Constipation Causes, Symptoms, and Remedies

Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or difficult to pass. It can cause discomfort and bloating.
Related products/activities
Application
Digestive Health | Fiber-Rich Foods | Healthy Bowel Movements | Bowel Health | Constipation Relief | Digestive System
Prepared by Lee Cheng, reviewed by Jane Cox

Constipation FAQ

What does constipation mean in medical terms?

A commonly used medical definition is that constipation is when you have fewer than 3 spontaneous bowel movements a week. Constipation can occur at all ages. Sometimes it occurs because of how your body is; your large intestine might be sluggish and need help expelling the waste, or perhaps the bowel muscles don't work together effectively.

What causes constipation?

There are three main mechanisms that may cause constipation: One mechanism is where the muscles lining the gut wall do not work properly. This results in the sluggish movement of contents through the bowel down to the rectum. It leads to a reduced urge to empty the bowel and hard poo. People have an infrequent urge to go to the toilet.

What is the severity of constipation?

The severity of constipation varies from person to person. Many people only experience constipation for a short time, but for others, constipation can be a long-term (chronic) condition that causes significant pain and discomfort and affects quality of life. Read more about the symptoms of constipation.

How common is constipation?

Constipation is one of the most common digestive problems in the United States. Around 16 out of 100 U.S. adults have constipation. This figure doubles for adults over age 60. Read on to learn the symptoms and causes of constipation, and how it can be treated. Each person’s bowel habits are different.

What are the symptoms of constipation?

Irregular meal times, reduced liquid intake and reduced physical activity: these can all worsen symptoms in patients with a tendency towards constipation. Pain, or fear of pain, on passing stools. Menstrual constipation: some women notice that their bowels are more sluggish at certain times of their menstrual cycle.

How do you know if you have long-term constipation?

Long-term constipation, also called chronic constipation, may require treating another disease or condition that can cause or worsen constipation. Fewer than three stools a week. Hard, dry or lumpy stools. Straining or pain when passing stools. A feeling that not all stool has passed. A feeling that the rectum is blocked.

What does constipation mean?

Constipation is a symptom that can mean different things to different people. The usual meaning is that a person has difficulty or infrequency with opening their bowels. Constipation affects around 1 in 7 otherwise healthy people with young women designated female at birth and older people being two groups most likely to experience constipation.

What is constipation & how is it treated?

Constipation is where you have changes to how you poo, including not pooing as often or finding it hard to poo. It's common and it affects people of all ages. You can usually treat it with simple changes to your diet and lifestyle. This page is about constipation in adults. There's separate information on constipation in babies and children.

Constipation References

If you want to know more about Constipation, consider exploring links below:

Explore Related Topics