What is Constipation?
Constipation happens when your bowel movement becomes more infrequent and stools become difficult to pass, and are usually hard and dry. Constipation is a fairly common condition that happens due to a lack of dietary fibre, fluids, and exercise. Other medical conditions and certain medications may also cause constipation.
Normal bowel movement varies from individual to individual and can range from two to three times a day to several times a week. If you notice a decrease in your frequency of bowel movement or have difficulty passing motion, you may be suffering from constipation.
What are the symptoms of Constipation?
Symptoms of constipation include:
- Fewer than three bowel movements in a week
- Dry, hard or lumpy stools
- Difficulty passing motion
- Pain when passing motion
- Feeling bloated or nauseated
- Feeling like you have not completely emptied your bowels
What causes Constipation?
Constipation happens when your colon absorbs too much fluid from your stools. This causes the stool to dry out and become hard in consistency, making it more difficult to pass out of your body. Some possible causes of constipation include:
- Low fibre diet
- Dehydration
- Lack of exercise
- Stress
- Changes to your regular routine
- Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressants, antacids and iron pills.
- Colorectal cancer
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Pregnancy
What are the risk factors of Constipation?
People of all ages may suffer from occasional bouts of constipation. Certain risk factors may increase a person's risk of becoming chronically constipated. These factors include:
- Age: Older adults in their 60s are less active, have a slower metabolism amd have less muscle contractions along their digestive tract when they were younger.
- Hormonal changes: Changes in your hormones may make you more likely to get constipation. Constipation is common during pregnancy and after childbirth.
- Diet: Not eating enough fibres makes you more likely to get constipation as fibre helps keep food moving through your digestive system.
How do you prevent Constipation?
Follow these steps to prevent constipation from becoming a chronic problem include:
- Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Legumes, whole-grain breads and cereals are also good sources of fibre.
- Stay hydrated. You may be recommended to drink eight glasses of water a day but the ideal amount of water varies from person to person. Someone who is exercising will need to drink more water to stay hydrated. Liquids with caffeine, such as coffee and soft drinks, can dehydrate you so if you are experiencing constipation, you may want to stop drinking them until your bowel habits return to normal.
- Exercise regularly. You do not have to exercise vigourously, it could just be taking a brisk walk around your neighbourhood.
How is Constipation diagnosed?
Physical Examination
Your doctor may gently press on your abdomen to check for pain, tenderness or irregular lumps, as well as you a gloved finger to check the condition of your rectum and muscles of the anus.
Imaging Tests
Depending on your symptoms, your healthcare professional may order an X-ray to show where stool is present in the colon and if the colon is blocked. A CT or MRI scan may be needed to diagnose conditions that may be causing constipation.
