Constipation occurs when contractions in the colon are irregular or there's not enough water in your intestines to move the stool into the lower bowel and out of the system. At that point, you may find yourself unable to defecate. No matter what's causing it, of course, constipation can be more than an annoyance. Gastroenterologists, who often deal with the most stubborn cases of irregularity, point out that although it's seldom life-threatening, chronic constipation can erode a person's quality of life. Just because you don't have a bowel movement every day doesn't mean you're constipated.
Some people have a bowel movement two to three times a day, others every three days.
If you go for more than three days without one, however, your stool may harden, making it more difficult to eliminate. In rare cases, new or progressively worse constipation may be a symptom of another, more serious problem, such as colorectal cancer or medication toxicity. If your symptoms last more than three weeks, call a doctor. Bloating, gas, cramps, abdominal pain, and alternating diarrhea and constipation, and rectal bleeding are symptoms that should prompt concern and perhaps result in a visit or call to your physician, especially if this is a new bowel pattern. Try to be aware of changes in your bowel movements.