Constipation may be defined as having two or fewer bowel movements per week, or excessive difficulty or straining with bowel movements.
Every individual has a different bowel regime.
It is important to assess what is normal for you. Causes of constipation include dietary reasons, physical abnormalities, disease and medications. A diet with fiber, drinking plenty of fluids and exercise are important factors for maintaining normal bowel habits. Laxatives act to produce a stool or to make passing a stool more comfortable. One of the most common types of laxatives are bulk forming laxatives.