The medical community defines constipation as a reduction in bowel movements or difficulty passing stools.
People who are constipated may have:
- hard, dry, or lumpy stools
- stools that look like small stones or marbles
- pain and discomfort during bowel movements
- a feeling of being unable to empty the bowels fully
- a loss of appetite due to a continual sense of fullness
- a slightly swollen belly
A person may also notice small streaks of bright red blood in the stools or on the toilet paper after wiping.
Everyone’s bowel habits are different, but people who are constipated usually have fewer than three bowel movements per week.
Constipation is very common. In the United States, around 16 out of every 100 adults have symptoms of constipation.
The risk of constipation increases with age. Approximately 33 out of every 100 adults over the age of 60 in the U.S. have symptoms of constipation.
In this article, we look at 14 foods that can promote bowel movements. We also explore the causes and treatments of constipation.
