Patient education: Constipation in adults (The Basics)

What is constipation? — Constipation is a common problem that makes it hard to have bowel movements. Your bowel movements might be:

●Too hard

●Too small

●Hard to get out

●Happening fewer than 3 times a week

What causes constipation? — Constipation can be caused by:

●Side effects of some medicines

●Poor diet

●Diseases of the digestive system (figure 1)

What other symptoms should I watch for? — These symptoms could signal a more serious problem:

●Blood in the toilet or on the toilet paper after having a bowel movement

●Fever

●Weight loss

●Feeling weak

It could also be a sign of a problem if you have new constipation without a change in your medicines or diet, and have never had constipation in the past.

Is there anything I can do on my own to get rid of constipation? — Yes. Try these steps:

●Eat foods that have a lot of fiber. Good choices are fruits, vegetables, prune juice, and cereal (table 1).

●Drink plenty of water and other fluids.

●When you feel the need to go to the bathroom, go to the bathroom. Don't hold it.

●Take laxatives. These are medicines that help make bowel movements easier to get out. Some are pills that you swallow. Others go into the rectum. These are called "suppositories."

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — See your doctor or nurse if:

●Your symptoms are new or not normal for you

●You do not have a bowel movement for a few days

●The problem comes and goes, but lasts for longer than 3 weeks

●You are in a lot of pain

●You have other symptoms that also worry you (for example, bleeding, weakness, weight loss, or fever)

●Other people in your family have had colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease

Are there tests I should have? — Your doctor or nurse will decide which tests you should have based on your age, other symptoms, and individual situation. There are lots of tests, but you might not need any.

Here are the most common tests doctors use to find the cause of constipation:

●Rectal exam – Your doctor will look at the outside of your anus. They will also use a finger to feel inside the opening.

●Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy – For these tests, the doctor puts a thin tube into your anus. Then, they advance the tube into your large intestine. The large intestine is also called the colon. The tube has a camera attached to it, so the doctor can look inside your intestines. During these tests, the doctor can also take samples of tissue to look at under a microscope (figure 2).

●X-rays, CT scan, or MRI – These create images of the inside of your body.

●Manometry studies – Manometry allows the doctor to measure the pressure inside the rectum at various points. It can help the doctor find out if the muscles that control bowel movements are working right. The test also shows whether the person's rectum can feel normally.

How is constipation treated? — That depends on what is causing your constipation. First, your doctor will want you to try eating more fiber and drinking more water. If that doesn't help, your doctor might suggest:

●Medicines that you swallow or put in your rectum

●Changing the medicines you are taking for other conditions

●A treatment called an "enema" – For this treatment, a doctor or nurse will squirt water into your rectum. They might also use a thin tool to help break up bowel movements that are still inside you.

You might also be able to give yourself enema treatments at home, too. Enemas can be just water, or they can contain medicine to help with constipation.

●Biofeedback – This is a technique that teaches you to relax your muscles so you can let go and push bowel movements out.

Can constipation be prevented? — You can reduce your chances of getting constipation again by:

●Eating a diet that is full of fiber (table 1)

●Drinking water and other fluids during the day

●Going to the bathroom at regular times every day

More on this topic

Patient education: Hemorrhoids (The Basics)
Patient education: Diarrhea in adolescents and adults (The Basics)
Patient education: High-fiber diet (The Basics)
Patient education: Pregnancy symptoms (The Basics)

Patient education: Constipation in adults (Beyond the Basics)