Failure to regulate bowel activity is one of the most common complaints of older persons and this problem applies even to individuals who are otherwise quite active, consider themselves well, and suffer from very few illnesses. A variety of illnesses and medications affect the normal passage of food down the intestine, and the passage of fecal material through the colon to the rectum. There are a number of metabolic and endocrine disorders that can frustrate your bowel schedule. The most common is diabetes mellitus, but it can also result from conditions in which thyroid hormone activity is low, there is excess calcium, or too little potassium in the blood. Common diseases of the nervous system that can cause problems in evacuation in the elderly include Parkinson's disease, and stroke.
Medications are a serious culprit of bowel problems as well.
Antihypertensive drugs, calcium channel-blockers, and anticonvulsants may present problems. Iron and calcium supplements, both of which may be very important as supplemental nutrients in the elderly, and aluminum containing antacid compounds, including sucralfate, may cause constipation. Also, drugs that are used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, antidepressants, and antipsychotic medications are all common causes of bowel roadblocks. In order for your doctor to make an accurate diagnosis, tell him or her how frequently you have bowel movements. And be prepared to give a diet history.