Common Causes
You'll likely first seek medical care for constipation from your family doctor or general practitioner. You may be referred to a specialist in digestive disorders (gastroenterologist) if your doctor suspects a more advanced case of constipation.
Related Conditions
Underlying conditions
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) When your thyroid, a small gland near at the front of your neck, fails to produce enough hormones, it can have a drastic impact on your metabolism.
- Diabetes. Like hypothyroidism, diabetes is also a hormonal problem. ...
- Irritable bowel syndrome. ...
- Anxiety. ...
- Depression. ...
- Other conditions. ...
Do you need to see a doctor for constipation?
What are the other alternatives for Severe constipation?
- Take more fibers from your diet.
- Take a fiber supplement.
- Drink more water.
- Be physically active.
- Review your list of medications. A combination of low dose MiraLAX (8.5 gm per day PLUS a stimulant laxative every other or every third day (such as Dulcolax). ...
What conditions can constipation be a symptom of?
However, it’s chronic constipation that causes all kinds of trouble. It brings with it, a host of health problems that require medical attention. And, if you do have any of the above symptoms, it might be a good idea to head to a hospital and get a check up done.
What to take for severe constipation?
Should I go to the hospital for constipation?
What tests are used to diagnose constipation?
How to treat constipation?
What are the causes of intestines to contract?
What can a doctor do to check if a colon is blocked?
How to get rid of a swollen intestine?
What is the procedure to insert a barium paste into the rectum?
Can over the counter medications cause constipation?
See 4 more
About this website
Is constipation considered a medical condition?
About constipation Constipation is a common condition that affects people of all ages. It can mean that you're not passing stools regularly or you're unable to completely empty your bowel. Constipation can also cause your stools to be hard and lumpy, as well as unusually large or small.
What is a constipation diagnosis?
Constipation is generally described as having fewer than three bowel movements a week. Though occasional constipation is very common, some people experience chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to go about their daily tasks.
Is constipation a primary diagnosis?
Chronic constipation may or may not have an identifiable cause; causes may be primary (related to intrinsic gastrointestinal structure and function) or secondary (related to systemic disease or medication) [1,9].
Is constipation a nursing diagnosis?
Nursing Diagnosis: Constipation related to ignoring the urge to defecate secondary to dementia as evidenced by straining and passage of hard stools, restlessness, and refusal to go to the toilet.
What are the 4 types of constipation?
Chronic constipation can be subclassified into four categories: normal transit, slow transit, dyssynergic defecation (DD) and slow transit-dyssynergic combination (6,7).
How is chronic constipation diagnosed?
How Do We Diagnose Chronic Constipation?Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan: Using X-rays and special computer software, this test creates two- and three-dimensional images of your intestines. ... Abdominal X-ray: A standard X-ray of your small intestine to identify abnormalities or blockages.More items...
What is the medical term for severe constipation?
Obstipation is a severe form of constipation, where a person cannot pass stool or gas. Constipation is a condition where a person has infrequent bowel movements — usually three or fewer a week.
What tests do doctors do for constipation?
Your doctor may use bowel function tests called colorectal transit studies to see how well your stool moves through your colon. Radiopaque markers—an x-ray that tracks radioactive markers while they pass through your digestive system.
What is another name for chronic constipation?
Chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) is an ongoing condition without any known cause or identified underlying illness. Constipation is a condition which can be defined as a state of unsatisfactory defecation, with characteristic features of infrequent stools and difficulty in passing stools, or both.
Is constipation a nursing diagnosis Nanda?
Constipation is defined by NANDA-I as, “A decrease in normal frequency of defecation accompanied by difficult or incomplete passage of stool and/or passage of excessively hard, dry stool.” Typically a patient is diagnosed with constipation if they have less than three bowel movements per week.
What are the 4 types of nursing diagnosis?
There are 4 types of nursing diagnoses: risk-focused, problem-focused, health promotion-focused, or syndrome-focused.
What is an example of a nursing diagnosis?
Examples of nursing diagnosis: risk for impaired liver function; urinary retention; disturbed sleep pattern; decreased cardiac output. On the other hand, a medical diagnosis is made by a doctor or advanced health care practitioner.
What are the differential diagnosis for constipation?
Diseases that cause constipation should differentiate from each others, such as malignancy, diabetic autonomic neuropathy, irritable bowel syndrome, rectocele, fissure, anismus, systemic sclerosis, hypothyroidism, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, and depression.
How do you describe constipation in a physical exam?
The presence of thrombosed external hemorrhoids, skin tags, rectal prolapse, anal fissure, anal warts, excoriation or evidence of pruritus ani due to fecal soiling on physical examination are suggestive of constipation. Patients with chronic constipation usually appear to be discomfort while sitting due to anal pain.
What is the ICD 10 code for constipation?
OTHER COMMON GI SYMPTOM CODESColicR10.83Occult blood in feces/stoolR19.5DiarrheaR19.7Functional dyspepsia (indigestion)K30ConstipationK59.0013 more rows
What is a constipation doctor called?
If you're constipated more weeks than not, consult a gastroenterologist.
10 Home Remedies for Constipation - Verywell Fit
It is important that you do not let constipation continue, especially if your symptoms have lasted 3 weeks or more. Plus, if you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to contact a healthcare provider right away.
Best Drugs for Constipation - Consumer Reports
The best drugs for constipation aren't prescription ones. Consumer Reports says. Lifestyle changes or simple OTC options like Miralax, Ex-Lax, or Ducolax usually work at least as well and cost ...
What do doctors do for constipation?
Doctors use your medical and family history, a physical exam, or medical tests to diagnose and find the cause of your constipation.
What tests can be used to check for constipation?
Lab tests. Your doctor may use one or more of the following lab tests to look for signs of certain diseases and conditions that may be causing your constipation. Blood tests. NIH external link. can show signs of anemia, hypothyroidism, and celiac disease. Stool tests can show the presence of blood and signs of infection and inflammation.
What causes constipation for a long time?
If you’ve been constipated a long time, your health care professional may ask whether anyone in your family has a history of conditions that may cause long-lasting constipation, such as. anatomic problems of the digestive tract. intestinal obstruction. diverticular disease. colon or rectal cancer. NIH external link.
What is the procedure to do a constipation endoscopy?
Endoscopies for constipation include. During these two tests, your doctor may also perform a biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure that involves taking small pieces of tissue and examining them under a microscope. A doctor can use a biopsy to look for signs of cancer or other problems.
What is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases?
This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.
What does stool test show?
Stool tests can show the presence of blood and signs of infection and inflammation.
How to check for dehydration?
check your blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate. check for dehydration. use a stethoscope to listen to sounds in your abdomen. check your abdomen for. swelling. tenderness or pain. masses, or lumps. perform a rectal exam. A doctor may use information from your medical and family history, a physical exam, ...
What tests are used to diagnose constipation?
Imaging tests: Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or lower gastrointestinal tract series may be ordered to identify other problems that could be causing your constipation.
What are the features of constipation?
Other key features that usually define constipation include: Your stools are dry and hard. Your bowel movement is painful and stools are difficult to pass. You have a feeling that you have not fully emptied your bowels. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
How to stop constipation from becoming a chronic problem?
Use the same home-based methods you used to treat constipation to prevent it from becoming a chronic problem: Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fiber. Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole-grain breads and cereals. Fiber and water help the colon pass stool.
Why does my stool get hard?
If you have constipation, food may move too slowly through the digestive tract. This gives the colon more time – too much time – to absorb water from the waste. The stool becomes dry, hard, and difficult to push out. Pathway of food waste through colon, rectum and anus.
How many times a week do you have bowel movements?
However, how often you “go” varies widely from person to person. Some people have bowel movements several times a day while others have them only one to two times a week. Whatever your bowel movement pattern is, it’s unique and normal for you – as long ...
What is the term for an infection in the pouches of the colon?
An infection in pouches that sometimes form off the colon wall from stool that has become trapped and infected (a condition called diverticulitis)
How to help with constipation?
Some recommendations to help relieve your constipation include: Drink two to four extra glasses of water a day. Avoid caffeine-containing drinks and alcohol, which can cause dehydration. Add fruits, vegetables whole grains and other high-fiber foods to your diet. Eat fewer high-fat foods, like meat, eggs and cheese.
How to prevent constipation?
Include plenty of high-fiber foods in your diet, including beans, vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals and bran. Eat fewer foods with low amounts of fiber such as processed foods, and dairy and meat products. Drink plenty of fluids.
How to get bowel movements out of rectum?
Straining to have bowel movements. Feeling as though there's a blockage in your rectum that prevents bowel movements. Feeling as though you can't completely empty the stool from your rectum. Needing help to empty your rectum, such as using your hands to press on your abdomen and using a finger to remove stool from your rectum. ...
Why is my stool hard and dry?
Causes. Constipation most commonly occurs when waste or stool moves too slowly through the digestive tract or cannot be eliminated effectively from the rectum, which may cause the stool to become hard and dry. Chronic constipation has many possible causes.
How to get rid of a swollen bowel?
Eat fewer foods with low amounts of fiber such as processed foods, and dairy and meat products. Drink plenty of fluids. Stay as active as possible and try to get regular exercise. Try to manage stress. Don't ignore the urge to pass stool. Try to create a regular schedule for bowel movements, especially after a meal.
Can constipation cause bowel movement?
Though occasional constipation is very common, some people experience chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to go about their daily tasks. Chronic constipation may also cause people to strain excessively in order to have a bowel movement.
Can constipation be treated?
Treatment for chronic constipation depends in part on the underlying cause. However, in some cases, a cause is never found.
Can you ignore the urge to pass stool?
Don't ignore the urge to pass stool.
What does a doctor ask for when treating constipation?
The doctor will ask for a description of the constipation, including duration of symptoms, frequency of bowel movements, and other information to help determine the cause of the constipation. Physical examination.
What are the symptoms of constipation?
The following are the most common symptoms of constipation. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
What is constipation?
Constipation is a condition in which a person has uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Generally, a person is considered to be constipated when bowel movements result in passage of small amounts of hard, dry stool, usually fewer than three times a week. However, normal stool elimination may consist of having a bowel movement three times a day or three times a week; it depends on the person.
Why does my colon move so slowly?
When the colon's muscle contractions are slow or sluggish, the stool moves through the colon too slowly, resulting in too much water being absorbed. Some of the most common causes of constipation include the following: Changes in habits or lifestyle, such as travel, pregnancy, and old age.
How can constipation be treated?
Expectations for the course of this condition. Your opinion or preference. Most often, constipation can be treated through dietary and lifestyle changes, which relieve symptoms and help prevent the condition.
How to help a bowel movement?
Lifestyle changes, such as increased water and juice intake, regular exercise, and allowing enough time for daily bowel movements can be helpful.
How does colorectal transit work?
This test shows how well food moves through the colon. The patient swallows capsules containing small markers which are visible on X-ray. The patient follows a high-fiber diet during the course of the test, and the movement of the markers through the colon is monitored with abdominal X-rays taken several times three to seven days after the capsule is swallowed.
How common is constipation?
Constipation is common among all ages and populations in the United States. About 16 out of 100 adults have symptoms of constipation. About 33 out of 100 adults ages 60 and older have symptoms of constipation. 1
What are the most common causes of constipation?
Who is more likely to become constipated? 1 women, especially during pregnancy or after giving birth 2 older adults 3 non-Caucasians 4 people who eat little to no fiber 5 people who take certain medicines or dietary supplements#N#NIH external link 6 people with certain health problems, including functional gastrointestinal disorders
What does it mean when you have fewer than 3 bowel movements a week?
Constipation is a condition in which you may have. fewer than three bowel movements a week. stools that are hard, dry, or lumpy. stools that are difficult or painful to pass. a feeling that not all stool has passed. However, people can have different bowel movement patterns, and only you know what’s normal for you.
Is constipation a disease?
Constipation is not a disease, but may be a symptom of another medical problem. Constipation may last for a short or long time. Constipation is not a disease, but may be a symptom of another medical problem.
What are the symptoms of constipation?
It is important for your doctor to understand your medical history to address common factors that often contribute to constipation. This may include questions regarding: 1 Age of patient 2 Recent changes in bowel habits/ frequency of bowel movements 3 Recent weight loss 4 Changes in stool (is there blood in stool?) 5 Duration of symptoms
Can you tailor a treatment plan for constipation?
Once we confirm your diagnosis, we can tailor a treatment plan to meet your needs. Learn more about constipation treatment.
Can a doctor diagnose constipation?
Constipation Diagnosis. Most people experience occasional constipation. If you are suffering from chronic or severe constipation, there are a number of different ways your doctor can help diagnose the problem. It is important for your doctor to understand your medical history to address common factors that often contribute to constipation.
What does it mean when you are constipated and vomiting?
Constipation and vomiting. If you’re constipated and vomiting, it might be a sign of fecal impaction. Fecal impaction occurs when a large, hard mass of stool gets stuck in the colon and can’t be pushed out. This is an extremely dangerous situation and requires immediate medical attention.
What is it called when you have fewer than three bowel movements a week?
Constipation. Constipation is when you have three or fewer bowel movements a week, or stools that are difficult to pass. Constipation is often due to:
Why does my stomach bloat?
Constipation and stomach bloating. Painful stomach bloating might be a sign of a serious bowel obstruction This condition requires urgent medical treatment. Stomach bloating can also be caused by. IBS.
How much do people spend on laxatives?
gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) According to the American College of Gastroenterology, each year in the United States, people spend hundreds of millions of dollars on laxatives, and go to approximately 2.5 million constipation-related doctor visits.
Is constipation a serious condition?
Constipation is a common condition that generally isn’t serious and typically doesn’t last for a long time. According to the Cleveland Clinic, only a small number of patients with constipation have a more serious underlying medical problem.
Is constipation a short term problem?
Constipation is commonly a short-term problem that can be resolved with self-care. However, sometimes it requires emergency medical treatment. The following symptoms, combined with constipation, require emergency medical assistance: intense and/or constant abdominal pain. vomiting.
What is the diagnosis of constipation?
The diagnostic workup involves focused lab tests and structural evaluation, followed by a therapeutic trial of fiber and laxatives, and finally, specialized tests. Treatment can consist of dietary changes, medications, physical therapy, and possibly surgery in refractory cases.
What causes constipation in the body?
Secondary causes can include simple dehydration or inadequate fluid intake, metabolic disturbances, medications, neurological disorders, myopathic disorders and structural abnormalities (Table 1).
What is the best treatment for constipation in older adults?
Management of chronic constipation includes patient education, behavior modification, dietary changes, and laxative therapy .
What is the first line of treatment for opioid induced constipation?
First-line treatment for opioid-induced constipation typically involves a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions such as laxatives and increased dietary fiber. A more targeted pharmacological approach to the treatment of refractory opioid-induced constipation is the development of peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs), which aim to reverse opioid-induced constipation by selectively blocking opioid actions at peripheral μ-opioid receptors, including those in the enteric nervous system, without affecting analgesia in the CNS.28, 29Drugs in this class currently approved for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation include naloxegol, methylnaltrexone, alvimopan and naldemidine. These agents should be avoided if bowel obstruction is suspected.
What laxatives are used for constipation?
For chronic use, bulk laxatives (fiber) and polyethylene glycol 3350 (“PEG,” e.g., Miralax) are tolerated best. Bulk laxatives include psyllium (Metamucil) and methylcellulose (Citrucel). Stimulant laxatives like senna and bisacodyl (Dulcolax) can produce excessive cramping and should therefore be used sparingly. Emollient stool softeners such as docusate (e.g., Colace) are best used for short-term prophylaxis, for example, in the post-operative setting.19Osmotic agents include polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based solutions, magnesium citrate–based products, sodium phosphate–based products (e.g., Fleets), and non-absorbable carbohydrates (e.g., sorbitol). These hypertonic products work by the osmotic effect, retaining water in the colon.
What is the best medication for constipation?
Newer medications include lubiprostone, an agent that activates chloride channels much like the cholera toxin and increases luminal fluid secretion. It has been shown to decrease stool transit time and improve symptoms of chronic idiopathic constipation.21Linaclotide, a guanylin analog, works by stimulating the guanylyl cyclase-C receptor to increase chloride secretion like the enterotoxin from E. coli, and has been shown in studies to have neuromodulatory benefits in patients with IBS-C as well as decrease stool transit time.22Plecanatide is another agent that also stimulates the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor and causes increased chloride and bicarbonate entry into the lumen via the activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) ion channel. Tegaserod is a serotonin type 4 (5-HT4) receptor partial agonist that is thought to trigger a peristaltic reflex via 5-HT4 activation, which enhances motor activity and normalizes impaired GI motility.23
When evaluating patients with constipation, should secondary causes be considered first?
When evaluating patients with constipation, secondary causes should be considered first and after secondary causes of constipation have been ruled out, the patient should be evaluated for primary or functional constipation. Risk factors for functional constipation include advanced age, low fiber diet, low socioeconomic status, immobility, abdominal or pelvic surgery and polypharmacy.5–7
What tests are used to diagnose constipation?
In addition to a general physical exam and a digital rectal exam, doctors use the following tests and procedures to diagnose chronic constipation and try to find the cause: Blood tests. Your doctor will look for a systemic condition such as low thyroid (hypothyroidism) or high calcium levels. An X-ray.
How to treat constipation?
If those changes don't help, your doctor may recommend medications or surgery.
What are the causes of intestines to contract?
Stimulants including bisacodyl (Correctol, Dulcolax, others) and sennosides (Senokot, Ex-Lax, Perdiem) cause your intestines to contract. Osmotics. Osmotic laxatives help stool move through the colon by increasing secretion of fluid from the intestines and helping to stimulate bowel movements.
What can a doctor do to check if a colon is blocked?
An X-ray. An X-ray can help your doctor determine whether our intestines are blocked and whether there is stool present throughout the colon.
How to get rid of a swollen intestine?
Slowly begin to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables each day. Choose whole-grain breads and cereals.
What is the procedure to insert a barium paste into the rectum?
An X-ray of the rectum during defecation (defecography). During this procedure, your doctor inserts a soft paste made of barium into your rectum. You then pass the barium paste as you would stool. The barium shows up on X-rays and may reveal a prolapse or problems with muscle function and muscle coordination.
Can over the counter medications cause constipation?
If over-the-counter medications don't help your chronic constipation , your doctor may recommend a prescription medication, especially if you have irritable bowel syndrome. Medications that draw water into your intestines. A number of prescription medications are available to treat chronic constipation.
