And if you had to swallow a small vibrating capsule to escape constipation? This is the brainchild of a Chinese team that published its results this week. And it is above all an opportunity to talk about this still taboo subject with Géraldine Zamansky, journalist at the Magazine de la Santé on France 5 and on Saturday on franceinfo.
franceinfo: Have Chinese doctors really made constipated people swallow a therapeutic capsule?
Geraldine Zamansky: Absolutely ! These 53 people each swallowed this capsule which measures precisely 2.67 cm long and 1.18 cm in diameter… It follows exactly the same route as the food. And eight hours after its ingestion, on its theoretical arrival at the level of the colon, the capsule begins to vibrate for six hours. Three or four days later, the patient can take another capsule. The trial lasted six weeks with a total of twelve capsules. And as it is a serious study, at the same time, 54 people swallowed, without knowing it, devices that did not vibrate. Result: twice less improvement in constipation with the inert capsules than with the others.
But how can the simple vibration of these capsules treat constipation?
These Chinese researchers are honest: they are not sure of the mechanism of action. Their hypothesis is that these vibrations would stimulate, from the inside, movements of the wall of the digestive tract and would thus facilitate the evacuation of stools. However, it will take time to validate or invalidate this hypothesis. In the meantime, the 10 to 20% of people affected should not despair. These statistics are vague: they reflect the taboo that surrounds chronic constipation. That is to say, a life with less than three bowel movements per week. A difficult problem to discuss, even with your doctor. However, it can be urgent if this bad transit is accompanied by bleeding in the stool, fever, fatigue or abnormal weight loss. You should then consult.
And even without these additional symptoms, do not hesitate to consult…
Exactly. Because constipation sometimes causes significant pain. In addition, because of the abnormal pressure at the exit of the stool, hemorrhoids may appear and further aggravate the situation. Coming out of silence is essential. The doctor will sometimes simply identify a drug responsible for this constipation. This happens for example with some painkillers. Of course, it will reinforce all dietary advice. Prunes, kiwis and other sources of fiber such as vegetables facilitate transit. If this is not enough, the prescription may include laxative treatments or specific rehabilitation. Without forgetting additional examinations in the event of a more complex cause. So really, it’s worth talking about, solutions exist!