Causes and Effects of Constipation

Learn how to spot constipation before it become a problem

Constipation is something that affects everyone at sometime or another during their lives. There are many different causes for constipation, and the best way to treat constipation is to become aware of the different causes and try to avoid as many of them as possible. Effects of constipation can be mild to severe, but it is best to treat constipation before it becomes a serious issue. The best treatments for constipation include a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Causes of constipation:

Diet
Diet is perhaps the most common reason for constipation. Diets rich in meats and dairy products with little fiber will cause eventual constipation. Many young children suffer from this form of constipation. Not getting enough water to drink can also cause constipation.

Exercise
Lack of exercise is another common reason for constipation. Exercise helps stimulate all parts of the body such as: circulation, muscle building, brain power, and the ability to pass stools. If you feel that you are still constipated even with a healthy diet full of fiber and water then you should consider adding additional exercise to get your body moving properly.

Age
When you get older the body breaks down naturally. One of the areas to suffer is constipation. Many older people suffer from constipation. Doctors will often prescribe laxatives for older patients who are suffering from constipation because there is little else that can be done if the patients are already eating a healthy diet.

Pregnancy
When women are pregnant they will often suffer from constipation. The reason for this is because the baby squishes all of the intestines together making it hard to pass stools. Diet and exercise often help, but some doctors prescribe stool softeners for many pregnant women.

Medications
Many medications can cause constipation. Make sure your doctor knows about all the medications that you are taking when you mention that you are constipated. Some of the medications that you take may have a side effect of constipation. Stool softeners can often be taken in conjunction with these medications.

Travel
Traveling and lifestyle changes can also cause constipation. The stress of the change in routine will often bring about constipation. The best thing to do in these situations is try and establish a routine as soon as possible and to eat and drink as healthily as possible during the trip.

Constipation Effects:

Difficulty
Difficulty in passing stools is the main effect of constipation. However, it is not the only one. Constipation is defined as a continual difficulty in passing stools. If it only happens once then you are probably not constipated.

Infrequency
Infrequent bowel movements are another effect of constipation. It is hard to define what a regular amount of BMs are; however, every person knows how often they usually go. If you are going less often than your usual amount then you might be constipated.

Nausea and headache
Stomach and head pains can be an effect of severe constipation. Some stomach pains from constipation can be so severe that they cause nausea and extreme stomach pain. Frequent headaches combined with nausea could be a sign of constipation. If you notice these symptoms, contact your doctor for a consultation.

Feeling lethargic
If in conjunction with infrequent bowel movements or difficulty in passing stools you also feel languid and lethargic, then that is also an effect of constipation. When the body is not working properly it makes you tired. If you have any of these symptoms contact a doctor for a professional opinion and solution.