Constipation is a common digestive problem characterized by infrequent or difficult bowel movements. Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water from the food moving through it while it is forming waste products, or stool. It also occurs when slow muscle contractions in the colon result in the stool becoming solid and hard to eliminate. Constipation may be caused by several factors among which are low-fiber diets, inactivity, pregnancy, laxative abuse, dehydration, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)