Constipation Symptoms, Causes and Treatment 

If you’ve ever struggled with having irregular bowel movements, and wondered whether you were constipated this article may help you understand the signs, causes and possible ways to relieve constipation.

The meaning of some words and phrases in this article:

• “stool” means “poo”
• “bowel movement” means having a poo

What is constipation?

Being constipated means that you struggle to pass stools regularly, or strain when on the toilet or your stool is hard, dry, or lumpy. It’s common and can happen to anyone.

Constipation symptoms

If you haven’t had a bowel movement at least 3 times during the last week or they’re less often than usual, you may be constipated. You might also feel uncomfortable, like you haven’t completely emptied your bowels.

Other symptoms might include:

• stomach ache
• bloating

Read more about bloating here.

What do constipated stools look like?

According to a medical chart called the Bristol Stool Chart, when you feel constipated, either:

• your stools may look like little lumps that are separate and hard, like nuts and difficult to pass or
• your stool is sausage shaped, but quite lumpy.

Common causes of constipation

Lifestyle

• a shortage of fibre in your diet from fruit, vegetables, and cereals
• ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement
• not drinking enough liquids
• a lifestyle change, like changing what you eat, your daily routine or feeling stressed, anxious or depressed
• not exercising or being less active, not moving or sitting for too long

Medicine

Some medicines or supplements may cause constipation as a side effect, such as:

• Indigestion medicines, like aluminium-containing antacids
• Calcium supplements
• Iron supplements
• Water tablets (diuretics)
• Some pain medicines (opioids)

If you think the medicines you’re taking, might be causing your constipation, first talk to a healthcare professional about alternatives or ways to get constipation relief before you consider pausing or stop taking your medicines.

Health conditions

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive condition causing symptoms like abdominal pain and changes in your stools.

A type of IBS, known as IBS with Constipation (IBS-C), may cause more than a quarter of your stools to be hard or lumpy.

If you think that you may have IBS (or IBS-C), speak to a healthcare professional about your symptoms.

Read more about IBS here.

Pregnancy

Constipation symptoms are common during pregnancy which could be caused by the hormonal changes. Speak to your maternity team if you’re experiencing constipation during pregnancy and always seek medical advice before starting any remedies or if you have queries or concerns.

Remedies for Constipation

There are some ways to relieve constipation on your own at home. These should be used for reference only, and you should consult a healthcare professional for a remedy that works for you.

Change what you eat

Gradually increasing your fibre intake is a simple way to help digestion and constipation.

• Get more fibre by:
• Eating higher-fibre cereal
• Choosing wholemeal bread and wholegrain pasta, grains, and rice
• Eating potatoes with the skin on
• Adding pulses like chickpeas, lentils, and beans into your meals
• Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables

There are two types of fibre, which are both important for your health and digestion:

Insoluble fibre, found in vegetables and whole grains, add bulk to your stools and makes it move through intestines more quickly.

Soluble fibre, found in beans, fruit, and oat products, attracts water during digestion and slows digestion.

Listen to your body

Don’t avoid going to the toilet or resisting the urge to have a bowel movement. Try sticking to a regular time and don’t rush.

Move more

Exercise or daily activity can help your digestion – whether it’s a run or a long walk – as long as you’re moving

Chat with healthcare professionals

Speak to a healthcare professional about other ways to relieve constipation. They may recommend laxatives, which could include these types:

• Bulk-forming laxatives like ispaghula husk, contain soluble fibre, hold liquid in the stool, helping to soften and “bulk up” your stools, making them easier to pass.
• Osmotic: These draw water into your stools, producing distention that stimulate bowel movement.
• Stimulant: These stimulate your gut muscles, leading to a bowel movement.

Always follow the package instructions when using laxatives. Speak to a healthcare professional if you’re unsure about how to use them, unsure what’s right for you or to rule out an underlying condition. Additionally, if the problem persists or gets worse, contact your healthcare professional.

When to Seek Medical Advice

If the problem persists or you have any queries, it’s important to speak to a healthcare professional to understand if your symptoms are related to an underlying health condition.

• Contact your healthcare professional if:
• You have tummy pain or notice a sudden change in your stools or bowel movements
• You often get constipation that lasts a while and doesn’t improve with treatment
• You often feel bloated
• When you pass a stool, there’s blood in it
• You’ve lost weight unintentionally
• You have constipation and feel constantly tired
• You think that the medicines you take might be causing your constipation

Important information

All information presented on this web page is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health matters and for further information or medical advice, please speak to a medical professional.