Constipation is a digestive symptom that makes passing your stool difficult or painful. It involves straining during bowel movements, having hard or dry stools, and feeling like you haven’t completely emptied your bowels after going. Roughly 10% of adults in the United States experience constipation.
Lifestyle factors like your diet or level of physical activity may cause constipation. In some cases, medication or an underlying health condition may be the cause. Depending on the cause, constipation can last for a short or long time. Several treatment options can help you find relief.
A main symptom of constipation is having bowel movements less frequently than usual. Experts often classify this as fewer than three bowel movements per week, but the exact number can be different for you based on what your normal is.
Other telltale constipation symptoms include:
- Hard, dry, or lumpy stools
- Stools that are difficult or painful to pass
- A feeling that you’re “backed up,” or that not all of your stool has passed after you go to the bathroom
Constipation typically happens when something causes the stool to move slowly through your digestive tract. This can occur due to decreased motility (movement) of the digestive tract or due to a lack of bulking agent (like fiber), making stool hard and difficult to pass. Other causes include bowel obstruction.
Several things may cause slower movement of stool through your intestines, including:
- Dehydration
- A diet without enough fiber
- Decreased physical activity levels
- Use of certain medications
- Health conditions such as a spinal cord injury, pelvic floor disorder, diabetes, or a digestive disorder
Risk Factors
Certain factors may increase your risk of constipation. Constipation is more common in:
- Older adults
- Women, especially during pregnancy or postpartum (after giving birth)
- People with a history of certain health conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
If your constipation is disruptive or uncomfortable, consider seeing a healthcare provider who can diagnose constipation and its cause.
After reviewing your medical history and symptoms, your healthcare provider may perform the following tests to confirm you’re experiencing constipation:
- Physical exam: Examining your abdominal area for swelling or abnormalities, monitoring your vital signs, and checking for dehydration can help your healthcare provider assess your digestive and overall health.
- Rectal exam: By inserting a gloved finger into the rectum, the healthcare provider can check for blockages and determine the amount and consistency of any stool that’s present.
- Stool tests: Your healthcare provider may request a stool sample, which they can test for signs of blood, infection, and inflammation.
They may request other diagnostic tests if the cause of your constipation is unclear. These tests may include:
- Endoscopy: This test involves using a small tube with a camera on the end to view the inside of your anus, rectum, and colon. Your healthcare provider may use it to look for abnormalities.
- Imaging tests: These may include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan. These tests allow your healthcare provider to see your digestive tract and detect any blockages.
- Lab tests: A blood or urine sample can help determine some underlying causes of constipation, including diabetes or hypothyroidism. Lab tests may also help detect associated conditions such as anemia and celiac disease.
- Bowel function tests: These help your healthcare provider see how well your stool moves through your colon and can help show signs of other health conditions that may be causing your constipation.
The goal of treating constipation is to minimize discomfort and get your bowel movements back to normal. A variety of treatment strategies, from lifestyle tactics to medical interventions, may help you find relief from constipation.
Dietary Changes
Making certain changes to your diet can help make your stool softer and easier to pass. Experts generally suggest starting with the following dietary tips:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Increase your fiber intake by incorporating more fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains into your diet.
- Avoid foods with little to no fiber, like processed foods and fast foods.
Laxatives
Short-term use of an over-the-counter laxative may prompt your bowel movements. It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider for their guidance before using a laxative. Laxative options may include:
- Fiber supplements, which can help you increase your fiber intake if you don’t get enough fiber through food
- Osmotic laxatives, like magnesium, which make stool soft and loose
- Stool softeners, like psyllium, which help keep water in the stool
- Stimulant laxatives, like senna, which cause the large intestine to contract (which helps move waste through the intestines)
Lifestyle Changes
Certain lifestyle adjustments can also help relieve constipation and encourage normal bowel movements. Strategies may include:
- Get regular physical activity to keep the digestive system running smoothly.
- Try to have a bowel movement at the same time each day, such as after breakfast. This can help train your body to release stool on a routine basis.
- Get into position for an easier bowel movement. Try relaxing your muscles and placing your feet on a footstool while you’re on the toilet.
- Talk to a healthcare provider about whether any medications and supplements you take may cause constipation as a side effect.
Medical Treatment
If home remedies don’t work well, your healthcare provider may suggest other methods for relieving constipation. These may include:
- Prescription medications: Your healthcare provider may recommend medications that encourage the release of fluids in the intestine and ease constipation-related pain. Examples include Amitiza (lubiprostone) or Linzess (linaclotide).
- Water enemas: For this treatment, your healthcare provider gently inserts water into your colon to soften and release hard or stuck stool.
- Biofeedback therapy or muscle retraining exercises: These may help your body physically release stool if there’s an issue with the coordination between your pelvic floor and anorectal muscles.
In severe constipation cases involving a blockage in the intestines, surgery may also be an option.
Certain lifestyle changes may help you prevent constipation. Try these strategies:
- Maintain a high-fiber diet.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- Get enough exercise.
- Take enough time to have regular and relaxed bowel movements.
- Use laxatives temporarily if your healthcare provider suggests it.
Many cases of constipation are mild and easily treatable. But if constipation becomes severe or goes untreated, it may lead to some health complications. These may include:
- Anal fissures: Cracks in the skin around the anus from excessive straining
- Fecal impaction: A mass of dry or hard stool that gets stuck in the rectum due to prolonged constipation
- Hemorrhoids: Swollen veins around the anus that protrude from increased pressure and straining
- Rectal prolapse: When the rectum protrudes through the anus
Constipation is a digestive symptom involving less frequent bowel movements than usual. You may also notice that you strain to have a bowel movement, your stool is hard and dry, and you feel backed up.
Constipation is commonly caused by lifestyle factors like low fiber intake, dehydration, and lack of physical activity. In these cases, adjusting your diet and fluid intake and using a laxative as needed can usually resolve the issue. Other times, if constipation is the result of an underlying health condition or medication side effect, it can become longer-lasting and require medical treatment.
If you notice a change in your bowel habits, consider seeing a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and specific treatment suggestions for constipation.
