What is Constipation and What are the Causes of Constipation?

We tend to think we are constipated if we pass a day without a bowel movement. However, missing a bowel movement now and then does not mean one is suffering from constipation. Constipation is defined as the condition of passing stools less than three times a week. People who suffer from constipation find that their stools are usually dry, hard and small, and evacuating them is difficult. One has the urge to defecate but cannot. This happens when the colon absorbs too much water from the stool, making it dry and hard, or if the muscles weaken and contract slowly, making bowel movement sluggish.

While having a bowel movement once a day is normal, passing stools three times a day or three times a week is acceptable from a medical point of view. Constipation, when it does occur, is often temporary and most people overcome the problem through dietary and lifestyle changes. It is a very common complaint in some parts of the world. Reportedly, over 4 million Americans suffer from constipation and many of them are women or older people. Constipation in itself is not a disease but a symptom of a medical condition or illness. Its manifestations differ from person to person. Constipation is either idiopathic, functional or that caused by irritable bowel syndrome. Idiopathic constipation is that which does not improve with conventional treatment. Functional constipation indicates a healthy colon, which is not functioning well. That usually results from an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. While both adults and children suffer from functional constipation, women are most vulnerable.

The most common cause of constipation is a poor diet. A diet that consists predominantly of refined and processed foods containing white flour and white sugar as well as animal fats found in meat, eggs, cheese and milk but which includes hardly any fiber such as fruit, vegetables and whole grains is very likely to cause constipation.

Poor hydration is another reason for constipation. People who do not drink enough hydrating fluids tend to suffer from constipation. Coffee, colas and alcohol have a dehydrating effect and consuming too much of these fluids can make one constipated.

A sedentary lifestyle is believed to increase one’s tendency to be constipated. The elderly and the sick, both of whom tend to get little or no exercise, are far more likely to suffer from constipation than the young and active. Pregnancy commonly causes constipation because of hormonal changes and pressure on the intestine from a growing fetus. Specific types of medication are also known to cause constipation. These include blood pressure drugs, painkillers, antidepressants, iron tablets, antacids and antispasmodic drugs. Neurological, endocrine and metabolic disorders can also cause constipation. Stroke is a common cause. Repeatedly ignoring the urge to defecate also causes constipation. Other causes are excessive use of laxatives, aging and travel. In most cases, constipation is not serious and improves with dietary and lifestyle changes as well as good bowel habits.