Constipation

Constipation is a condition in which stool becomes hard, dry, and difficult to pass, and bowel movements don’t happen very often. Other symptoms may include painful bowel movements, and feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish.

What is Constipation?

Constipation is a condition characterized by inability to pass stools that become hard and more difficult to pass.

Constipation Diagnosis

Causes of Constipation

Constipation in Children

Constipation in the Elderly

Slow Transit Constipation

Constipation Treatments

Constipation in Babies

Constipation Prevention

Constipation Symptoms

Drugs that Cause Constipation

Latest Constipation News and Research

Muscle benefits of lifting weights while taking tirzepatide

Resistance training alongside tirzepatide helped adults with obesity retain more lean tissue and gain strength without reducing weight-loss benefits.

12 Nov 2026

Regular coffee consumption alters gut bacteria and digestive physiology

If you drink coffee regularly, it appears to alter not only your gut bacteria but also the physiology of the gut itself. That is the conclusion of a study from the University of Copenhagen, which may help point the way towards better treatments for constipation.

10 Nov 2026

A weight-loss drug eased knee arthritis pain in two major trials

Retatrutide effectively alleviates knee pain and enhances mobility in obese osteoarthritis patients, but long-term safety and joint health remain uncertain.

10 Nov 2026

CHLA conference connects families navigating childhood bladder exstrophy

Children's Hospital Los Angeles hosted the annual Association for the Bladder Exstrophy Community (ABEC) conference, bringing together nearly 100 patients and families from across the country and globe.

6 Nov 2026

Struggling with constipation? Two green kiwifruits a day may help

A narrative review of 33 publications found that consuming two fresh green kiwifruits daily for approximately four weeks can improve bowel movement frequency and gastrointestinal comfort in adults with functional constipation or constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C). Clinical studies reported broadly similar improvements with kiwifruit, psyllium, and prunes, although more research is needed to establish long-term benefits and differences between kiwifruit varieties.

5 Nov 2026

Rising colorectal cancer rates prompt earlier routine screening recommendations

Forty-five is the new 60 – at least when it comes to colonoscopies. That may not be the party you look forward to, but it could save your life. According to the Cancer Research Institute, 1 in 5 colorectal cancers are diagnosed in patients under age 55, making what was once thought of as an older person's disease one of the fastest-growing cancers in young people.

5 Nov 2026

New tool identifies older adults at risk of delirium and falls from anticholinergic medications

Researchers funded by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) have developed a new tool to help doctors and pharmacists identify older patients at risk of delirium and serious falls associated with taking multiple anticholinergic medications.

5 Nov 2026

A low-calorie diet and exercise helped 54% of younger adults achieve diabetes remission

In a randomized clinical trial involving 96 adults with early-onset type 2 diabetes and obesity, a 24-week program combining a low-energy diet with supervised exercise achieved diabetes remission in 54% of participants, compared with 4% receiving usual care. The intervention also reduced body fat, largely preserved muscle mass, and improved strength and body-mass-adjusted fitness, although the additional benefits attributable specifically to exercise remain uncertain.

3 Nov 2026

Incisionless brain procedure eliminates Parkinson's tremors for air force veteran

To the untrained eye, a "ham" radio may look like a simple device. However, inside its casing, dozens of delicate wires and tiny elements perform distinct yet connected functions to deliver messages to a vast network of operators around the world.

30 Oct 2026

Thyroid cancer risks and medication timing with oral GLP-1s

Like most prescriptions, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) medications to manage weight come with potential risks.

28 Oct 2026

Identical twins showed a survival divide when only one had Parkinson’s

Researchers followed 54 twin pairs discordant for Parkinson’s disease and found substantially higher 10-year mortality among affected twins, including in genetically identical pairs. They also observed more frequent constipation among affected twins, but dietary and nutritional differences were limited, with secondary findings requiring confirmation.

28 Oct 2026

Understanding the symptoms and treatments of pelvic organ prolapse

The pelvic floor is a layer of muscles and connective tissues that supports the uterus, bladder, urethra, vagina and rectum. The pelvic floor supports the organs in your pelvis from underneath, almost like a hammock.

26 Oct 2026

New guidance expands reproductive care for people with cystic fibrosis

For much of the history of cystic fibrosis (CF) care, reproductive health was not a major part of the conversation. Fertility challenges were the norm for men and women with this genetic disorder, and many grew up assuming biological parenthood was not possible.

23 Oct 2026

Oxaloacetate supplement may help reduce chemo brain in breast cancer survivors

A new study led by researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that a nutritional supplement containing oxaloacetate, a molecule naturally found in the body that helps cells produce energy, may help improve cognitive function and reduce the fatigue experienced by some breast cancer survivors following treatment.

21 Oct 2026

Light-activated experimental opioid eliminates dangerous side effects

Opioid painkillers are some of the strongest analgesic medicines, but they are also the riskiest owing to a range of side effects, including addiction.

15 Oct 2026

Losing weight is one thing. Keeping your muscle is another, experts say

The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) position stand concludes that sustained calorie restriction drives weight loss, while adequate protein intake and resistance training help preserve lean mass. Reviewing intermittent fasting, ketogenic diets, and other dietary approaches, the authors emphasize individualized nutrition plans, body composition, and sustainable weight management rather than rapid weight loss alone.

14 Oct 2026

Does extra protein protect aging muscle during fasting?

A randomized trial found that alternate-day fasting reduced weight in older men, while added protein and leucine did not prevent lean mass loss.

7 Oct 2026

Early-onset type 2 diabetes trial demonstrates significant 24-week fat loss

New research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy (Sept 28 – Oct 2) and published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas journal shows that in people who have developed early onset type 2 diabetes (EOT2D) (aged under 45 years), around half these T2D cases can be reversed with a low-energy diet combined with a structured exercise program.

1 Oct 2026

Petrelintide produces double-digit weight loss with fewer side effects

New research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy (Sept 28 – Oct 2) and published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology shows that weekly injections with the new amylin-based obesity drug petrelintide can enable those treated to lose more than 10% of their body weight – generally lower than existing incretin-based (GLP-1 RA) drugs, but also with far fewer side effects.

29 Sep 2026

Dietary changes can prevent Hirschsprung disease symptoms

A multi-institutional study led by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) discovered for the first time that dietary interventions might prevent inflammatory symptoms associated with Hirschsprung disease, a bowel motility disorder.

23 Sep 2026