Constipation is a condition in which you may have fewer than three bowel movements a week; stools that are hard, dry, or lumpy; stools that are difficult or painful to pass; or a feeling that not all stool has passed.
Common lifestyle causes of constipation include:
Eating foods low in fiber. Not drinking enough water (dehydration). Not getting enough exercise. Changes in your regular routine, such as traveling or eating or going to bed at different times.
Following are the first signs of constipation:
Passing fewer than three stools a week.
Having lumpy or hard stools.
Straining to have bowel movements.
Feeling as though there's a blockage in your rectum that prevents bowel movements.
Feeling as though you can't completely empty the stool from your rectum.
Drinking more fluids, eating more high-fibre foods and getting regular exercise may help to relieve constipation. Using stool softeners and laxatives may also help.
