, licorice, buckthorn bark, and senna leaves. Herbal-based drugs include Regulax.

Potent agents used when it is impossible to empty are Epsom and Glauber's salts. They affect the entire intestine, producing the desired effect within a couple of hours after administration.

Castor oil softens the food bolus and facilitates its movement towards the anus. The effect is usually observed after a few hours.

You should not get carried away with laxatives: they are addictive, the digestive organs can “forget how” to work independently, without external stimuli.

Proserin, Vasopressin, Aceclidine have a strengthening effect on the intestinal muscles. They enhance motor activity, stimulating the passage of food through the digestive tract.

Digestion is aided by Mezim, Festal, Creon, which are not recommended to be taken for longer than 10 days.

To correct psychosomatic disorders, sedatives and antidepressants are prescribed.

All medications, their dosage and treatment regimen are prescribed by a specialist. Replacing the medication or stopping it early is possible only after a re-examination. Self-use of any pharmaceuticals is prohibited!

Physiotherapy

An active lifestyle helps restore the motor skills of internal organs. Running, swimming, hiking, horse riding, and abdominal exercises will bring your intestines back to normal.

Regarding physical activity that is unusual for you, please consult with a physical therapy specialist first!

A set of exercises to strengthen motor skills:

from a lying position (you can lie in bed immediately after waking up. It is important that the surface is not too soft!) lift your body;
lying on your back, raise your knees bent at an angle of 90 degrees and perform the exercise “riding a bicycle”;
remaining in the same position, grab your bent knees with your hands and pull them to your chest;
lower your bent legs to your feet and lift your pelvis;
in a kneeling position with emphasis on your palms, alternately move your legs back;
from a kneeling position with emphasis on your elbows, alternately sit on your right and left buttocks;
from a standing position, slow squats with the pelvis moving back;
jumping with or without a skipping rope (in the absence of pathologies of the pelvic organs).

To reduce intestinal motility, abdominal exercises should be avoided. In this case, stretching will do.

Daily abdominal massage will also stimulate the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

A contrast shower or dousing with cold water followed by intensive rubbing with a terry towel also has a beneficial effect on the body.

Dietary recommendations

A necessary and effective method of treating the disease is to follow a diet based on the inclusion of plant fiber in the diet and reducing the consumption of high-calorie carbohydrate foods.

Basic rules for impaired dysfunction:

It is better to eat more than 3 times a day (4-5) in small portions. Food must be chewed thoroughly;
drink enough fluid (at the rate of 30 ml per 1 kg of weight in the absence of kidney problems). Get into the habit of drinking a glass of water at room temperature in the morning: this method will help the intestines start working;
exclude from the menu foods rich in simple carbohydrates (sweets, especially chocolate, flour, fast food), starch (potatoes, rice, semolina), as well as irritating mucous membranes (carbonated drinks, fatty and fried foods, pickles, smoked foods, canned foods, sour fruits);
use butter, boiled eggs, and legumes with caution, which increase gas formation;
you will have to limit the intake of strong tea and coffee, hot drinks;
to enhance motor skills, fresh vegetables (cabbage, carrots, beets) and fruits (green apples, apricots, plums), bran, cereals, flax seeds, oatmeal and buckwheat porridge, herbs, berries are shown;
for cooking, use vegetable oils (preferably cold pressed): olive, linseed;
freshly squeezed juices (especially carrot, cabbage and beetroot, as well as berries), compotes, fermented milk products, dried fruits are useful;
If possible, eat more seafood and seaweed.

List of recommended products for increased peristalsis:

pureed soups;
porridge from barley, rice, semolina;
dishes from lean meats, eggs;
vegetable purees;
astringent fruits and berries (quince, pear, bird cherry, chokeberry).

In any case, you will have to give up cigarettes and alcohol.

Traditional medicine

Non-traditional methods can effectively complement the main treatment: cleanse the clogged intestines, restore its motor function, stimulate the healing of damaged tissues and get rid of pathogenic bacteria.

Before using folk remedies, you need to consult a specialist!

Recipes for constipation:

bran, fiber, which can be eaten separately or added to various dishes (salads, soups, cereals, jelly) 1-2 tablespoons per day;
beet salad with prunes or garlic;
a mixture of prunes and dried apricots. Grind 400 grams of seedless dried fruits in a meat grinder, adding 2 tbsp. propolis tinctures, senna leaves (1 pack) and 200 ml of fresh, not candied honey. All ingredients must be mixed thoroughly. Take 2 tsp. at night, with water at room temperature;
A decoction of buckthorn bark is drunk instead of tea;
crushed plantain seeds: 1 tsp. before eating.

Drugs

If diet and exercise fail to normalize peristalsis, then drug support is necessary. There are two main groups of drugs most often used:

Medicines that stimulate muscle tone.
Laxatives.

Medicines that stimulate muscle tone

Medicines that improve neuromuscular transmission and normalize contractions of the intestinal wall include:

Prozerin. Used for acute intestinal atony to quickly normalize peristalsis. 0.25 mg is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly every 4 hours, duration of therapy is 3 days.
Motilium. It is used for impaired peristalsis due to dyspeptic symptoms, and is approved for use in children. The maximum dosage per day is 80 mg, divided into three doses or taken once at night.
Aceclidine. It is used for emergency treatment of intestinal atony - 1-2 ml is administered subcutaneously.

Be sure to read:

More about intestinal atony: causes, symptoms and treatment

Laxatives

Means that facilitate the act of defecation by accelerating peristalsis:

Bisacodyl. By enhancing secretion, it enhances peristalsis and facilitates the movement of feces.
Guttalax. Stimulates the large intestine, promoting an increase in electrolytes and water in the lumen.
Regulax. It acts as an irritant on the intestinal walls, enhancing peristalsis and facilitating the act of defecation. Due to its mild action, it is approved for use in children.
Senadexin. A herbal preparation that accelerates peristalsis and facilitates bowel movements.

In continuation of the topic, be sure to read:

Causes of bloating and increased gas formation, treatment methods
Rectal fissure: causes, symptoms and treatment of pathology
Irritable bowel syndrome: symptoms and treatments
More about hemorrhoids: causes, symptoms and treatment methods
What medications should I use for increased gas formation?
Details about bowel cancer: stages, symptoms, treatment and prognosis
Details about the coprogram: preparation, conduct and interpretation of the analysis
Treatment tables (diets) No. 1-15 according to Pevzner: food tables and diet
Intestinal dyskinesia: types, causes, symptoms and treatment methods
The procedure for performing an enema with a syringe to cleanse the intestines

Disease prevention

Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, following these recommendations will make a significant contribution to the health of your intestines:

adhere to the basics of a balanced diet: the diet should be varied, including plant fiber and protein. Do not allow yourself to overeat, excessive indulgence in sweets, flour products, smoked, salty and fatty foods;
keep your body in good shape: do morning exercises, walk in the fresh air, ride a bike and ski, swim in open reservoirs or a pool;
maintain a work and rest schedule: sleep 7-9 hours, avoid psychological stress and negative emotions;
Visit a gastroenterologist regularly (1-2 times a year) for preventive examinations and timely detection of abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract.

Paying close attention to your body will help you avoid many troubles. Be healthy!

Treatment of dyskinesia

Before starting treatment, the patient needs to undergo a series of studies to determine the cause and localization of the disorder in order to determine methods of therapy and appropriate medications. The doctor should refer the patient for the following studies:

scatology;
endoscopy;
irrigoscopy;
colonoscopy;
checking discharge for dysbacteriosis and occult blood.

These studies are necessary to exclude other gastrointestinal diseases. According to the general complaints of the patient, it is difficult to diagnose poor intestinal motility.

Treatment should be comprehensive, it will consist of taking medications, performing appropriate exercises, and following a diet. For constipation, the doctor prescribes medications that increase peristalsis. For diarrhea - lowering.

Nutrition adjustments are being made. With increased peristalsis, the diet should contain fresh baked goods, hot drinks, chocolate, warm cereals, eggs, meat dishes, pears, quinces, chokeberries, preferably drinking red wine. When low - fermented milk products, juices and other cold drinks, vegetables, sour apples, apricots, gooseberries, dried fruits, herbs, seafood, bran bread.

Moderate physical activity for this condition is used for treatment. Running, yoga, and swimming are recommended. Daily long stays in the fresh air are required. A set of therapeutic exercises and abdominal massage are also prescribed.