Photo: Brett Jordan

What happens if you are constipated for years?

Chronic constipation may cause an accumulation of hardened stool that gets stuck in your intestines. Intestine that protrudes from the anus (rectal prolapse). Straining to have a bowel movement can cause a small amount of the rectum to stretch and protrude from the anus.

mayoclinic.org - Constipation - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

How to use cucumber for weight loss?

Cucumber May Aid in Weight Loss Each one-cup (104-gram) serving contains just 16 calories, while an entire 11-ounce (300-gram) cucumber contains...

Last updated Jun 25, 2021

How can I clean my face in 7 days?

Team Wander has put together a simple, no-fuss routine that will give you glowing skin in 7 days. Day 1: Good Skin Starts With Good Habits. ... Day...

Last updated Apr 21, 2019

Traditional “juice” activates 24/7 fat-burning

A scrumptious morning smoothy based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

Promotion

Overview

Chronic constipation is infrequent bowel movements or difficult passage of stools that persists for several weeks or longer. Constipation is generally described as having fewer than three bowel movements a week. Though occasional constipation is very common, some people experience chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to go about their daily tasks. Chronic constipation may also cause people to strain excessively in order to have a bowel movement. Treatment for chronic constipation depends in part on the underlying cause. However, in some cases, a cause is never found.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of chronic constipation include:

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

Feeling as though you can't completely empty the stool from your rectum

Needing help to empty your rectum, such as using your hands to press on your abdomen and using a finger to remove stool from your rectum Constipation may be considered chronic if you've experienced two or more of these symptoms for the last three months.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience unexplained and persistent changes in your bowel habits. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic delivered to your inbox. Subscribe for free and receive your in-depth guide to digestive health, plus the latest on health innovations and news. You can unsubscribe at any time. Email address ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. If you don’t receive our email within 5 minutes, check your SPAM folder, then contact us at newsletters@mayoclinic.com. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry

Causes

Does green tea clean your colon?

Green Tea Colon Cleanse While they may achieve a short-term cleanse, they can cause necessary fluids to leave your colon. It is not green tea's use...

Last updated Feb 23, 2022

What is a good cleanse to do?

The Most Common Ways to Detox Drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juices, smoothies, water, and tea. Drinking only specific liquids, such as salted...

Last updated Dec 31, 2018

Purple mojito “devours” 57lbs of flab?

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

Constipation most commonly occurs when waste or stool moves too slowly through the digestive tract or cannot be eliminated effectively from the rectum, which may cause the stool to become hard and dry. Chronic constipation has many possible causes.

Blockages in the colon or rectum

Blockages in the colon or rectum may slow or stop stool movement. Causes include:

Tiny tears in the skin around the anus (anal fissure)

A blockage in the intestines (bowel obstruction)

Colon cancer

Narrowing of the colon (bowel stricture)

Other abdominal cancer that presses on the colon

Rectal cancer

Rectum bulge through the back wall of the vagina (rectocele)

Problems with the nerves around the colon and rectum

Neurological problems can affect the nerves that cause muscles in the colon and rectum to contract and move stool through the intestines. Causes include:

Damage to the nerves that control bodily functions (autonomic neuropathy)

Multiple sclerosis

Parkinson's disease

Spinal cord injury

Stroke

Difficulty with the muscles involved in elimination

Problems with the pelvic muscles involved in having a bowel movement may cause chronic constipation. These problems may include: The inability to relax the pelvic muscles to allow for a bowel movement (anismus)

Pelvic muscles that don't coordinate relaxation and contraction correctly (dyssynergia)

Weakened pelvic muscles

Conditions that affect hormones in the body

Hormones help balance fluids in your body. Diseases and conditions that upset the balance of hormones may lead to constipation, including:

Diabetes

Overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism)

Pregnancy

Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of chronic constipation include:

Being an older adult

Being a woman

Being dehydrated

Eating a diet that's low in fiber

Getting little or no physical activity

Taking certain medications, including sedatives, opioid pain medications, some antidepressants or medications to lower blood pressure

Having a mental health condition such as depression or an eating disorder

Complications

What vitamin is similar to metformin?

Studies show that taking berberine can lower blood sugar levels to a similar extent as the popular diabetes drug metformin ( 4 ). Aug 25, 2020

Last updated Aug 26, 2021

Is it better to boil the lemons in water?

Lemons are naturally high in vitamin C and several other vitamins and minerals, but boiling them may actually reduce the amount of nutrients they...

Last updated Nov 1, 2020

Strange purple cocktail removes 2.7lbs every 4 days

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

Complications of chronic constipation include:

Swollen veins in your anus (hemorrhoids). Straining to have a bowel movement may cause swelling in the veins in and around your anus. Straining to have a bowel movement may cause swelling in the veins in and around your anus. Torn skin in your anus (anal fissure). A large or hard stool can cause tiny tears in the anus. A large or hard stool can cause tiny tears in the anus. Stool that can't be expelled (fecal impaction). Chronic constipation may cause an accumulation of hardened stool that gets stuck in your intestines. Chronic constipation may cause an accumulation of hardened stool that gets stuck in your intestines. Intestine that protrudes from the anus (rectal prolapse). Straining to have a bowel movement can cause a small amount of the rectum to stretch and protrude from the anus.

Prevention

The following can help you avoid developing chronic constipation.

mayoclinic.org - Constipation - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Can you buy lulo fruit in the US?

Like many people's egos, this fruit is easily damaged, which in the case of lulo makes it hard to ship far. It doesn't grow in the United States...

Last updated May 13, 2018

What makes heart faster?

lack of sleep. stress and anxiety. medicines (check the leaflet that comes with the medicine) alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and recreational drugs.

Last updated Apr 13, 2018

7-second natural hack eats through 64lbs of belly flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

When should I drink superfood?

Because super greens are typically designed to deliver the maximum amount of micronutrients in a scoop there isn't a need to dial in on a specific...

Last updated Jun 13, 2018

Weird “juice ritual” removes 65lbs in weeks

A potent powdered supplement, based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

Promotion

Does a mojito have a lot of sugar?

Are Mojitos High In Sugar? Mojitos are a popular cocktail that often contain white rum, lime juice, soda water, and sugar or simple syrup. While...

Last updated Jan 18, 2022