Constipation is caused by a variety of factors including diet, lifestyle, medications, and medical conditions. The main contributors are not eating enough fiber, not drinking enough fluids, and lack of physical activity. Fiber helps bulk up stool and fluids help keep the stool soft, so without enough of these, stool can become hard and difficult to pass. Other causes include ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement, changes in routine such as traveling, and certain medications like painkillers, antidepressants, and iron supplements. Medical conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and problems with muscles or nerves involved in bowel movements also lead to constipation. Stress and anxiety can also contribute to it. Constipation involves slow stool movement through the colon or difficulty in evacuating the bowels due to muscle coordination problems in the pelvic floor.
Key Causes of Constipation:
- Low fiber diet (lack of fruits, vegetables, whole grains)
- Insufficient fluid intake
- Physical inactivity or long periods of inactivity
- Ignoring the urge to defecate
- Medications (opioids, certain antidepressants, antacids with aluminum/calcium, iron supplements)
- Medical conditions affecting nerves, muscles, or metabolism (e.g., Parkinson’s, diabetes, IBS)
- Stress, anxiety, changes in routine like traveling
- Problems with pelvic floor muscles affecting bowel evacuation
These factors result in stool moving too slowly through the colon or being hard to pass due to excessive water absorption, causing constipation symptoms like infrequent bowel movements, straining, hard or lumpy stools, and sensation of incomplete evacuation.