Constipation: Explanations and Solutions for a Common Problem
Constipation is a change in bowel habits.
It's a digestive problem that many people experience from time to time. People of all ages can develop constipation. Constipation in children is common, and many women become constipated during pregnancy. Read on to learn more about this digestive problem and to find out what to do for constipation.
What is constipation?
Constipation is the term for having fewer bowel movements than usual or for having difficulty passing stools. In general, a person is likely to be constipated if they have fewer than three bowel movements per week. If you are constipated, you may not be having bowel movements as often as you normally do, or you may have to strain more than usual, or you may be unable to completely empty your bowels. Most cases of constipation are temporary. If symptoms continue for several weeks or more, it may be considered chronic constipation.
What causes constipation?
Some common reasons why people get constipated include:
- A diet that's low in fiber.
- Not enough physical activity.
- Not drinking enough water.
- Stress.
- Medications since certain medicines, including opioid pain medicines, sedatives and some antidepressants and blood pressure medications, can cause constipation.
- Surgery since constipation can arise due to a lack of activity during the recovery period, side effects from medications or dietary changes.
Constipation typically affects more women than men and is a common symptom among older adults.
Constipation in infants can happen when they switch from breast milk to formula, from baby foods to solid foods or when they start drinking cow's milk. Toddlers can also become constipated when they are first toilet training. Some kids may avoid the urge to go to the bathroom which can make it harder to have a bowel movement later.
Chronic constipation has many possible causes. It can be a symptom of another condition, such as:
- Blockages in the colon or rectum. This can be due to anal fissures, bowel obstruction, colon cancer or rectal cancer, for instance.
- Problems with the pelvic muscles involved with elimination. Weak pelvic muscles, not being able to relax your pelvic muscles enough to have a bowel movement and pelvic muscles that don't synchronize relaxation and contraction can lead to constipation.
- Problems with nerves around the colon and rectum. This may be caused by stroke, a spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis or other factors.
- Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, diabetes or thyroid problems. Fluctuations in hormone levels can also cause constipation in the week or two before a woman's period starts.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
In some cases, there is no clear cause of constipation.
Why am I constipated?
It may be difficult to determine the specific reason for your constipation. To find out what is making you constipated, consult a health care provider. They can discuss your symptoms, as well as your diet and lifestyle. For chronic or severe constipation, your provider may run tests to help determine the cause. Then they may discuss medicines, diet and lifestyle changes or natural constipation remedies with you.
What foods cause constipation?
Typically no one food causes constipation; however, if your overall diet lacks an adequate amount of fiber, you may get constipated. If you are constipated, try not to eat too many foods that contain little to no fiber. Reduce the amount of cheese, chips, fast food, ice cream, meat and processed foods that you eat, and increase the amount of water, fruit, vegetables and whole grains you eat.
Do bananas cause constipation?
Some people believe that bananas cause constipation. The belief stems from the fact that bananas are a part of the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) diet recommended for addressing diarrhea and vomiting. Bananas and the other foods are included in this diet because they tend to be easily digested and don't irritate the stomach. This doesn't mean they cause constipation. In fact, one medium banana contains about three grams of fiber.
What does constipation feel like?
The most common constipation symptoms include moving your bowels fewer than three times per week and having to strain to complete a bowel movement. You may feel as if there is something blocking your system, thereby preventing you from passing a stool. Or you may feel that the stool is too hard or big to pass. You may also have feel like you cannot fully empty your bowels. Constipation pain may sometimes occur when the problem is severe. The pain can be in your abdomen.
Can constipation cause back pain?
Constipation does not typically cause back pain. However, if you are constipated due to fecal impaction, you may experience back or stomach pain.
How to get rid of constipation in kids
Simple changes to diet and routine can often relieve occasional constipation. For babies who haven't started solid foods, health care providers may suggest trying a small amount (two to four ounces) of 100% juice, such as apple, pear or prune juice. For infants who have started solid foods, pureed fruits or vegetables or multigrain or barley cereal may help relieve constipation. Older children can often get relief from increasing their intake of fluids, eating more fiber-rich foods and possibly reducing how much cow's milk they drink. A bowel training routine where the child sits on the toilet after every meal is often helpful. Some children need to take medicines, such as laxatives, to treat constipation. Talk with your child's health care provider before giving them any kind of over-the-counter (OTC) medication for constipation.
How to relieve constipation naturally
There are a number of home remedies that claim to relieve constipation; however, there is not enough scientific evidence to know if these remedies are effective, and some remedies may not be safe for everyone. Do not try any natural remedies for constipation without speaking to your health care provider first.
Some people try corn or Karo syrup for constipation although there is no indication that it's effective. Don't give corn syrup to babies. Others may try mineral oil for constipation. Mineral oil works by lubricating and softening stools so that they are easier to pass. Herbs, mint and ginger teas for constipation are also available although it's not known if they are effective.
There is also ongoing research to determine if probiotics can help constipation. More research is needed to know if probiotics are beneficial for this reason.
What helps with constipation?
Relief from constipation will depend on what's causing your symptoms. In general, increasing your intake of water and adding more fiber to your diet are typically the first steps toward addressing occasional constipation. Getting more exercise can also help to provide relief.
How to cure constipation
There isn't a specific or single treatment to cure constipation. If diet and lifestyle changes aren't helping, your health care provider may recommend medications.
What to take for constipation
There are a several types of OTC laxatives for occasional constipation. Each one works in a different way. You can take medications by mouth or insert them into the rectum, depending on the type. Here are some common types of laxatives:
- Bulk-forming laxatives cause your stool to absorb more water. This creates larger, softer stools that are easier to pass. Psyllium (Metamucil), polycarbophil (FiberCon) and methylcellulose (Citrucel) are common bulk-forming laxatives.
- Lubricant laxatives. These types of laxatives lubricate the stools, which makes them slippery. This helps them to move out of the body more easily. Mineral oil is an example of a lubricant laxative.
- Stool softeners draw water from the intestines to moisten stools so that they become softer and easier to pass. Docusate (Colace) is an example of a stool softener.
- Osmotic laxatives cause your intestine to retain more fluid to soften stools and help them pass more easily. Examples include magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia), polyethylene glycol (Miralax, Glycolax), lactulose (Cholac, Constilac) and magnesium citrate.
- Stimulant laxatives work by causing your bowel to contract and force out stools. Bisacodyl (Correctol, Doxidan, Dulcolax) and sennosides (Senna, Senokot, Ex-Lax) are common stimulant laxatives.
Some products combine different types of laxatives, such as a stimulant and a stool softener. Before taking any type of OTC medication for constipation, it is important that you talk to your health care provider.
How to stop constipation
To help prevent and relieve constipation, consume a diet that is rich in fiber and make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids every day. Try to exercise most days of the week and go to the bathroom as soon as you get the urge to move your bowels. If you continue to experience constipation, talk to your health care provider.
How to treat constipation
Treatment will depend on what's causing your symptoms. In general, lifestyle changes, including drinking more water, eating more fiber-rich foods and increasing your activity level, are often recommended for treating constipation. If lifestyle improvements don't work, occasional constipation may also be treated with OTC laxatives. There are several different types of available so talk to your health care provider about which kind may be best for you. They may recommend rectal suppositories to help produce bowel movements in a short time. Or they may recommend enemas if stools are impacted. An enema flushes the bowels with liquid to force out stools.
For severe or chronic constipation, your health care provider may prescribe medication. Or they may suggest biofeedback (a behavioral therapy that helps you learn how to contract your bowel muscles), a procedure to remove stool from your intestine or, in rare cases, surgery.
What to eat when constipated
There is no one single best food for constipation. Any food that is rich in fiber can help to address symptoms that stem from dietary causes. Some fiber-rich foods include beans, whole grains, apples, pears, berries, squash, peas, potatoes, broccoli and leafy greens.
Reviewed February 8, 2021