Constipation is a symptom rather than a disease.
It is the most common digestive complaint in the United States. Constipation results from a colonic or anorectal functional disorder. However, a small percentage of patients are quite debilitated as a result of constipation. Constipation appears to affect non-Caucasians 1.3 times more frequently than Caucasians. History provides the most useful information about etiology of constipation.