Various surveys report the incidence of constipation to range from 2 to 30%, with one large international survey pegging the number at 12% worldwide. The numbers encompass a wide range and probably reflect fundamental problems in the survey method itself. However, the bottom line is that constipation is a common condition that afflicts a substantial fraction of the population.
One of the problems associated with statistical surveying of constipation is that it's a poorly defined condition. This translates into an impact on diagnosis and treatment. For example, one physician might believe that having a bowel movement every three days is ok, but another physician would be alarmed at the low frequency. The source of the inconsistent opinions is that bowel movement frequency is itself highly variable from person to person. This difficulty in definition is compounded by differences in patient-reported symptoms such as difficulty or pain in passing stool, or excessive time spend on the toilet.
After diagnosis, the patient and the physician must still face the task of trying to determine the fundamental cause of constipation. For some, the constellation of symptoms might suggest something such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For others, incomplete control of muscles in the rectum due to trauma or injury can be a source of constipation. Yet for the largest group, there is no clear cause. This last group are classified into the "idiopathic" group.
With idiopathic and chronic constipation, one of the first things a physician will do with his or her patient is inquire about dietary and personal bowel habits. The physician wishes to rule out the simplest causes. Dietary shortage of insoluble fiber can be fixed by increasing uptake of fiber, either through food intake modification or addition of supplements. These types of natural remedies for constipation have the advantage of both provide diagnosis and treatment, if successful.
Beyond fiber laxatives, there are some natural supplements that are well-known: lubricant laxatives (mineral and castor oils) and herbal remedies (senna) are two examples. Remember, the safety of a natural remedy is never guaranteed. A case in point concerns aloe vera and cascara, which were used as natural constipation treatments. In 2002, the FDA banned their marketing and manufacturing exactly for safety reasons.
One other option is therapy via one of the many prescription drugs for constipation. A number of these overlap with over-the-counter laxatives. A very small handful are advanced, "targeted" drugs which affect the digestive tract in specific ways. In recent times, unique approaches such as electrode-assisted biofeedback have been studied as possible medical therapies. The field of constipation remedies seems poised for great changes in the coming decade.
One of the problems associated with statistical surveying of constipation is that it's a poorly defined condition. This translates into an impact on diagnosis and treatment. For example, one physician might believe that having a bowel movement every three days is ok, but another physician would be alarmed at the low frequency. The source of the inconsistent opinions is that bowel movement frequency is itself highly variable from person to person. This difficulty in definition is compounded by differences in patient-reported symptoms such as difficulty or pain in passing stool, or excessive time spend on the toilet.
After diagnosis, the patient and the physician must still face the task of trying to determine the fundamental cause of constipation. For some, the constellation of symptoms might suggest something such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For others, incomplete control of muscles in the rectum due to trauma or injury can be a source of constipation. Yet for the largest group, there is no clear cause. This last group are classified into the "idiopathic" group.
With idiopathic and chronic constipation, one of the first things a physician will do with his or her patient is inquire about dietary and personal bowel habits. The physician wishes to rule out the simplest causes. Dietary shortage of insoluble fiber can be fixed by increasing uptake of fiber, either through food intake modification or addition of supplements. These types of natural remedies for constipation have the advantage of both provide diagnosis and treatment, if successful.
Beyond fiber laxatives, there are some natural supplements that are well-known: lubricant laxatives (mineral and castor oils) and herbal remedies (senna) are two examples. Remember, the safety of a natural remedy is never guaranteed. A case in point concerns aloe vera and cascara, which were used as natural constipation treatments. In 2002, the FDA banned their marketing and manufacturing exactly for safety reasons.
One other option is therapy via one of the many prescription drugs for constipation. A number of these overlap with over-the-counter laxatives. A very small handful are advanced, "targeted" drugs which affect the digestive tract in specific ways. In recent times, unique approaches such as electrode-assisted biofeedback have been studied as possible medical therapies. The field of constipation remedies seems poised for great changes in the coming decade.