Constipation

DEFINITION

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Chronic constipation is infrequent bowel movements or difficult passage of stools that persists for several weeks or longer.

Constipation is generally described as having fewer than three bowel movements a week.

Though occasional constipation is very common, some people experience chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to go about their daily tasks. Chronic constipation may also cause excessive straining to have a bowel movement and other signs and symptoms.

Treatment for chronic constipation depends on the underlying cause. Though, in some cases, a cause for chronic constipation is never found.

CAUSES

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Constipation most commonly occurs when waste or stool moves too slowly through the digestive tract, causing it to become hard and dry. Chronic constipation has many causes:

Blockages in the colon or rectum

Blockages in the colon or rectum may slow or stop stool movement. Causes include:

• Anal fissure
• Bowel obstruction
• Colon cancer
• Narrowing of the colon (bowel stricture)
• Other abdominal cancer that presses on the colon
• Rectal cancer
• Rectocele

Problems with the nerves around the colon and rectum

Neurological problems can affect the nerves that cause muscles in the colon and rectum to contract and move stool through the intestines. Causes include:

• Autonomic neuropathy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Spinal cord injury
• Stroke

Difficulty with the muscles involved in elimination

Problems with the pelvic muscles involved in having a bowel movement may cause chronic constipation. These problems may include:

• Inability to relax the pelvic muscles to allow for a bowel movement (anismus)
• Pelvic muscles don’t coordinate relaxation and contraction correctly (dyssynergia)
• Weakened pelvic muscles

Conditions that affect hormones in the body

Hormones help balance fluids in your body. Diseases and conditions that upset the balance of hormones may lead to constipation, including:

• Diabetes
• Overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism)
• Pregnancy
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of chronic constipation include:

• Passing fewer than three stools a week
• Having lumpy or hard stools
• Straining to have bowel movements
• Feeling as though there’s a blockage in your rectum that prevents bowel movements
• Feeling as though you can’t completely empty the stool from your rectum
• Needing help to empty your rectum, such as using your hands to press on your abdomen and using a finger to remove stool from your rectum

Constipation may be considered chronic if you’ve experienced two or more of these symptoms for the last three months.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience unexplained and persistent changes in your bowel habits.