Learning about constipation

What is constipation?

Constipation is a digestive complaint that affects the bowels. It can cause bloating, abdominal pain, hard stools and reduce the frequency of bowel movements.

Many of us know what it feels like, but how exactly does constipation begin? The colon, or large intestine, plays an important role in digestion. When food reaches the colon, some water is absorbed back into the bloodstream and through the colon's muscle contractions, waste is eliminated. Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water, or when its muscle contractions become sluggish which causes the waste to move more slowly than usual.   The slower passage of waste through the colon means more water is absorbed back into the body which contributes to the stools becoming hard and dry.  Although the frequency of bowel movements can vary significantly between healthy people, constipation is defined as having less than three bowel movements per week.

Who suffers from constipation?

Constipation is extremely common with almost 14 million sufferers in the UK and Women are twice as likely to become constipated than men.  Constipation can affect anyone from any age group and most people will suffer from it at some stage in their life.  However the following groups are most prone to the effects of constipation:

  • Children 
  • Young Women
  • Pregnant Woment
  • Menopausal Women
  • Elderly 

What are the symptoms of constipation?

Some common symptoms include:

  • Fewer bowel motions than usual
  • Stools or motions become hard often making it difficult or painful to pass
  • Cramps, aches or pain in the lower abdomen.
  • Feeling 'bloated' or ‘sluggish’
  • Nausea 
  • Loss of appetite
  • You may experience a feeling of incomplete bowel emptying

Long Term Effect:

If left untreated Constipation may cause piles and rectal bleeding as a result of excessive straining.

What are the common causes of constipation?

Some of the common causes of constipation include:

  • Diet
    • Insufficient fibre in the diet is a common cause of constipation. The recommended daily intake of fibre for an adult is 18g per day, however the average person in the UK has a daily intake of just 12g. Fibre helps keep you regular by “bulking up” the stools which helps ease the passage through the bowel
    • Dehydration
    • Weight loss diets
    • Therapeutic diets e.g. gluten free
    • Anorexia nervosa 
  • Menstrual cycle and pregnancy: About 40% of women become constipated during pregnancy primarily due to hormone changes that slow down the muscle contractions in the colon
  • Medication: Constipation is often a side effect of certain medications such as anti-depressants, codeine based painkillers, iron supplements, antacids for indigestion (especially those containing aluminium) and diuretics
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Constipation can often be a symptom in IBS
  • Some diseases including diverticular disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, colorectal cancer, haemorrhoids, hypothyroidism and diabetes.
  • Other possible causes include significant lifestyle changes such as travel, or change in diet; lack of physical activity; stress; and ignoring the very natural ‘urge’ to use the toilet- possibly because the environment does not make you feel comfortable.

How do I Treat or Prevent Constipation?

The good news is that most cases of constipation can be addressed through dietary and lifestyle changes, although treatment ultimately depends on the cause, severity, and duration of constipation.

To learn more about constipation and ways to treat or even prevent it, please follow one of the links below: