More than 800 faculty physicians from the UW School of Medicine offer primary and specialty care at University of Washington Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, and affiliated sites. Please honor our copyrights and disclaimer. All rights reserved. If you believed all the commercials you see on television, you'd think that most Americans have chronic constipation. Common causes include low intake of fiber and water, and lack of activity and exercise.
Some medications can also contribute to the condition.
No matter what the cause, you can do several things to help your digestive function. Relying on laxatives or stool softeners to keep bowel movements regular can lead the digestive track to become dependent on these chemicals to function properly. A better answer to the problem may be a lot simpler and much healthier for you in the long run. Janet Leader, instructor in the UW's Nutritional Sciences Program, says drinking more water, eating more high fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grain products, and getting enough exercise are known to significantly relieve constipation in many people. Water is a very important part of having frequent bowel movements.