Constipation Facts - What causes constipation?

What causes constipation?

There’s a whole range of common (and not so common) causes of constipation. These including the following:

Not drinking enough fluids: You need to drink at least 1.2 litres of fluid a day, more in hot weather or if you do a lot of exercise. Water is best but all drinks, soups and watery foods contribute. Caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee are okay in moderation but may act as a diuretic which means you urinate more frequently so make sure that you don’t get your entire fluid intake from them.
Diet: Eating an unhealthy diet or not consuming enough fibre for a healthy digestive process is a common cause of constipation. In the UK surveys have shown we are not eating the 18g to 30g of fibre a day recommended – the average fibre intake for women is 12.6g per day and 15.2g a day for men. You can easily increase the amount of fibre in your diet by eating more fruit and vegetables, pulses and wholegrain foods. All these foods add bulk and make it easier for food to move through the bowel.
Lack of exercise: Exercise helps the muscles of the gut work more efficiently. People who are bedridden or live a sedentary lifestyle are more prone to constipation. This is one of the reasons why it is more common in older people, but also in office workers who spend most of the day at their desk.
Stress: Your gut is lined with nerves and can be affected by stress from changes in your life such as a new job, money worries or relationship problems. These types of issues can be just short-term or connected to a one-off stressful event – or long term if stress is part of your every day life.
Travel: A change in your routine caused by travelling can result in a change in bowel habit. You may not have felt comfortable to visit a loo on the aircraft or felt anxious about unfamiliar surroundings. Additionally a change in your diet or dehydration associated with being in a different climate may also affect your bowel habits.
Hormones: Hormones can affect your bowel habits too and many women complain that they become constipated just before the time of their monthly period. You may need to take care with your diet in the weeks before a period – making sure you eat enough fibre and drink sufficient fluid to avoid constipation.
Pregnancy constipation: The hormone progesterone is produced in larger quantities in pregnancy and acts as a muscle relaxant to allow your muscles to expand and accommodate your growing baby. This slows down the muscular action that pushes food and waste through the gut and can therefore lead to constipation. Additionally in the late stages of pregnancy the baby pushes down on the gut which can cause constipation. Many woman require iron supplements in pregnancy, which can also be associated with constipation.
Consult your doctor before taking any treatments if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
The peri-menopause and menopause: Hormonal changes during the menopause and peri-menopause (the years running up to a woman reaching the end of her monthly periods) can also cause constipation.
Getter older: As you age the muscles of the gut work less efficiently and food takes longer to pass through the digestive system. Combine this with the fact that many older people tend to be less active than when they were younger and are more likely to be on medications for conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol and this is why older people tend to suffer from constipation.
Medication: Constipation is a side-effect of a number of drugs including:
- Codeine based painkillers
- Antacids used to treating indigestion (particularly those containing aluminium)
- Iron tablets taken to combat anaemia
- Some types of blood pressure medication
- Anti-epilepsy treatments
- Medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease

Your Pharmacist or GP may be able to alter your dosage or switch to a different brand if you are experiencing problems with constipation after starting on a new medication – you may also have to modify your diet and take more exercise to help deal with the problem. Do not alter medication dosage without seeking your pharmacist’s or doctor’s advice first.