Constipation

Constipation: Introduction

Constipation is any difficulty with bowel movements or unusually dry stool. It is common in children and older age, but can affect anyone. About 2% of the population suffers from chronic constipation.

There are various symptoms of constipation. Failure to have a daily bowel movement need not necessarily indicate constipation, as everyone has different bowel patterns. Various conditions can cause constipation ranging from poor diet, aging, pregnancy, irritable bowel syndrome, and numerous other underlying conditions. Constipation can also cause diarrhea leading to misdiagnosis. Various medications can cause constipation including overuse of laxatives that can cause a vicious cycle. See also the full list of conditions reporting a symptom of constipation.

Symptoms of Constipation

• Difficult bowel movement
• Dry bowel movement
• Painful bowel movement
• Dry feces
• Small feces
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 32 symptoms of Constipation

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Constipation:

• Colon & Rectal Cancer: Home Testing
  • Home Colorectal Cancer Tests
  • Home Fecal Occult Bleeding Tests
• Food Allergies & Intolerances: Home Testing:
  • Home Food Allergy Tests
  • Home Food Intolerance Testing
  • Home Water Testing
  • Home Lead Poisoning Tests
  • Home Heavy Metal Poisoning Tests
• Digestive-Related Home Testing:
  • Home Stomach Ulcer Tests
  • Home Colorectal Cancer Test Kits
  • Home Fecal Occult Bleeding Test Kits
• more tests...»

Constipation: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to Constipation:

• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissure
• Diarrhea
• Fecal incontinence
• Rectal bleeding
• more complications...»

Medical Textbooks Online about Constipation

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Constipation

• Physical exam
• Digital rectal exam
• Blood tests
• Thyroid tests
• Barium enema x-ray
• more tests...»

See full list of 9 diagnostic tests for Constipation

Wrongly Diagnosed with Constipation?

• Misdiagnosis of Constipation
• Failure to diagnose Constipation
• Hidden causes of Constipation (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: Constipation

Constipation: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Constipation:

• Digestive Health
• more product offers...»

Constipation: Undiagnosed Conditions

Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:

• Chronic Digestive Disorders that can remain Undiagnosed:
  • Crohn's Disease -- Undiagnosed
  • Ulcerative Colitis -- Undiagnosed
  • Celiac Disease -- Undiagnosed
  • Heartburn -- Undiagnosed
  • GERD -- Undiagnosed
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease -- Undiagnosed
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome -- Undiagnosed
  • Carcinoid Syndrome -- Undiagnosed
  • Pancreatitis -- Undiagnosed
• more undiagnosed conditions...»

Misdiagnosis and Constipation

Chronic digestive conditions often misdiagnosed: When diagnosing chronic symptoms of the digestive tract, there are a variety of conditions that may be misdiagnosed. The best known, irritable...read more »

Intestinal bacteria disorder may be hidden cause: One of the lesser known causes of diarrhea is an imbalance of bacterial in the gut, sometimes called intestinal imbalance. The digestive...read more »

Antibiotics often causes diarrhea: The use of antibiotics are very likely to cause some level of diarrhea in patients. The reason is that antibiotics kill off not only ...read more »

Food poisoning may actually be an infectious disease: Many people who come down with "stomach symptoms" like diarrhea assume that it's "something I ate" (i.e. food poisoning). In...read more »

Mesenteric adenitis misdiagnosed as appendicitis in children: Because appendicitis is one of the more feared conditions for a child with abdominal pain, it can be over-diagnosed (it can, of course, also fail to be diagnosed...read more »

Celiac disease often fails to be diagnosed cause of chronic digestive symptoms: One of the most common chronic digestive conditions is celiac disease, a malabsorption disorder with a variety...read more »

Chronic digestive diseases hard to diagnose: There is an inherent difficulty in diagnosing the various types of chronic digestive diseases. Some of the better known possibilities are peptic ulcer, colon...read more »

Inspection the key to diagnose anal fissure: An anal fissure, although a minor problem, may lead to tremendous discomfort if not diagnosed promptly. Too often, the problem...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Constipation

Constipation: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research related physicians and medical specialists:

• Digestive Health Specialists (Gastroenterology):
  • Gastroenterology (Digestive Specialists)
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology (Child Digestive Health)
• Rectal/Anal Health Specialists (Proctology):
  • Proctology (Anal/Rectal Specialist)
  • Colon & Rectal Surgery
• more specialists...»

Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:

• Rate Your Doctor Online
• Research Your Doctor Online
• Review Patient Surveys About Your Doctor
• Research local specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Hospitals & Clinics: Constipation

Research quality ratings and patient safety measures for medical facilities in specialties related to Constipation:

• Digestive Health (Gastroenterology) -- Hospital Quality Ratings
• more hospital ratings...»

Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »

Choosing the Best Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Constipation, on hospital performance and surgical care quality:

• 50 Best Hospitals Report
• Outstanding Patient Experinece Award Winning Hospitals
• Women's Health Best Hospitals
• Patient Safety
• Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence Study (2009)

Constipation: Rare Types

Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:

• Chronic Digestive Disorders -- Rare Types:
  • Crohn's Disease -- Rare Types
  • Ulcerative Colitis -- Rare Types
  • Celiac Disease -- Rare Types
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease -- Rare Types
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome -- Rare Types
  • Carcinoid Syndrome -- Rare Types
  • Pancreatitis -- Rare Types
  • Gallstones -- Rare Types
  • Lactose Intolerance -- Rare Types
• more rare diseases...»

Causes of Constipation

• Dehydration
• Poor diet
• Low-fiber diet
• Inadequate water intake
• Laxative abuse
• more causes...»

See full list of 418 causes of Constipation

More information about causes of Constipation:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Constipation (1742 listings)
• Drug interactions causing Constipation (513 listings)
• Underlying causes of Constipation
• Constipation as a complication caused by other conditions
• Constipation as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Constipation

Treatments for Constipation

• Water
• Fluids
• High fiber diet
• Exercise
• Enema - though over-use of enemas can lead to medical problems.
• more treatments...»

See full list of 32 treatments for Constipation

Latest Treatments for Constipation

• Increase fluid intake
• Modify diet
• Enemas
• Encourage excercise
• High fibre diet
• more treatments...»

See full list of 20 latest treatments for Constipation

News Archives for Constipation

Medical news articles related to Constipation include:

• Childhood Constipation Carries a Big Price Tag
• Amitiza Treats Irritable Bowel With Constipation
• Health Tip: Prevent Constipation
• Two Drugs Show Promise Against Severe Constipation
• Relistor Helps Ease Painkiller-Related Constipation
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Videos for Constipation

Patient Surveys for Constipation

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Constipation
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Constipation

More about prognosis of Constipation

Reseach about Constipation

Visit our research pages for current research about Constipation treatments.

Clinical Trials for Constipation

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Constipation include:

• Phase 2 Study of MD-1100 Acetate Administered for 14 Days to Patients Meeting Criteria for Chronic Constipation - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - MD-1100 Acetate
• Dose-Range-Finding, Phase 2 Trial of Oral Linaclotide Acetate Administered to Patients With Chronic Constipation - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - linaclotide acetate
• Constipation in Pediatric Cancer Patients Receiving Vinca Alkaloids or Narcotics - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Study Of Alvimopan Drug For Treatment Of Constipation Due To Prescription Pain Medication - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - alvimopan
• Biofeedback for Dyssynergic Constipation - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Diazepam
• more trials...»

See full list of 57 Clinical Trials for Constipation

Prevention of Constipation

Prevention information for Constipation has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Constipation.

• Drink water
• Eat fiber
• Exercise
• Avoid holding back bowel movement
• more preventions...»

Read more about prevention of Constipation

Statistics for Constipation

• Medical statistics for Constipation
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Constipation
• Death and Mortality statistics for Constipation
• Society statistics for Constipation

Constipation: Broader Related Topics

• Digestive Diseases
• Anal conditions
• Anorectal disorders
• Rectal conditions
• Pregnancy-related conditions
• more types...»

Types of Constipation

Types of Constipation

• Common constipation - occasional constipation
• Chronic constipation
• Travel-related constipation
• Age-related constipation
• Pregnancy-related constipation
• more types...»

See full list of 7 Types of Constipation

Stories from Users Related to Constipation

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• 35 years of undiagnosed/misdiagnosis of constipation
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• Chronic Constipation
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• I've been constipated for years
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• Constipation, don't know what to do.
• Constipation, things that look Sesame seeds...
• Swelling and constipation
• constipation & laxatives-please help!
• Severe Constipation/Rectal Blockage
• more than just constipation
• re: Chronic fatigue and constipation...
• chronic diarrhea and constipation
• extreme chronic constipation
• Distention, noises, constipation, and gas
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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Constipation, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Constipation

Constipation is passage of small amounts of hard, dry bowel movements, usually fewer than three times a week. People who are constipated may find it difficult and painful to have a bowel movement. Other symptoms of constipation include feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish.

Many people think they are constipated when, in fact, their bowel movements are regular. For example, some people believe they are constipated, or irregular, if they do not have a bowel movement every day. However, there is no right number of daily or weekly bowel movements. Normal may be three times a day or three times a week depending on the person. In addition, some people naturally have firmer stools than others.

At one time or another almost everyone gets constipated. Poor diet and lack of exercise are usually the causes. In most cases, constipation is temporary and not serious. Understanding causes, prevention, and treatment will help most people find relief. (Source: excerpt from Constipation: NIDDK)

Definitions of Constipation:

Constipation; irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels; can be a symptom of intestinal obstruction or diverticulitis - (Source - WordNet 2.1)