Hormones help balance fluids in your body. Diseases and conditions that upset the balance of hormones may lead to constipation, including:. Constipation care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Chronic constipation is infrequent bowel movements or difficult passage of stools that persists for several weeks or longer. Constipation is generally described as having fewer than three bowel movements a week. Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name. Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly.
Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Constipation. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Accessed June 4, Chumpitazi CE, et al. Soap suds enemas are efficacious and safe for treating fecal impaction in children with abdominal pain. Bharucha AE, et al. Chronic constipation. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Certain medications can slow down movement in the intestines, leading to severe constipation and impaction.
Dehydration and chronic use of laxatives can also increase these risks. To treat fecal impaction, a medical professional may need to perform disimpaction. This involves removing the blockage from the rectum, which, in many cases, allows a person to have usual bowel movements again. Doctors usually define constipation as going to the bathroom fewer than three times a week.
Having fewer bowel movements than this may signal a more severe problem. If a person is eating regularly but not having bowel movements, stool can quickly become backed up. Sometimes this back-up is due to issues with the intestines, such as scarring or a tumor that is pressing on an area of the bowel, leaving little room, if any, for stool to pass.
Doctors call this a bowel obstruction. Obstructions can affect any part of the intestines, and they constitute medical emergencies. A back-up of stool can cause the intestines to rupture, which can be life-threatening. This means that they do not go to the bathroom when they need to. While it can be a regular occurrence among toddlers, withholding stool for too long can lead to encopresis.
Also called soiling, encopresis involves a small amount of liquid stool leaking out around the hard stool that the child is holding back.
Encouraging the toddler to drink plenty of water and eat foods that contain fiber can lead to more regular bowel movements. If a child has constipation, a doctor may be able to recommend treatment. Anyone who experiences changes in bowel habits and any concerning symptoms — such as severe abdominal pain or bleeding — should seek emergency medical attention. If a person experiences chronic constipation but does not believe this to be an emergency, they should speak with their regular doctor about the best treatment options.
The doctor may recommend over-the-counter laxatives or stool softeners or prescription versions. A range of lifestyle changes can also help relieve symptoms of chronic constipation and prevent it from getting worse. It may take some time to notices the effects, however. Read more about natural remedies for constipation and good foods for constipation here. Constipation can be a sign of a medical emergency. People should seek medical attention if they are concerned about their bowel movements.
If a person struggles with chronic constipation, consulting a general practitioner can help ensure that they receive the right care and prevent the issue from becoming more serious. Eating foods such as yogurt, pulses, wheat bran, and…. These include:. This is an extremely dangerous situation and requires immediate medical attention.
Painful stomach bloating might be a sign of a serious bowel obstruction This condition requires urgent medical treatment. Stomach bloating can also be caused by. Generally, these are relatively easy conditions to treat and not a cause of great concern. However, if you notice more than a few bright red streaks on the toilet paper or on the stool itself, or you have black, tarry stools, call your doctor. According to the Cleveland Clinic , only a small number of patients with constipation have a more serious underlying medical problem.
However, certain instances of constipation, marked with additional, pronounced symptoms, require emergency medical diagnosis and treatment. Constipation is one of the most common digestive problems. Learn more about the possible causes and how to treat constipation.
Obstipation is when a person cannot pass stool or gas, usually due to an obstruction or blockage of hard, difficult-to-pass stool. The next time you feel constipated, consider trying one of these easy home remedies.
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