Constipation: Causes, Relief, and What Really Works

When your constipation, a condition where bowel movements become infrequent or difficult to pass. Also known as slow digestion, it’s not just an inconvenience—it’s a signal your body is out of balance. It’s not rare. One in five adults deals with it regularly. But most people treat the symptom, not the cause. You might reach for a laxative, but that’s like putting a bandage on a leaky pipe. The real issue? What’s happening inside your gut.

Constipation often ties into three things: fiber intake, the amount of indigestible plant material in your diet that adds bulk to stool, bowel movement, the physical process of passing stool, which depends on muscle coordination and hydration, and laxatives, medications that stimulate or ease bowel movements, often used short-term. Low fiber is the biggest culprit. If you’re eating processed food, skipping veggies, and drinking mostly water without meals, your stool gets hard and slow. Dehydration makes it worse. And if you’re ignoring the urge to go—yes, that counts—your body learns to ignore it too.

Some meds can cause it. Painkillers, antidepressants, iron pills, even some blood pressure drugs. So can thyroid issues, diabetes, or just not moving enough. Sitting all day slows digestion. Stress messes with your gut nerves. And if you’ve been on laxatives too long, your colon can lose its natural rhythm. That’s when things get tricky.

You don’t need fancy supplements or expensive teas. Start simple: drink more water, especially before meals. Eat beans, oats, apples, pears, broccoli—foods with real fiber. Move your body. Walk 20 minutes a day. Give your body time. Don’t force it. If you’re still stuck after a week, or if you’re bleeding, losing weight, or in pain, see a doctor. This isn’t normal.

Below, you’ll find real guides from people who’ve been there—how fish oil and aspirin might affect digestion, what happens when you stop ranitidine, how diuretics can dry you out, and why some meds make constipation worse. No fluff. Just what works, what doesn’t, and what to watch for.