National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Constipation is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Constipation
Constipation means that a person has three or fewer bowel movements in a week. The stool can be hard and dry. Sometimes it is painful to pass. At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated. In most cases, it lasts a short time and is not serious.
There are many things you can do to prevent constipation. They include
- Eating more fruits, vegetables and grains, which are high in fiber
- Drinking plenty of water and other liquids
- Getting enough exercise
- Taking time to have a bowel movement when you need to
- Using laxatives only if your doctor says you should
- Asking your doctor if medicines you take may cause constipation
It's not important that you have a bowel movement every day. If your bowel habits change, however, check with your doctor.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
-
Start Here
- Constipation(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
-
Constipation(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
,
Learn More
, and
Multimedia & Cool Tools
.
For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
,
Reference Shelf
, and
For You
.
For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
-
Overviews
- Understanding Constipation(American Gastroenterological Association) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
-
What I Need to Know about Constipation
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
-
Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Elimination Problems(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Lower Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract X-Ray (Radiography)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
-
Lower GI Series (Barium Enema)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
-
MedlinePlus: Colonoscopy(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
-
Treatment
- Constipation(Consumers Union of U.S.)
- Laxatives: OTC Products for Constipation(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Over the Counter Laxatives for Constipation: Use with Caution(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
-
Alternative Therapy
-
Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
- Return to top
-
Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
-
Related Issues
- Constipation and Impaction(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
- Fiber: How to Increase the Amount in Your Diet(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Rectal Prolapse(American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons)
- Solitary Rectal Ulcer Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Return to top
-
Health Check Tools
- Constipation(DSHI Systems)
- Return to top
-
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Constipation(National Institutes of Health)
- Return to top
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Constipation
-
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
-
Dictionaries/Glossaries
-
Digestive Diseases Dictionary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
Digestive Diseases Dictionary
-
Directories
- Find a Gastroenterologist(American College of Gastroenterology)
- Return to top
-
Organizations
-
Children
- Constipation(Nemours Foundation)
-
Constipation in Children(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Infant Constipation(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Stool Soiling and Constipation in Children(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
Teenagers
- Constipation(Nemours Foundation)
- Return to top
-
Women
- Pregnancy Constipation: Are Stool Softeners Safe?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Return to top
-
Seniors
-
Concerned about Constipation?(National Institute on Aging)
- Also available in Spanish
- Eldercare at Home: Constipation(AGS Foundation for Health in Aging)
- Return to top
-
Concerned about Constipation?
-
Patient Handouts
- Constipation
- Also available in Spanish
- Constipation - self-care
- Also available in Spanish
- Diet - constipation
- Also available in Spanish
- Fecal impaction
- Also available in Spanish
-
Lower GI Series(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Tenesmus
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Languages
Constipation - Multiple Languages
