What is the main cause of constipation?
Common lifestyle causes of constipation include: Eating foods low in fiber. Not drinking enough water (dehydration). Not getting enough exercise. Changes in your regular routine, such as traveling or eating or going to bed at different times.
What can constipation indicate?
Constipation is a symptom, not a disease, and can be caused by many factors. The most common are poor diet and lack of exercise. Other causes include irritable bowel syndrome, pregnancy, laxative abuse, travel, specific diseases, hormonal disturbances, loss of body salts and nerve damage.
Why am I constipated all of a sudden?
Most cases of acute constipation happen because you are not eating enough of the right foods (or in the right quantities), drinking enough water or getting enough exercise. So the fixes are simple: Move more, drink more water and add fiber to your diet (or take it as a supplement) to add bulk to your stool.
What are the most common causes of constipation?
Common causes of constipation. Diseases that can cause constipa-tion include neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, or multiple sclerosis; metabolic and endocrine disorders, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease; bowel cancer; and diverticulitis.
Why do so many women get constipated during pregnancy?
Constipation is common during pregnancy. At least two in five women experience constipation when they’re pregnant. This is caused by the body producing more of the hormone progesterone, which might make it more difficult for intestinal muscles to contract.
Can a mental illness cause you to have constipation?
Having a mental health condition such as depression or an eating disorder Complications of chronic constipation include: Swollen veins in your anus (hemorrhoids). Straining to have a bowel movement may cause swelling in the veins in and around your anus. Torn skin in your anus (anal fissure). A large or hard stool can cause tiny tears in the anus.
What causes constipation in seniors with spinal cord injury?
Issues with nerves that cause muscles in the colon and rectum to contract: The causes of constipation in seniors among these types of conditions can include a stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, autonomic neuropathy, and multiple sclerosis.
Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints in the United States. Common causes of constipation include: insufficient intake of fiber and liquids, lack of exercise, medications, older age and abuse of laxatives. The most common cause of constipation is a diet low in fiber and high in fats.
What not to do when you’re constipated?
Avoid the toilet. When you’re constipated, your body may need more time in the bathroom, not less. Try to sit on the toilet for 15 minutes at the same time each day, even if you can’t “go.” It can relax your digestive system and cue your body for a bowel movement.
Which medications can cause constipation?
ANSWER. Medications that can cause constipation include narcotics, diuretics, iron supplements, antacids, and drugs for blood pressure, seizures, and depression.
How do you relieve chronic constipation?
Making exercise a regular part of life is another good way to relieve chronic constipation. Physical exercise is beneficial because it lessens the amount of time food needs to pass through the large intestine. In turn, this decreases the quantity of water that the body absorbs.