Constipation means infrequent bowel movements. It also means a collection of dry, hard stools that get "stuck" in your rectum or colon. When you are constipated, you will often feel bloated and not have much of an appetite. If constipation persists, it may cause a stool "impaction"—a very large hard stool that you will have great difficulty passing.
It is important to try to prevent constipation and stool impaction, for both can cause great distress and pain. Patients with heart, respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases can be especially aggravated by the discomfort and pressure of an impaction.
Causes All kinds of things can make you constipated—lack of exercise, emotional stress, various drugs or simply a lack of high-fiber or bulk-forming foods in your diet.
Chemotherapy drugs such as vincristine and vinblastine are often constipating. So are narcotics such as morphine and codeine, gastrointestinal antispasmodics, antidepressants, diuretics , tranquilizers, sleeping pills and calcium- and aluminum-based antacids.
When prescribing these drugs, your doctor should anticipate the need for a stool softener and/or a mild laxative. Enemas or suppositories might also be needed.
Laxatives and Stool Softeners If you become constipated, talk to your doctor about a laxative program. It is essential that you take laxatives and suppositories and enemas as well—only under your doctor's
