Medical Causes of Constipation
Generally speaking constipation is caused by the slow movement of food that is being digested through the intestines as a whole. However most of the slow movement that results in constipation happens in the colon part of the intestines.
As a result of the slow movement the matter being digested has more of it's liquid removed by the colon which results in hard stools.
In many cases eating certain foods can cause constipation [http://www.foodsforconstipation.org/foods-that-cause-constipation] while other foods can relieve it but aside from what we eat there are a multitude of non-diet, medical related causes of constipation.
Among them are the following:
Medications
Certain medications can cause constipation. Among them are narcotic pain medications containing codeine (like Tylenol #3) or oxycodone (like Percocet). Antidepressants like Elavil and Tofranil can also cause constipation. Anticonvulsants, iron supplements, calcium channel blocking drugs, and antacids containing aluminum like Amphojel and Basaljel can also cause constipation.
One does not have to stop taking such medications entirely to avoid the constipation that is caused by them if one takes steps to increase the amount of fiber in the diet or to offset their tendency to cause constipation.
Personal Habit
Aside from medications one's personal habit of going to the bathroom can also result in constipation. Having a bowel movement is under voluntary control meaning that one can deny the urge to go to the bathroom and prevent it if one choses to do so. If a person does this too often it can lead to a diminished urge to have a bowel movement when one should resulting in constipation.
Pregnancy
Pregnant women often experience constipation. The reasons for this are not entirely understood but it is thought that such constipation occurs as a result of hormonal changes that relax the intestinal muscle and by the increased pressure from the uterus on the intestines. Such relaxation and pressure causes food to move more slowly through the digestive system which ultimately results in harder stools or constipation.
As a result of the slow movement the matter being digested has more of it's liquid removed by the colon which results in hard stools.
In many cases eating certain foods can cause constipation [http://www.foodsforconstipation.org/foods-that-cause-constipation] while other foods can relieve it but aside from what we eat there are a multitude of non-diet, medical related causes of constipation.
Among them are the following:
Medications
Certain medications can cause constipation. Among them are narcotic pain medications containing codeine (like Tylenol #3) or oxycodone (like Percocet). Antidepressants like Elavil and Tofranil can also cause constipation. Anticonvulsants, iron supplements, calcium channel blocking drugs, and antacids containing aluminum like Amphojel and Basaljel can also cause constipation.
One does not have to stop taking such medications entirely to avoid the constipation that is caused by them if one takes steps to increase the amount of fiber in the diet or to offset their tendency to cause constipation.
Personal Habit
Aside from medications one's personal habit of going to the bathroom can also result in constipation. Having a bowel movement is under voluntary control meaning that one can deny the urge to go to the bathroom and prevent it if one choses to do so. If a person does this too often it can lead to a diminished urge to have a bowel movement when one should resulting in constipation.
Pregnancy
Pregnant women often experience constipation. The reasons for this are not entirely understood but it is thought that such constipation occurs as a result of hormonal changes that relax the intestinal muscle and by the increased pressure from the uterus on the intestines. Such relaxation and pressure causes food to move more slowly through the digestive system which ultimately results in harder stools or constipation.
Source...