Specialities

Constipation Treatment

Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint, resulting in 2.5 million doctor visits annually.(1) Generally, a person is considered constipated when they have fewer than three bowel movements a week, or their stool is difficult to pass. In total, about 16 percent of the population experience constipation symptoms, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). (2)While constipation is uncomfortable (and sometimes distressing), it’s considered a symptom rather than a disease in itself.

It’s also important to know that normal bowel habits can differ from person to person — some people may pass stool three times a day; others three times a week.

Signs and Symptoms of Constipation

Symptoms of constipation may also include the following: (2,3)

Lumpy, dry, or hard stools
Stools that are hard or painful to pass
Feeling as though there’s a blockage in your rectum that keeps you from having bowel movements
Feeling as though you can’t completely empty your stool
Needing help to empty your rectum, whether by pressing with your hands on your abdomen or using a finger to remove the stool (yes, it happens!)
Constipation is considered to be chronic if you’ve experienced two or more of these symptoms for the last three months, according to the Mayo Clinic. (3)

Causes and Risk Factors of Constipation

The GI tract, which consists of a series of hollow organs stretching from your mouth to your anus, is responsible for digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste removal. In your lower GI tract, your large intestine, or bowel — which includes your colon and rectum — absorbs water from your digested food, changing it from a liquid to a solid (stool). Constipation occurs when digested food spends too much time in your colon. It can also occur when your colon absorbs too much water, making your stool hard and dry — and difficult for your rectal muscles to push out of your body. A wide range of factors can lead to constipation. According to the NIDKK, these include: (2) Delayed emptying of the colon caused by pelvic floor disorders and colon surgery Gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome Certain medicines and dietary supplements, including antacids that contain aluminum; calcium supplements; anticholinergics and antispasmodics (often used to treat spasms in the intestines); anticonvulsants, which are used to prevent seizures; calcium channel blockers; diuretics; iron supplements; medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease; certain pain medications and antidepressants

How Is Constipation Diagnosed?

Your doctor will take a medical history and do a physical exam, most likely including a gentle rectal exam with a gloved finger. They will also likely prescribe a number of routine blood tests (to look for hypothyroidism, for instance), as well as urine and stool tests. According to the Mayo Clinic, other diagnostic tests may include: 

A sigmoidoscopy to examine the rectum and lower colon (where your doctor will insert a flexible tube with a light on the end to take a close look at these areas)
A colonoscopy to examine the colon
Evaluating the speed of your anal sphincter as well as how the muscle is working
Evaluating how well food passes through your colon with a colonic transit study
Taking an X-ray of the rectum during a bowel movement (this is called a defecography)
A procedure known as MRI defecography