Constipation, Causes and Treatments

Constipation – an inability to have a bowel movement, frequently from excessively hard stools – is a normal condition when it occurs rarely or for short periods. Treatments range from doing nothing and allowing the condition to self-correct to use of mild laxatives or a change in diet.

Normally, bowel movements occur 2-3 times daily (typically fewer as individuals age) and without undue strain. When constipation becomes chronic, severe, or long-lived it signals a more serious health issue. The body has to eliminate waste from digestion and the inability to do so leads to numerous complications, with accompanying discomfort or worse. Fewer than one per week is usually a sign of serious trouble.

The causes of constipation are too numerous to list in a single article. They can be anything from inadequate fluid intake and improper salt balance to diverticulitis (an inflammation of the colon due to infection, producing pouches on the outside of the intestine). Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is another common cause. Tumors or colorectal cancer can be a cause of severe constipation. Medications or supplements, such as codeine or iron, can be the culprit, too.

Fortunately, treatments are equally wide ranging.

In many cases, as suggested above, time is all that’s required. The body can normally re-balance fluid and salt levels. Constipation resulting from a habit of resisting bowel movements will disappear with a change in habits. Changes in diet, such as consuming additional fiber or cutting down on caffeinated beverages, can restore normal bowel movements.

Increasing fiber is easy by consuming more of the right kinds of fruits and vegetables. Oat bran is justly well-known as a good source of fiber. Fiber adds needed bulk to stools as well as naturally absorbing water that helps soften them. One common mild side effect, though, may be increased abdominal gas. The bacteria present in the colon partially digest the fiber that humans can not (for lack of the right enzyme). Their resulting digestion produces flatus, or gas.

Laxatives, whether in the form of supplements or as pills or liquid, should be taken with care and only for short periods. Saline laxatives (like Milk of Magnesia) are one type. Stimulant laxatives (Ex-Lax, and others) work by stimulating the muscles that produce bowel movements. Apart from the risk of the other extreme – diarrhea – excessive reliance on laxatives can lead to irregularity and dependence. Bowel movements, in so far as possible, should occur naturally except for brief periods of needed treatment.

There are exceptions, such as prescription laxatives like sorbitol and polyethylene glycol (Miralax), which are regarded as safe for long term use. But these are intended for treating medical conditions, not for relief of constipation that can be eliminated by changes in diet and lifestyle.

As with any severe health condition and proposed treatment, consult your physician for professional advice. Self-treatment that results in temporary relief is fine for temporary conditions. Long term self-treatment may mask, to a point, more serious underlying disease that warrants a professional diagnosis.