By Dr. Karen Johnson Constipation isn't something most people are comfortable talking about. But it s something most everyone faces at least occasionally. Usually it s not a serious problem, but in some circumstances it requires medical attention.
Constipation is the inability to evacuate our bodies waste in a comfortable way.
The bowel performs an important role in taking the nutrients we need for from our food, and then it produces waste that needs to be eliminated. The most common causes of constipation are lack of water intake, lack of fiber in the diet and lack of exercise. When a doctor has ruled out the most obvious causes of constipation, they will look to other conditions like thyroid disorders, medications, Parkinson's disease, heart problems or inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Raijman said, When we assess constipation, we have to assess as to whether that is the primary problem related to the G.I. tract or is the manifestation of another illness. A history, physical exam and simple x-ray of the abdomen can provide significant information to evaluate constipation.