Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Constipation in Adults
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Constipation
in Adults
Will I need to have tests?
What does constipation mean?
What research is needed?
When should I see a doctor?
Constipation in Adults explained
How do I know if I am constipated? • opening the bowels less than three times
Constipation is a common problem and a week
does not mean that you necessarily have a • needing to strain to open your bowels on
disease. It is a symptom that can mean more than a quarter of occasions
different things to different people but the • passing a hard or pellet-like stool on
usual meaning is that a person has difficulty more than a quarter of occasions
in opening their bowels. Doctors define If you have any of these complaints you may
constipation in a number of ways: be one of the approximately one in seven
otherwise normal people who are just
constipated. Two particular groups of
people who are most likely to be troubled
by constipation are young women and
the elderly – especially those
who need to take regular
medicines. Constipation may
be part of the irritable
bowel syndrome (see our
separate leaflet), especially
oesophagus if abdominal pain is also
present.
liver
stomach
gall pancreas
bladder
colon
small
intestine
rectum
anus
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Can being constipated cause What goes wrong with the body
any complications? to cause constipation?
Although people often worry about it, Most commonly the muscles of the
there is no reason to believe that intestines and colon do not seem to work
constipation causes a “poisoning” of the properly and this results in slow movement
system. You may feel sluggish and bloated, of contents through the bowel. The urge to
but there is no evidence that bugs or any open your bowels may not be felt very
toxins leak from your bowel into any often since, when the bowel is sluggish, the
other part of the body. Another common stool can become hard and small. In some
idea is that constipation may lead to people there can be a problem just inside
cancer. There is no evidence at all that the anus with the way that the rectum
long-term constipation increases your squeezes out its contents.
chances of getting bowel cancer. Patients
can be alarmed if they notice blood when What are the commonest causes
they open their bowels. You may notice of constipation?
some blood on the tissue after straining or A large number of drugs or medicines that
passing a hard stool – this is usually due to you may have been prescribed or have
haemorrhoids (or rarely a painful tear at bought over-the-counter can cause
the anus). This explanation will need to be constipation (see box). If your symptoms
confirmed by a doctor. Elderly or began (or got worse) after starting one of
immobile patients may get so badly these drugs, it may be worth asking your
constipated that they quite literally get doctor if there are any less-constipating
bunged up (“faecal impaction”) and this alternatives.
will need prompt treatment by either the
GP or hospital. Drugs that can cause constipation
• Pain-killers (especially codeine-
containing compounds)
• Antacids (especially if containing
aluminium)
• Iron tablets
• Blood pressure medications (not all)
• Antidepressants (not all)
• Anti-epilepsy and anti-Parkinson’s
disease drugs
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Medical advice
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What should you do if you Will you need to have any tests?
are constipated? The decision to perform investigations
A high fibre diet may help some patients depends on your symptoms, your age and
with constipation. Try to eat a mixture of possibly whether you have a history of
high fibre foods. Fruit, vegetables, nuts, bowel problems within your family. It is
wholemeal bread and pasta, wholegrain often unnecessary to carry out tests for
cereals and brown rice are all good sources constipation, but if your doctor is worried
of fibre. Aim to have a high fibre food at they may organise one or more of the
each meal and eat five portions of fruit or following:
vegetables each day. • blood tests.
Some people may find that it helps to • flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy,
take fibre in the form of fruit and vegetables barium enema or CT scan – these tests
(soluble fibre) rather than that in cereals show doctors how the lining of your
and grains (insoluble). This is because bowel looks and are routine procedures
insoluble fibre may lead to bloating and can which are extremely safe.
worsen any discomfort. • transit studies – these are very simple
Fibre is most helpful for patients with tests, involving an X-ray after you have
mild symptoms of constipation – if you are swallowed some capsules or tablets
severely troubled, you will not benefit from which show up how quickly things move
progressively higher doses of fibre, and may through your intestines.
even be made worse. • anorectal physiology testing and
Regular meals and an adequate proctography – these are specialist tests
fluid intake (approximately 10 cups that are only rarely needed. They indicate
a day) are the mainstays of treating and how the nerves and muscles around the
preventing constipation. It is also important back passage work.
to identify a routine of a place and time
of day when you are comfortably able
to spend time in the toilet. Respond to
your bowel’s natural pattern – when you
feel the urge, don’t delay. Keeping active
and mobile helps some people whose
bowel is sluggish.
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Medical advice continued
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