Constipation

Symptoms | Treatments

What is

Causes and Risk Factors

Diagnosis

Treatment

What is - Constipation

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints worldwide. Virtually everyone will experience constipation at some point in their life.

Constipation is generally defined as having less than three bowel movements per week. Stools are usually hard, dry and difficult to expel. Some people experience pain from straining during bowel movements and may also experience bloating and abdominal discomfort.

Constipation is a symptom and not a disease. In the vast majority of cases, it is temporary and not serious. Occasionally, it can be a sign of more serious underlying diseases and will warrant further investigations.

Constipation - Causes and Risk Factors

Excessive or inadequate fibre and liquids in the diet
Lack of physical activity
Certain medications
Changes in lifestyle (e.g. pregnancy and travel)
Colorectal diseases
Irritable bowel syndrome
Neurological diseases

Diagnosis of Constipation

Tests performed depend on the duration and severity of the patient’s symptoms. Patients above the age of 50 should undergo an evaluation of the colon, e.g. colonoscopy, to exclude colorectal cancer.

In patients where the routine tests are normal but remain symptomatic, the following tests will be offered to assess the anal muscle tone, time for stools to empty and the completeness of stool emptying:

Anorectal manometry
Colonic transit marker study
Defaecating proctogram

Treatment for Constipation

Treatment depends on the cause, severity and duration of the patient’s constipation. All patients will receive conservative treatment with a combination of: