Affects: Large intestine12–48 h
Chronic constipation
Infrequent, hard or difficult-to-pass bowel movements for at least three months, with straining and a sense of not being finished.
What happens
Constipation is not defined by frequency alone: consistency, straining and the sense of complete emptying matter just as much. It may stem from slow transit, from poor coordination of the pelvic floor muscles during evacuation, or from secondary causes such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, pregnancy or the effects of certain medications.
Habit matters
Repeatedly ignoring the urge to go makes the rectum adapt and lose sensitivity, which perpetuates the problem. Having a regular, unhurried routine, without postponing it, is part of the treatment.
What helps
- Fibre increased gradually to 25–30 g a day, from fruit, vegetables, legumes and whole grains
- Enough water: fibre without fluid can make things worse
- Daily movement, even if it is just walking
- Making use of the natural reflex after breakfast
- A low footstool improves posture and eases evacuation
About laxatives
They are useful when properly indicated, but chronic unsupervised use of stimulant laxatives is not harmless. If constipation persists, it is better to investigate the cause than to chain together temporary fixes.
When something goes wrong
- IBSA disorder of gut-brain interaction: the bowel works abnormally and is more sensitive, even though there is no visible damage to its structure.
- Chronic diarrheaLoose or liquid stools most of the time for more than four weeks. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis: the point is to find the cause.
- IBDChronic immune-driven inflammation of the digestive tract, running in flares and periods of remission. It includes Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.
