Constipation

    In the large intestine, water and mineral salts are absorbed from the mass of digested food (also known as chyme). This process makes the intestinal contents harder and forms the stool.

    If the passage of the chyme is prolonged, an excessive amount of water is absorbed by the intestine during its processing and the resulting stool becomes harder and thus more difficult to excrete.

    As the muscle movements that regulate bowel movements are controlled by the autonomic nervous system (i.e. not controlled by the nervous system at will), psychological, emotional or environmental changes can also have an influence on digestion and defecation.

    Everyone has their own personal habits, but it is assumed that a person suffers from constipation if they go to the toilet less than 3 times a week for several weeks.

    There are two types of constipation:

    • Acute constipation: if the symptoms occur occasionally;
    • Chronic constipation: if the symptoms are regular and persistent.

    Symptoms

    The symptoms of constipation can be as follows:

    • Reduction in stool frequency or volume;
    • harder texture of the chairs;
    • Difficulty and difficulty passing stools (also with pain);
    • Feeling of not being completely “emptied” after going to the toilet;
    • Stool lubrication.

    Risk factors

    The main risk factors for constipation include:

    • Change in diet: e.g. introduction of complementary foods for infants, reduced intake of fiber (vegetables, fruit) or liquids, new diet or travel;
    • Lack of exercise: little physical activity increases the risk of constipation;
    • Taking medication and taking several medications (polymedication);
    • Pregnancy: hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can cause constipation;
    • Gender: Women suffer from constipation more often than men;
    • Psychological aspects: Haste, worry, depression, stress or anxiety can have a negative impact on digestive behavior and cause constipation.

    Causes

    The main causes of constipation include:

    • inappropriate diet: a diet low in fiber can make stools harder and more difficult to excrete;
      also drinking little can promote constipation;
    • Taking medicines that affect intestinal activity (such as opiates, antidepressants, beta-blockers, diuretics, iron or calcium-based preparations, etc.);
    • Intestinal sluggishness or irritable bowel syndrome;
    • Diseases of the bowel, rectum or anal canal;
    • Neurological diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord diseases, etc.);
    • Metabolic or glandular diseases (e.g. thyroid diseases, diabetes, nephropathies, etc.).

    Recommendations

    If you suffer from constipation, it makes sense to change your lifestyle:

    • follow a high-fiber diet (legumes, whole grain products, fruit and vegetables);
    • drink more water;
    • more physical exercise;
    • Avoid holding back the urge to defecate, for example when playing or on the move (in the long term this can have a negative effect on going to the toilet).

    There are also various types of medication for the symptomatic treatment of constipation.

    Caution: Abuse of some types of laxatives can cause intestinal irritation; some products can also cause dependence and reduce the natural motility of the intestine.
    Please consult your doctor for additional information.

    Chair shapes

    Type

    Stool consistency

    Description

    1

    Single solid globules, like nuts (difficult to excrete)

    2

    Sausage-like, lumpy

    3

    Sausage-like with a cracked surface

    4

    Sausage-like with a smooth surface

    5

    Single soft, smooth-edged lumps (easy to remove)

    6

    Single soft lumps with irregular edges

    7

    Liquid, without solid components