About constipation

Stomach cramps can be accompanied by constipation − not going to the toilet as often as you normally do or going with more difficulty than usual. Constipation often occurs when food doesn’t move as quickly through the bowel. This can be because the muscles around the bowel don’t work as efficiently as normal and this slows down the passage of food and waste. The sluggishness means that the urge to go to the loo is delayed because stools are harder and smaller.

Key signs of constipation include:

• A change in frequency − you have started to go less often than is normal for you or feel that you haven’t completely emptied your bowel
• Consistency changes − hard, dry difficult to pass stools
• Straining − discomfort when going to the loo

Who does constipation affect?
Constipation is medically recognised as a symptom – not a disease. It’s an extremely common condition and is more common in women – around 50 per cent of women get constipation, compared to 40 per cent of men. 

There are no set rules about how often you should have a bowel movement – everyone’s habits are different. The majority of people in the Western world will have between three bowel movements a day to three per week.

What causes constipation?
You can become constipated for a number of different reasons and sometimes it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what is causing the problem. However common triggers include:

• A lack of fluid and fibre in your diet
• A change in routine
• Being too sedentary
• Being anxious or depressed
• Having no privacy to use the toilet
• Ignoring the urge to open your bowels

Constipation can also be a side-effect of medication including some antacid remedies for indigestion, epilepsy medication, anti-depressants and iron supplements, or it can be a symptom of another underlying illness.

For more information please visit: www.constipationfacts.co.uk