Constipation can be related to four things:
- Diet and lifestyle
- Medications (with constipation as a side effect)
- Specific stomach/gastrointestinal conditions
- Other diseases
Constipation Related to Diet And Lifestyle
- Lack of Dietary Fiber. Most adults do not get enough fiber in their diets, especially in Western countries. Fiber helps stool remain soft and easily pass through the intestines and out the rectum during a bowel movement. Without enough fiber, stool does not reach its optimal form, but instead may become hard and difficult to pass, leading to constipation.
The recommended amount of daily dietary fiber for adults is 25 to 30 grams a day. Most American adults only get about 15 grams a day in their diet. Besides being important for preventing constipation, fiber also helps lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and colon cancer. Fiber can be found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
- Dehydration. Without enough available water, stool may become hard. Drinking adequate amounts of water throughout the day will help prevent this from occurring. Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and soda pop are not helpful for preventing constipation from this cause, and alcohol may have a dehydrating effect.
- Lack of Exercise. Regular exercise can help keep abdominal muscles toned and the intestines in good shape and working well. People who are unable to exercise because of illness or injury may need advice from a physician to avoid or treat constipation.
- Pregnancy. The hormones that are released during pregnancy can also cause the bowel to slow down and lead to constipation.
- Older Age. Older adults are at risk for constipation for several reasons, including lack of fiber, poor fluid intake, dental problems, lack of exercise, medications, and a focus on having normal bowel movements.
- Ignoring a Need to Move The Bowels. Some people prefer to have their bowel movements at home or during a particular time of day, and so they put off moving the bowels even when they have an urge. Children may also avoid eliminating while toilet training or if it interferes with their fun activities. Habitually delaying a bowel movement can cause the feelings of fullness that cue a person to defecate to eventually go away. Not knowing when it is time to move the bowels leads to unintentionally delaying bowel movements, which leads to constipation.
- Travel. Changes in diet and schedule can contribute to constipation while traveling. Ignoring the urge to defecate because of inconvenience may also be a factor in constipation that develops while traveling.
Medications That Can Cause Constipation
Some medications and dietary supplements can have a side effect of constipation.- Narcotics. Narcotic pain medications can affect the function of the gastrointestinal tract, and result in a longer transit time for waste traveling through the small and large intestines. This is a very common cause of constipation.
- Antacids. The calcium and aluminum that are found in some antacids can cause constipation.
- Anticholinergics. This class of drugs may be used to treat ulcers, nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, Parkinson's disease, and IBS. Anticholinergics may cause a decrease in body secretions (such as saliva and urine) and a slow down of intestinal movement, which could lead to constipation.
- Anticonvulsants. Medications that are used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, anticonvulsants affect the central nervous system, and may slow down digestion and cause constipation.
- Antidepressants. Some antidepressants cause the muscles of intestines to slow down and a decrease in the body fluids that help move waste through the digestive tract. These effects can wind up causing constipation.
- Antihypertensives. These drugs, which are used to control blood pressure and are also called calcium channel blockers, can cause more calcium in the bloodstream and lead to constipation.
- Calcium Supplements. Calcium may lead to mild constipation, especially in those who are taking other medications or supplements that are also known to cause constipation.
- Diuretics. The purpose of a diuretic is to cause urination. The loss of fluid from the body in this way can deplete the amount that is available in the intestines, and lead to constipation.
- Iron Supplements. An excess of iron in the body can send a signal, which similar to an electric charge, to the intestines and cause them to slow down.
- Parkinson's Disease Drugs. Certain drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease (such as dopamine agonists, anticholinergics, COMT inhibitors, and MAO-B Inhibitors) may contribute to the development of constipation.
