What is chronic constipation?
Constipation may come and go and can cause pain and discomfort. But when it happens for weeks, months, or years, you may have chronic constipation. Chronic constipation can affect the quality of your life. But you can work with your doctor to learn how to manage it with different treatments.
What are the symptoms of chronic constipation?
The symptoms include having less than three bowel movements a week. You may also have straining or hard, painful stools. Some people also have bleeding from hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Or you may feel that you don't completely empty your bowels.
How is chronic constipation treated?
There are many ways to treat chronic constipation, depending on what's causing it. Your doctor may suggest a combination of treatments.
You might start by:
- Increasing fiber.
- Drinking more water.
- Eating foods that have a natural laxative effect, like prunes.
If doing these things doesn't help, you might try:
- Laxative medicines.
- Stool softeners.
- Prescription medicines. Some medicines may help with your bowels. But others can make constipation worse. You may be able to switch to a different medicine that will not cause constipation.
Other treatments, such as biofeedback, may help.
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