Constipation Causes – The Various Reasons

There are several constipation causes that people may or may not be aware of. As constipation is the result of slow passage of digesting food through the colon, there are things that will make this even worse. When the digestion is slowed down too much, the very uncomfortable condition of constipation is experienced.

A lot of people do things to themselves that will cause them to become constipated without even realizing that’s what they are doing. This is why it’s a good idea to research the subject a bit so that the discomfort can be avoided, or at least treated quickly and easily. Being forewarned is being forearmed.

A huge factor in constipation causes is diet. Fiber is a very important ingredient in your diet and if you don’t get enough of it, constipation can become a real problem. Natural forms of fiber include fruits, vegetables, and grains. Make sure that you get plenty of these daily.

Certain medications can also be a cause of constipation. This is something that not everyone is aware of. Narcotic pain killers, as well as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and certain antacids are all culprits. Watch that you don’t take too many of any of these.

Oddly enough, one of the worst constipation causes is laxatives themselves. While these are supposed to aid in resolving constipation, if you take them in excess you will find that your body becomes dependant on them and you will not be able to have a normal elimination process. In short, you won’t be able to have normal bowel movements because your body is dependant on the help it gets from the laxatives.

Hormones can also have an affect on the regularity of bowel movements. For example, hypothyroidism, which is the result of not enough of the thyroid hormone, will cause constipation. When a woman has menstrual periods, high levels of estrogen and progesterone can be constipation causes, but this is normally temporary and is resolved when the period has ended. These same high levels of hormones during pregnancy can also cause constipation.

If you find that you have an ongoing problem with constipation, it is wise to call your doctor and make sure that something more serious isn’t going on. Some times the chonic constipation is only a symptom.