What is constipation?

Constipation is the painful or difficult passage of food product waste (stool) through the anus. Stool may be hard, dry and painful to pass, or a person may need to strain in order to have a bowel movement. It may feel as if the bowels still need to be emptied, even after stool has been passed. Constipation may be accompanied by other symptoms, including gas, nausea, rectal pressure and abdominal pain, cramping or distention.

How common is constipation?

At some point in their lives, most people will experience constipation. It is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints. About 3 million Americans have frequent constipation, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Constipation is reported most often among adults age 65 and over. Seventy-five percent of elderly hospitalized patients and nursing home residents use laxatives to help regulate their bowel movements. Older people may be overly concerned with a daily bowel movement, leading them to believe they have constipation when they do not. Older people also are likely to take constipation-causing medications, have decreased levels of physical activity, and low-fiber, high-fat diets. All of these factors can contribute to constipation.

What causes constipation?

Constipation may be caused by a number of medical conditions, lifestyle choices or certain medicines. Poor diet and a lack of exercise are the most common causes of occasional constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome, which includes alternating episodes of constipation and diarrhea, is one of the most common causes of chronic constipation in the United States. Tumors, inflammation and scar tissue can put pressure on the intestines and lead to constipation. Medicines that treat depression, high blood pressure or Parkinson's disease may also cause constipation.