Symptoms

Digestive issues
Stress
Passing fewer than three stools a week
Having lumpy or hard stools
Straining to have bowel movements
Feeling as though there's a blockage in your rectum that prevents bowel movements
Bloating
Belly pain
Headache
Fatigue
Loss of appetite

What To Expect

Temporary constipation is not uncommon: most people have a sluggish bowel from time to time, for example because they exercise too little, drink too little and eat a diet low in fiber. A change in lifestyle usually gets the bowels moving again quickly. Chronic constipation, on the other hand, is usually more difficult to remedy and is often associated with a high level of suffering. Experts speak of chronic constipation when subjectively unsatisfactory defecation has been present for at least three months and is accompanied in more than 25 percent of cases by two of the following leading symptoms: Heavy straining, lumpy or hard stools, subjective feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, subjective feeling of blockage or obstruction in the rectum, helping to defecate by hand, and fewer than three bowel movements per week. Constipation is often accompanied by a feeling of fullness and discomfort. Bloating, a feeling of pressure in the abdomen and abdominal pain may also occur. Some sufferers also report headaches, fatigue, lassitude and loss of appetite.

Made Worse By

There are constipating foods that you should definitely avoid if you are constipated. Sweets as little as possible, because sugar has a paralyzing effect on the intestines. Meat, sausage and the like contain no fiber, but usually a lot of fat, and anyone suffering from constipation should not eat these foods too often. A diet rich in fiber is recommended. Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and whole grain products. In addition, you should drink enough. Experts recommend drinking two liters a day (e.g., water, mineral water, tea). If the body is under stress, it throttles intestinal activity. Suitable relaxation methods include progressive muscle relaxation and autogenic training.

How Common

About 20% of the population suffers from constipation.

Diagnosed By

In order to get to the bottom of constipation, the doctor will first talk to the patient in detail to obtain his medical history: he will ask for a detailed description of the symptoms, lifestyle (including dietary habits), any current illnesses and the use of medication. From the patient's information alone, the doctor can often deduce the cause of the constipation (e.g., lack of fluids, stress, shift work). In addition, the doctor can use various tests and examinations to find out whether a specific disease may be the reason for the hard stools. Therefore, he will perform a physical examination next. Especially in the case of chronic constipation, he will also examine the patient's anus and check the basic tension of the anal sphincter with his finger. Depending on the need, further examinations will follow to clarify the suspicion of certain underlying diseases as triggers of the constipation. These include, for example: Blood tests, colonoscopy, ultrasound examination of the abdomen, stool examination.