CONSTIPATION
Constipation refers to infrequent or hard stools, or difficulty passing stools. Constipation may involve pain during the passage of a bowel movement, inability to pass a bowel movement after straining or pushing for more than 10 minutes, or no bowel movements after more than 3 days. Infants who are still exclusively breastfed may go 7 days without a stool.
Normal patterns of bowel elimination vary widely from person to person and you may not have a bowel movement every day. While some healthy people have consistently soft or near-runny stools, others have consistently firm stools, but no difficulty passing them. When the stool is hard, infrequent, and requires significant effort to pass, you have constipation. The passage of large, wide stools may tear the mucosal membrane of the anus, especially in children. This can cause bleeding and the possibility of an anal fissure.
Constipation is most often caused by a low-fiber diet, lack of physical activity, not drinking enough water, or delay in going to the bathroom when you have the urge to defecate. Stress and travel can also contribute to constipation or other changes in bowel habits.
(Source: National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus 2008)
Constipation means that a person has three or fewer bowel movement in a week. The stool can be hard and dry. Sometimes it is painful to pass. At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated. In most cases, constipation lasts for a short time and is not serious. There are many things you can do to prevent constipation. They include:
- Eating more fruits, vegetables and grains, which are high in fiber
- Drinking plenty of water and other liquids
- Getting enough exercise
- Taking time to have a bowel movement when you need to
- Using laxatives only if your doctor says you should
- Asking your doctor if medicines you take may cause constipation
It's not important that you have a bowel movement every day. If you notice a change in your bowel habits, you should always check with your doctor.
(Source: National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine)
Constipation and Colon Cancer
Most cases of constipation are temporary and require only a change in eating habits, increased exercise or other simple corrective measures. However, a persistent change in your bowel habits, including constipation may be an early sign of a more serious conditions such as colon cancer. Many cases of colon cancer have no symptoms. The following symptoms, however, may indicate colon cancer:
- Diarrhea, constipation, or other change in bowel habits
- Blood in the stool
- Unexplained anemia
- Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen
- Intestinal obstruction
- Weight loss with no known reason
- Narrow stools
