Causes of Constipation
Constipation, in most cases, is an outcome of faulty eating habits and lack of exercise. Normally, as the food gets digested, it passes from stomach through the small intestine into the large intestine. Most of the water from the remaining undigested food gets reabsorbed in the large intestine. If the large intestine (colon) absorbs too much of water due to slow movement of the undigested food, the stools that are formed become dry and hard. Additionally, if the movement is slow enough to cause an urge for stool less than thrice a week, it results in constipation.
Some of the common triggers of constipation include:
Poor intake of fluids - drinking less of water and other fluids
Less fiber in diet
Sedentary lifestyle - not much of activity
No exercise
Ignoring the urge for stools when there is one
Change in routine, travelling
Pregnancy and childbirth
Abuse of laxatives - Laxatives lead to dependence in the long term because the colon begins to rely on the laxatives for a normal bowel movement
Medications like certain painkillers, iron supplements, diuretics, antidepressants, etc.
Pain in the anal region due to fissure or piles (hemorrhoids) can lead to suppression of the urge for stools later leading to constipation.
Hormonal problems like hypothyroidism
After an abdominal surgery
In case of constipation in children, the following must be considered:
Switching from breast milk to bottle milk or solid meals
Toilet training anxiety
Ignoring an urge for bowel movement
Hirschsprung's disease (rare condition where the child has a nerve cell defect from birth that affects communication between the brain and bowels)
Some rarer causes of constipation include:
Tumor of the bowels
Lead poisoning
Lactose intolerance
Spinal cord injury that has damaged nerves reaching the intestines