Where is constipation located

Guts UK is the charity for the digestive system. We are the only UK charity funding research into the digestive system from top to tail; the gut, liver and pancreas. Visit our website to see our past and current research, or contact us for further information. This video from Colorado Children's Hospital about constipation is a great tool that the whole family will understand. Skip to content Search Menu Donate.

Constipation Download printable version. Overview 2. Causes 3. Symptoms 4. Treatment 5. Complications 6. Support 7. This factsheet is about constipation Constipation is a symptom that can mean different things to different people, but the usual meaning is that a person has difficulty or infrequency with opening their bowels.

How do you know if you have constipation? Why does constipation occur? What are the causes of constipation? Pain, or fear of pain, on passing stools. What are the symptoms of constipation? Opening the bowels less than three times a week. Needing to strain to open your bowels on more than a quarter of occasions. Passing a hard or pellet-like stool on more than a quarter of occasions. Experiencing a sense of incomplete emptying after a bowel opening.

Needing to use manual manoeuvres to achieve bowel emptying. Read our factsheet on Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

How is constipation diagnosed? If you also experience any of the following symptoms, you should see you GP immediately: Unexplained weight loss Bleeding in the stool nhs. If your doctor has any concerns, they may organise one or more of the following investigations: Blood tests: these are usually to look for anaemia, thyroid hormone or metabolic problems.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, barium enema or CT scan: these are tests which allow doctors to examine the lining of your bowel and are routine procedures which are extremely safe. Bowel preparation is required prior to these procedures. Transit studies: a simple test involving an X-ray which shows the speed of passage through the bowel. A highlighting substance is ingested which shows up on X-ray.

Laxatives cannot be taken during the test. Please note that a simple abdominal Xray, without the highlighting substance, is rarely helpful in diagnosing constipation. Anorectal physiology testing and proctography: rarely carried out, they indicate how the pelvic floor and the nerves and muscles around the back-passage work. Kombucha is a fizzy drink that's full of health benefits, but you may want to know whether it can help relieve constipation. This article explains…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.

Type 2 Diabetes. How Constipation Feels. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Digestion at work Constipation feeling Emergency Treatments Constipation and pregnancy Constipated with hemorrhoids Causes Takeaway We include products we think are useful for our readers. Your digestion highway. What does constipation feel like? When can constipation be an emergency? What are the treatments for constipation?

What does constipation feel like when pregnant? What causes constipation? The takeaway. Read this next. How to Make Yourself Poop. Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Learn more. Constipation is a condition in which a person has uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements.

Generally, a person is considered to be constipated when bowel movements result in passage of small amounts of hard, dry stool, usually fewer than three times a week. However, normal stool elimination may consist of having a bowel movement three times a day or three times a week; it depends on the person.

About 4 million people in the United States have frequent constipation. Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint, resulting in 2. Hard, dry stools are the result of the colon absorbing too much water.

Normally, as food moves through the colon also known as the large intestine the colon absorbs water while forming stool waste products. Muscle contractions then push the stool toward the rectum, and, by the time the stool reaches the rectum, most of the water has been absorbed, making the stool solid. When the colon's muscle contractions are slow or sluggish, the stool moves through the colon too slowly, resulting in too much water being absorbed.

Some of the most common causes of constipation include the following:. Irritable bowel syndrome. The following are the most common symptoms of constipation. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:. The symptoms of constipation may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis. Constipation is best prevented with a combination of exercise, a high-fiber diet, and an adequate intake of fluids.

People with sudden abdominal pain of unknown cause, inflammatory bowel disorders, intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, or fecal impaction should not use laxatives or enemas. People need to ingest enough fiber in their diet typically 15 to 20 grams per day to ensure adequate stool bulk. Vegetables, fruits, and bran are excellent sources of fiber.

To work well, fiber must be consumed with plenty of fluids. People should try to make changes to their behavior. For example, people should try to move their bowels at the same time every day, preferably 15 to 45 minutes after breakfast, because eating food stimulates movement in the colon. Glycerin suppositories may also help people have regular, unhurried bowel movements.

Doctors explain to people why diet and behavior modification are important in treating constipation. Doctors also explain that daily bowel movements are not necessary, that the bowel must be given a chance to function, and that frequent use of laxatives or enemas more than once every 3 days denies the bowel that chance.

People who have obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD Treatment Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by obsessions, compulsions, or both. Some laxatives are safe for long-term use. Other laxatives should be used only occasionally. Some laxatives are good for preventing constipation, others for treating it. There are several classes of laxatives, including the following:.

Bulking agents, such as bran and psyllium also available in the fiber of many vegetables , add bulk to the stool and absorb water. The increased bulk stimulates the natural contractions of the intestine, and bulkier stools that contain more water are softer and easier to pass.

Bulking agents act slowly and gently and are among the safest ways to promote regular bowel movements. These agents generally are taken in small amounts at first. The dose is increased gradually until regularity is achieved. People who use bulking agents should always drink plenty of fluids. These agents may cause problems with increased gas flatulence and bloating. Stool softeners, such as docusate or mineral oil, act slowly to soften stools, making them easier to pass.

In addition, the slightly increased bulk that results from these drugs stimulates the natural contractions of the large intestine and thus promotes easier elimination. Some people, however, find the softened nature of the stool unpleasant. Stool softeners are best reserved for people who must avoid straining, such as people who have hemorrhoids or have recently had abdominal surgery. Osmotic agents pull large amounts of water into the large intestine, making the stool soft and loose.

The excess fluid also stretches the walls of the large intestine, stimulating contractions. These laxatives consist of salts or sugars that are poorly absorbed. They may cause fluid retention in people who have kidney disease or heart failure, especially when given in large or frequent doses.

In general, osmotic laxatives are reasonably safe even when used regularly. However, osmotic agents that contain magnesium and phosphate are partially absorbed into the bloodstream and can be harmful to older people, people who have kidney failure or kidney disease, and people who take drugs that affect kidney function such as diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers.

Although a rare occurrence, some people have developed kidney failure from taking sodium phosphate laxatives by mouth to clear stool from the intestine before x-rays of the digestive tract are taken or before a colonoscopy is done. Stimulant laxatives such as phenolphthalein, bisacodyl , and anthraquinones contain irritating substances, such as senna and cascara.

These substances stimulate the walls of the large intestine, causing them to contract and move the stool. They are useful for preventing constipation in people who are taking drugs that will almost certainly cause constipation, such as opioids.

Stimulant laxatives are also often used to empty the large intestine before diagnostic tests are done. Taken by mouth, stimulant laxatives usually cause a semisolid bowel movement in 6 to 8 hours, but they often cause cramping as well. As suppositories, stimulant laxatives often work in 15 to 60 minutes. Prolonged use of stimulant laxatives can create abnormal deposits of a dark pigment in the lining of the large intestine a condition called melanosis coli.

Other side effects include allergic reactions and loss of electrolytes from the blood. Also, the large intestine can become dependent on stimulant laxatives, leading to lazy bowel syndrome.

Therefore, stimulant laxatives should be used only for brief periods. Bisacodyl is an effective drug for chronic constipation. Anthraquinones are found in senna, cascara sagrada, aloe, and rhubarb and are common components of herbal and over-the-counter laxatives.

Lubiprostone works by making the large intestine secrete extra fluid, which makes stool easier to pass. Unlike other stimulant laxatives, lubiprostone is safe for prolonged use.

Mu-opioid receptor antagonists such as methylnaltrexone, naloxegol, naldemedine, and almvimopan are drugs that are used to treat opioid-induced constipation that is not relieved by other measures.

These drugs are designed to block the effects of opioids on the bowel without interfering with the pain relief opioids deliver. The most common side effects include stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and headache.

Enemas mechanically flush stool from the rectum and lower part of the large intestine.