How To Treat and Prevent Severe Constipation

Constipation happens when you have stools that are hard to pass or less than three bowel movements weekly. Severe constipation can refer to long-lasting constipation symptoms that won't go away and warrant medical attention. Read on to learn more.

Severe Constipation Symptoms

Constipation is common among people living in the United States. However, sometimes symptoms can become more serious. Seek medical consultation if you experience the following:

• Bleeding from your rectum
• Blood or white mucus in your stool
• Constant pain in your abdomen
• Constipation lasting three or more weeks with dietary changes
• Fever
• Inability to pass gas or stool on your own
• Losing weight without trying
• Lower back pain
• New, unusual constipation
• Vomiting

You should also check in with a healthcare provider if you've had constipation for quite a while and have a family history of colon or rectal cancer.

What Causes It?

Constipation typically occurs when the body struggles to move food through the digestive tract. Many things can cause constipation, which includes:

• Certain medications or dietary supplements
• Certain health conditions, like diabetes or multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Dehydration
• Dietary changes or patterns, like not eating enough fiber
• Intestinal issues
• Limited physical activity
• Major life changes, such as pregnancy

There may be only one cause for your experience of constipation, but constipation can also be the result of several causes.

Risk Factors

Some individuals are more likely to experience constipation. They include people who are:

• Assigned female at birth
• Older in age
• Pregnant or who have just given birth
  

How Is It Diagnosed?

Healthcare providers will diagnose constipation by getting information about your symptoms, family history, and medical history, including medications. They will also do a physical exam, which may include checking for dehydration and rectal exams to check for blockages.

A provider may also use testing for diagnosis, such as:

• Bowel function tests: These tests can be used to examine your colon's efficiency in moving stool. They may also be beneficial for ruling out symptoms of health conditions causing constipation.
• Endoscopy: This test is used to determine if you have lower digestive tract problems by examining your anus, rectum, and colon.
• Imaging tests: Imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), give providers a picture of your digestive tract.
• Lab tests: Healthcare providers may test your blood, stool, or urine to rule out underlying causes of constipation like diabetes or celiac disease.

There are also patient self-report tests about symptoms—like the Constipation Assessment Scale—which can be considered to determine the severity of constipation. However, self-report tests are only helpful if a person completes them in real time closer to their experience of the symptoms.

Treatments

Various treatments are available, from behavioral changes to medical interventions.

Behavioral Changes

It may be helpful for people to train their bodies to have bowel movements on a daily, consistent basis. The timing may be between 15 and 45 minutes following a meal. This may also entail using the restroom when they feel they need to go instead of holding it.

Laxatives

Laxatives help promote bowel movements. Examples include:

• Bulking agents, such as psyllium
• Emollient agents
• Enemas
• Osmotic agents
• Peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs)
• Secretory or stimulant cathartics

Medical Interventions

Healthcare providers may consider other treatment options based on the severity of your constipation. These interventions may involve:

• Biofeedback therapy: Biofeedback can be beneficial for retraining the muscles responsible for bowel movement control.
• Prescription medications: Medications like lubiprostone, linaclotide, plecanatide, or prucalopride can help regulate or facilitate bowel movements.
• Surgery: A healthcare provider might consider surgery if you have a blockage or if your colon muscles are having problems working.
  

How To Prevent Severe Constipation

Some treatments for constipation, like behavioral changes, can be helpful in preventing constipation too. Other ways to reduce and prevent constipation—severe or not—include:

• Eating enough fiber
• Exercising regularly
• Staying hydrated with enough water and other fluids

You might also try different positions in the bathroom, like putting an elevated platform—like a Squatty Potty—under your feet to put you in a squat. This position may help reduce straining while pooping by creating a better angle for your bowels.

Complications

If constipation is left untreated, it can lead to further complications such as:

• Anal fissures
• Fecal impaction
• Hemorrhoids
• Rectal prolapse

Living With Severe Constipation

Constipation, including severe constipation, has been identified as a type of constipation that affects a person's quality of life. The persistent symptoms can make life uncomfortable by impacting your meals, daily routine, or even how well your clothes fit.

Fortunately, treatment and lifestyle changes can help make severe constipation manageable. Also, making a note of your bowel movement schedule and having a consistent routine are ways to deal with constipation less often.