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Constipation is a condition defined as infrequent bowel movements or the difficult passage of stools over a long period of time.
The condition is generally described as having fewer than three bowel movements a week although it usually disappears with positive lifestyle changes. However, chronic constipation is more difficult to treat and is often a symptom of other medical conditions.
How common is constipation?
Occasional episodes of constipation are normal and will resolve on its own. This is usually due to food, stress or a different environment. Chronic constipation is also normal but may be a sign of a more serious health problem.
Those more at risk of being constipated are those who are elderly, obese, pregnant and office workers who spend a lot of time sitting at their desks.
Symptoms of constipation
- Difficult passage of stools;
- Dry or hard stools;
- Bowel movements less than three times a week;
- Abdominal bloating;
- Stomach ache;
- Blood in stools or bleeding after bowel movement
- Feeling you cannot completely empty your gut
You are considered to have chronic constipation if you have one or more of these symptoms lasting for at least three months.
There may be some symptoms not listed above. If you have any concerns about a symptom, consult your doctor.
When to see your doctor
You should contact your doctor if you have any of the following:
- Your symptoms last for more than two weeks;
- Your symptoms cannot be relieved by home remedies or non-prescription medications;
- There is blood in the stool;
- You are experiencing weight loss.
Constipation can be a sign of another health condition and it is therefore important to see your doctor if you suspect a more serious problem.
Causes of constipation
Constipation occurs due to stools passing slower than usual, resulting in it becoming hard and dry. Some causes of constipation may include:
- Not eating enough fibre or drinking enough water;
- Not being physically active and sitting all day;
- Pregnancy;
- Being stressed or experiencing a change of environment;
- Having diabetes, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis or hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid);
- Bowel obstruction that may be caused by colorectal cancer, abdominal cancer, or anal fissure.
- Being on pain medication, antihistamines and some antidepressants.
Constipation is not a serious condition, unless it is caused by a serious health condition. You can usually manage constipation with simple lifestyle changes.
What increases risk of constipation
- Being an older adult;
- Being a woman;
- Being pregnant;
- Having a low-fibre diet or being dehydrated;
- Getting little or no physical activity (usually office workers);
- Being overweight or obese;
- Taking drugs that cause constipation such as pain medications, sedatives or high blood pressure drugs.
Diagnosis of constipation
Doctors diagnose constipation based on medical history, including any recent lifestyle changes and medications you are currently taking.
The doctor will also perform a physical examination to check the abdomen and rectum area for haemorrhoids or rectal tears.
If the stools contain blood, a colonoscopy may be performed to examine the colon. There also may be blood tests and x-rays required.
Treatment of constipation
You must commit to some lifestyle changes. These include:
- More exercise (at least a few times a week);
- Drinking more water (1.5 to two litres per day);
- Consuming more fibre;
- Changing your diet to include more fruits and vegetables such as spinach, papaya or bananas.
If constipation is not relieved even after changing your lifestyle or diet, try non-prescription laxatives:
- Fibre supplements – Metamucil®, Fibercon®, Konsyl® and Citrucel®. These products contain psyllium and methylcellulose, which help add bulk to your stools to speed up its passage through the colon.
- Bisacodyl.
- Osmotic laxatives – this may include lactulose, magnesium citrate or Fleet Enema®.
- These laxatives contain minerals that help stools move through the colon easier.
- Stool softeners. These laxatives usually help soften stools.
Other treatments include training your pelvic muscles to relax and tighten or in more severe cases, surgery.
Lifestyle changes and home remedies
- Eat more fibre – fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Drink enough water, especially during warm weather.
- Avoid non-prescription drugs that can cause constipation such as antihistamines.
This article first appeared in hellodoktor.com and was reviewed by Dr Duyen Le. The Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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