Causes of Constipation Understanding them Help in its Prevention

Constipation is a condition of irregularity or difficulty in passing feces. As the food passes via the colon the water is absorbed from the food. The remaining matter is compressed into a compact bundle of waste or stool which can easily get excreted. Therefore when the food reaches the rectum it turns into a mass of solid waste. Passing the stool becomes difficult when too much water gets absorbed by the colon, making the stool too dry or hard. It also becomes troublesome when the muscles contraction of the colon is sluggish. It is mainly due to the action of these muscles that the food gets propelled through the colon into the rectum and excreted.

Constipation is not a disease in itself but an offshoot of some underlying disease.

Some of the main causes of constipation are as follows:

  1. Lack of enough fiber in one’s diet is one of the main causes of constipation. The water soluble fiber forms a gel-like, soft substance in the intestines whereas the non-soluble one passes via the intestines unaltered. The fiber helps in passing of stools easily. It is found naturally in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Refined and processed food should be avoided because the fibers are removed from them.
  2. Lack of adequate amount of fluid also leads to constipation. Liquids such as water and juice help prevent dehydration in the body. They add bulk to the feces and moisture to the colon. Liquids that dehydrate the body should be avoided. Such drinks include coffee, alcohol and cola drinks.
  3. Lack of physical activity can bring about constipation in infants, adults as well as in old people. When infants stop crawling and end up spending long hours in the bed they tend to suffer from constipation. When people are bed-ridden due to some illness they also suffer from improper bowel movements.
  4. There are certain medications which tend to affect the bowel movement. They include narcotics, aluminum and calcium- rich antacids, antispasmodics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, diuretics, iron supplements etc.
  5. Certain changes in one’s life can also be one of the main causes of constipation. Pregnant women tend to suffer from constipation either due to the compression of the intestine by the uterus or because of hormonal changes. Aging process also affects the intestinal activity and the muscles tone because of a reduced metabolic rate. This leads to irregularity in bowel movement. Long travel may also cause constipation due to changes in the normal diet as well as the daily routine.
  6. Over use of laxatives can be detrimental to the body’s bowel movement. Long- term use of stimulating laxatives such as castor oil should be therefore avoided. They tend to make the intestines sluggish in their function and dependent on them. Once the treatment is stopped the constipation condition aggravates. Such indiscriminate use of these laxatives also makes the food glide so quickly via the intestines that nutrient absorption gets affected.
  7. The body produces an urge to pass stools naturally. Sometimes people tend to suppress this urge especially when toilets are not available. Children may also do so by not paying attention to it during play. If this urge is suppressed frequently then the body stops sending the signals to pass the stools thereby causing constipation.

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