What is constipation?

Constipation is the inability to defecate. The frequency of defecation and the consistency and volume of stools vary so greatly from one individual to another that it is difficult to determine normal function. In general, most nutritionally oriented physicians recommend at least one bowel movement a day.

Constipation is the infrequent passage of small amounts of hard, dry bowel movements, usually fewer than three times a week. Some individuals who are constipated find it painful to have a bowel movement and often experience straining, bloating, and the sensation of a full bowel.

The colon (part of the large intestine) absorbs water from food as it moves through the colon. The colon forms waste products, or stool, from this material. Muscle contractions in the colon then push the stool toward the rectum (final part of the large intestine). The stool is normally solid by the time it reaches the rectum, because most of the water has been absorbed back into the body.

Constipation is a symptom, not a disease. Almost everyone experiences constipation at some point in their life, and most periods of constipation are temporary, self-treatable, and not serious health issues. Understanding the causes, prevention, and treatment of constipation will help most individuals find relief.

Common causes of constipation include prescription medications, hormonal changes, bowel habits, diet, dehydration (lack of sufficient water), lack of exercise, laxatives, diseases such as colon cancer and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and stress.

Bowel movements are different for each individual, depending on the body, what the person eats and drinks, and the amount of exercise. Bowel movements do not have to occur daily. Normal stool elimination may range from three times a day to three times a week.

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Constipation is the slow movement of feces through the large intestine, resulting in the difficult passage of dry, hard stool. It's one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints in the United States, responsible for more than 2.5 million visits to health providers each year. The National Institutes of Health says that more than four million Americans have frequent constipation. Constipation is more common in women than men, and more common among older people.

The hard, dry stool that defines constipation develops when the colon absorbs too much water. This may happen because the muscle contractions of the colon are too slow, so the stool moves along sluggishly. Or it can occur when the anal sphincter fails to relax when it should, causing an excessive amount of stool to be stored in the rectum. Constipation can also occur when you consciously slow the movement of stool through the colon to hold back a bowel movement. If you routinely override the urge to defecate by consciously constricting the external sphincter muscles that surround the anus, your reflex to defecate may be blunted, and accumulated stool may harden as a result, becoming even more difficult to pass.

Eventually, the colon tries to move the stool by squeezing down to push it along. This causes an uncomfortable pressure and cramping. If the stool is not eliminated, more hard stool accumulates. When the stool finally passes, it can cause extreme discomfort.

Constipation is a condition characterized by infrequent stools or difficulty with stool passage.  Some people can have hard bowel movements, or have to strain to have a bowel movement.  Others can have feelings of incomplete or unsatisfactory defecation. Also known as irregularity, constipation can include pain when having a bowel movement, an inability to “go” after trying for a prolonged period or having less than 3 bowel movements a week.  Everyone’s habits and patterns are different, so what is considered “normal” varies from person to person.