Constipation
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What Causes Constipation?
The stomach churns and mixes food so it can be digested. The near-liquid food then enters the small intestine which extracts calories, minerals and vitamins. The small intestine ends in the right-lower abdomen where it enters the colon. The colon, or large bowel, is 5 to 6 feet long. Its function is to withdraw water from the liquid stool, so that by the time it reaches the rectum, there is a soft formed stool. If an excessive amount of water is extracted, the stool can become hard and difficult to expel.Constipation is often caused by a lazy colon that does not contract properly and fails to move the stool to the rectum. The colon also can become spastic and remain contracted for a prolonged time. In this case, stool cannot move along. Too much water is absorbed and hard pellet-like stool develops. Constipation also can result from a mechanical obstruction, such as tumors or advanced Diverticulosis, a disorder which can distort and narrow the lower left colon. Other conditions that can produce a sluggish, poorly contracting bowel include Irritable Bowel Syndrome, pregnancy, certain drugs, thyroid hormone deficiency, chronic abuse of laxatives, travel, and stress.
