Constipation and its causes

Constipation and its possible causes

Sitting on the toilet for long stretches of the time with no result can be both frustrating and unhealthy. Find out what causes constipation.

What is constipation?

In layman’s language, constipation is an irregular occurrence of stool. In medical terms, it is a condition of the digestive system where bowel movement becomes occasional and the person suffering from constipation has difficulty in passing stool. This happens because when the food passes through the large intestine, most of the water from the food is absorbed by the intestine, thus making the excretion dry and hard. In such a scenario, emptying the bowel becomes painful and at times bleeding takes place.

Causes of constipation

Constipation is common in men, women and children of all the ages. There are many causes of constipation and it is hard to know what has actually caused constipation. Here are some of the most common causes:

• Unhealthy food intake: Food is the key element which nurtures most diseases occurring in the human body. A diet lacking fibre can lead to constipation. Fibre is found in green vegetables, fruits, whole grains and some healthy dairy products like cheese and eggs. The human body needs both, soluble and insoluble fibre, for the smooth working of the digestive system.
• Not enough liquid intake: The human body is composed of 70% water. It keep us alive and functioning and the importance of water cannot be minimised. On an average 8 glasses of water per day is the minimal requirement to keep the digestive system working well. Liquids taken in the form of water, fruit juices and soups add fluid in the large intestine and make the faeces soft and easy to pass. One should avoid liquids like alcohol, coffee and cold drinks which can be hazardous to the body in many ways.
• Medication: Sometimes, medicines taken without proper medical guidance can affect our body.Painkillers, antidepressants and regular intake of laxatives can cause constipation.
• Lack of physical activity: The metabolism of those who’re physically inactive tends to gradually become weak. A slowdown in metabolism makes the digestion process slow, which in turn causes constipation. This condition is seen commonly in the aged.
• Ignoring bowel movement: Some people are in the habit of overlooking the urge of bowel movements. There can be varied reasons that cause them to bowel movement. Some may delay it because they don’t like to use public toilets, some may just do it as they are busy and often children do it to avoid toilet training. The more you delay your bowel movement; the more the stool will become dry and hard.
• Lifestyle: Lifestyle plays an important role in the working of the human body. Frequent travelling can make you constipated because of irregular meal times, change in sleeping hours and change in the type of food a person eats. Pregnant women may experience constipation because of hormonal changes.
• Disease: Certain neurological disorders, metabolic disorders, hyperthyroidism and hernia are common diseases that lead to constipation.

It is easy to treat constipation if we understand the causes of constipation and work in resolving the specific issues related to our lifestyle and eating habits.