Constipation is not an uncommon condition and can plague people eating low-fiber diets, taking certain medications or dealing with such medical conditions as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or overactive thyroid. However, if you regularly experience constipation or it interferes with normal activities, talk with your provider about treatment to avoid complications.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Constipation is trouble passing bowel movements. Related symptoms include:
- Having three or fewer bowel movements a week.
- Straining to pass stools.
- Blood in the stools or black stools.
- Passing hard, dry or lumpy stools.
- Feeling like there is a blockage in your rectum or that you have not passed all the stool.
The condition is considered chronic if your symptoms continue for more than three months.
Several risk factors can increase your chances of chronic constipation, including:
- Being a woman.
- Age.
- Mental health conditions like depression.
To diagnose constipation, our specialists conduct a full medical exam and ask key questions about your lifestyle, diet and general health. Often, the cause can be found there. Other times, uncovering the reason for your constipation is more challenging and may require testing.
Without treatment, you might experience complications such as:
- Hemorrhoids.
- Fecal impaction, when hard stools back up in the colon.
- Anal fissures or torn tissue in the anus.
- Rectal prolapse, when muscles in the pelvic floor weaken and rectum tissue slips outside the anus, causing discomfort.
Treatment Options
Treatment plans for chronic constipation vary based on its cause and other patient-specific considerations. Suggested lifestyle changes include:
- Boosting your dietary fiber naturally through high-fiber foods or by taking a supplement. Fiber helps keep water in the stools and makes them easier to pass.
- Exercising more.
- Increasing fluid intake.
- Changing constipation-inducing medications.
- Taking laxatives or stool softeners.
- Trying biofeedback to retrain the muscles in your pelvic floor to relax and push when necessary.
Living with the Condition
We work with all patients on personalized tactics, including lifestyle changes or medication, for avoiding or easing constipation.