Disease description:

Constipation can severely impair the quality of life of those affected: Defecation is difficult and painful – the faeces are usually hard and can only be excreted in small portions through strong pressing. How often we have bowel movements is highly subjective and depends on many factors such as stress, diet or exercise. According to experts, anything between three times a day and three times a week is considered normal for the frequency of bowel emptying.

Acute constipation is usually caused by changes in lifestyle, lack of exercise due to sitting in the car or plane on long-haul flights or a change in diet.

Chronic constipation has many causes, for example, medications, poor bowel habits, low fibre diets, possibly abuse of laxatives, hormonal disorders, diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon, prolonged sitting.