How to deal with symptoms of constipation in adults
Over the course of your life, you might experience constipation from time to time. It's perfectly normal. In fact, it's one of the most common gastrointestinal problems and happens to most people at some point1.
When constipation strikes, it's natural to have questions about it, including how long it lasts, what causes it and what you can do to find relief and keep yourself regular. You'll find all the answers here.
15 min read
What are the common symptoms of constipation in adults?
The first step to deal with your body’s signals is to spot them and understand what they mean. But symptoms of constipation can differ from person to person. Here are the most common symptoms of constipation in adults:
Fewer trips to the bathroom
Being 'regular' is different for everyone. Some of us go every day. Others a few times a week. However, fewer than three poos a week is a sign your body is struggling to pass unwanted food.
Difficulty going
When your poo is dry or hard, or when you have to strain, you can feel bunged up or like you haven't fully emptied your bowels.
Feeling bloated
Bloating is a very common symptom of constipation in adults.
Abdominal discomfort and pain
Being constipated is uncomfortable. It can cause tummy ache and discomfort.
Feeling bunged up
When you aren't emptying your bowels completely, this can make you feel blocked up. This is one of the most common symptoms of constipation in adults.
Please be aware that the symptoms of constipation may resemble other medical conditions or may be caused by other health problems. If your constipation persists, you should speak to your doctor to exclude other conditions.
What causes constipation?
Hard and dry stools are the result of too much water being absorbed by the body from the large intestine. When the colon's muscle contractions are slow or sluggish, the stool moves through the colon too slowly, resulting in too much water being absorbed2. Some of the most common causes of constipation include:
Lack of exercise
Not getting enough physical activity during the day can make you constipated.
Diet
Not eating enough high-fibre foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can cause constipation. Eating a lot of high-fat meats, dairy products and eggs, or rich desserts, sugary sweets and prepared foods can also make you constipated3.
Medical conditions
Some problems, like stroke, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, an underactive thyroid, depression, lack of potassium, magnesium or too much calcium or a blockage in the intestines can cause constipation4.
That's because these conditions can affect the muscles or nerves used for normal bowel movements. A doctor can test to see if the problem is medical. Remember, medical problems can often be treated.
Medications
Some medicines can cause symptoms of constipation in adults. These include some drugs used to treat depression, antacids containing aluminium or calcium, iron supplements, some allergy medicines (antihistamines), certain painkillers (opioids), some drugs for high blood pressure, including diuretics, and some drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease5.
Holding in your poo
Lots of people prefer to poo at home. But this can cause constipation if it means holding it in for too long.
Being pregnant
The body goes through so many changes during pregnancy. The increased levels of hormones can slow down the digestive system, causing muscles to relax2. And that can make toilet time more difficult.
Stress
Healthy mind, healthy body. Our digestive systems can be sensitive to stress, and sudden changes in our lives can trigger constipation and discomfort.
Getting older
As you get older, the muscles in your digestive tract need a little more time to move food through your system. The number of bowel movements generally decreases with age6.
Travel
Moving around can sometimes change your toilet habits. Jetlag can last for several days and your circadian rhythm needs time to readapt to your new time zone.
How to manage occasional constipation
Don’t worry, there’s no need to change your whole routine. Start by making small changes to see how your body reacts and go from there. Here are a few simple tips to help yourself feel lighter and brighter:
Frequently Asked Questions
When we start talking about constipation, the same questions often pop up. Here they are, along with the answers.
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Yes, women experience constipation more often than men. This can be explained by the presence of oestrogen and progesterone, hormones that directly interfere with movement in the intestines. Especially during their menstrual cycles, women can get constipated7.
Another reason that constipation affects women more is the pelvic floor. This plays an important role in emptying the intestines.
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Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in adults. Factors that may increase your risk of constipation include:
- Being an older adult
- Being a woman
- Being dehydrated
- Eating a diet that's low in fibre
- Getting little or no physical activity. This includes people who are confined to bed due to a physical disability such as a spinal cord injury
- Taking certain medications, including sedatives, opioid pain medications, some antidepressants or medications to lower blood pressure
- Having a mental health condition such as depression or an eating disorder
- Being pregnant
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Complications can include11:
- Swollen veins in your anus (haemorrhoids). Straining to poo may cause swelling in the veins in and around your anus.
- Torn skin in your anus (anal fissure). A large or hard poo can cause tiny tears in the anus.
- Poo that can't be expelled (faecal impaction). Constipation may cause an accumulation of hardened poo that gets stuck in your intestines.
- Intestine that protrudes from the anus (rectal prolapse). Straining to have a poo can cause a small amount of the rectum to stretch and protrude from the anus.
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Treatment guidelines, along with results of clinical studies, have shown these treatments are useful for occasional constipation:
- Lifestyle modification, including increasing fibre in your diet helps speed up the digestion of food in your bowels.
- Laxatives, including osmotic laxatives such as macrogol or stimulant laxatives such as senna and bisacodyl.
- Probiotics. Those of the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus genera have been shown to increase the frequency of pooing in adults and children.
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There are several types of laxatives – each works differently to help you poo.
Stimulant laxatives
Stimulant laxatives including bisacodyl, the active substance in Dulcolax®, have a dual action. They transport water and salt into the gut which hydrates the poo and makes it easier to pass. In addition, they stimulate natural bowel movement, helping your intestines to contract. Together, these two effects accelerate the transit of poo through the colon and have been proven to be very effective and safe in clinical studies. Effectively, stimulating your bowel muscles helps get things moving.
Osmotic laxatives
Osmotic or saline laxatives help poo move through the large intestine by reducing intestinal fluid absorption. These laxatives contain poorly absorbed substances that hold additional water inside the colon, creating an osmotic gradient, drawing water into the bowel. This hydrates the poo and makes it easier to pass. Saline laxatives can also help keep you regular.
Stool softener laxatives
Stool softeners are just that — products that help make hard, dry, painful poo softer. They work by softening the poo in the intestine, which makes it easier and more comfortable to pass. When used as directed, stool softeners are a safe, gentle way to keep things moving.
Suppositories
Medicated suppositories are a typically reliable, fast-acting dosage form of stimulant laxative that are inserted into the rectum. These suppositories, which may contain bisacodyl or glycerin, help move the poo out of the body by providing lubrication and stimulation. They stimulate the bowel muscles in the intestine to help encourage a bowel movement within minutes.
Fibre supplements
Fibre supplements add bulk to your poo. Bulky poos are softer and easier to pass. Fibre supplements are traditionally considered as the first-line treatment. They are generally safe, but may increase bloating, flatulence and abdominal pain, and may interfere with the absorption of some drugs.
The Dulco® range
Feeling bloated, constipated, heavy or just uncomfortable can interfere with your day-to-day life. It's frustrating too, especially if you've tried to adapt your diet or lifestyle to move things along. But fear not, for occasional constipation, you can turn to some active ingredients-based laxatives, this includes Bisacodyl, found in Dulcolax® tablets, Sodium picosulfate, found in the Dulcolax© Pico liquid, or docusate sodium, found in DulcoEase©.
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DulcoEase® Capsules
DulcoEase® Capsules are a gentle and effective laxative that gradually relieve constipation. The dual effect action softens poo and stimulates the bowel, resulting in an increase in bowel movements and softer poo that's easier to pass.
Dulcolax® Adult Tablets
Dulcolax® Tablets provide targeted relief that works away whilst you sleep, stimulating your natural bowel movement in harmony with your body. Take at night in the comfort of your own home to make it easier to pass poo when you wake up (between 6-12 hours later). So, you can expect to feel good inside and out.
Dulcolax® Adult Pico Liquid oral solution
Dulcolax® Adult Pico Liquid is a fruit flavoured liquid solution that provides predictable, overnight relief from constipation in 6-12 hours.
Dulcolax® Twelve Plus suppositories
Get fast relief in 10-30 minutes with this quick-acting stimulant laxative. Dulcolax® Twelve Plus 10mg suppositories work quickly to stimulate bowel muscles and soften poo, making it easier to pass.
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Dulcolax® Adult Tablets
Dulcolax® Tablets provide targeted relief that works away whilst you sleep, stimulating your natural bowel movement in harmony with your body. Take at night in the comfort of your own home to make it easier to pass poo when you wake up (between 6-12 hours later). So, you can expect to feel good inside and out.
Dulcolax® Adult Pico Liquid oral solution
Dulcolax® Adult Pico Liquid is a fruit flavoured liquid solution that provides predictable, overnight relief from constipation in 6-12 hours.
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DulcoEase® Capsules
DulcoEase® Capsules are a gentle and effective laxative that gradually relieve constipation. The dual effect action softens poo and stimulates the bowel, resulting in an increase in bowel movements and softer poo that's easier to pass.
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Dulcolax® Twelve Plus suppositories
Get fast relief in 10-30 minutes with this quick-acting stimulant laxative. Dulcolax® Twelve Plus 10mg suppositories work quickly to stimulate bowel muscles and soften poo, making it easier to pass.
Learn more about occasional constipation
Here, you'll find answers to some of the most common questions about constipation. And the Dulco© experts offer you guidance on how to get rid of constipation and stay regular.
What is occasional constipation?
Constipation is characterised by uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Whatever your symptoms and complaints of constipation, it can be very uncomfortable and annoying when it's hard to poo.
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