IS CONSTIPATION
MAKING YOU
UNCOMFORTABLE?
WHY CAN’T MY BOWEL
HABITS BE “NORMAL”?
There isn’t a clear-cut definition of
“normal” when it comes to having a bowel movement: everybody has their
own distinct tendencies and patterns.1
“Normal” depends on you—so while
one person may have a bowel movement
three times a day, another may not.2 Ever
hear the phrase “everyone’s different”?
That certainly applies to our bowel habits.
Whatever your bowel movement habits
happen to be, a problem could arise
if you start to have symptoms that are
suggestive of a bowel-related issue,
such as constipation.3
So what are the symptoms to look
for when trying to determine if you
have constipation? Well at its essence,
constipation is defined as bowel movements
that do not offer satisfaction or relief
and have one or both of the following
characteristics: they are infrequent and
stools are difficult to pass.4
There are a few very simple signs to look
for which indicate you m
ight be having
difficulty passing a stool.
The combination of signs are different for
everyone but can include having t o strain
or push with a lot of force, having physical
difficulty passing a stool, feeling like you
still need to go even after you have had
a bowel movement, having stools that
are hard or lumpy, needing to spend
a long time on the toilet to pass a bowel
movement, or having to manually remove
a stool with your hand.4
While these experiences can be physically
and sometimes emotionally hard to deal
with, some people find comfort in at least
knowing that there is a clear definition for
the constipation they are experiencing.
YOU ARE
NOT ALONE
Having constipation can take a toll on
your day. It’s understandable if you aren’t that
comfortable discussing it with many people,
but you shouldn’t be suffering alone. Because
the thing is, you aren’t alone with this problem.
Constipation can affect anybody—women,
men and children—although women tend
to be more affected than men. In fact, it’s
something that most people will experience
at some point in their lives and is usually
a temporary condition that is not serious.2
A recent study noted that 27% of people
reported experiencing constipation at some
point in the last 3 months.5
Still feel like you’re the only one suffering?
UNDERSTANDING
YOUR DIGESTIVE
SYSTEM
Impaired propulsion
in the colon
Constipation
To get a better understanding of
constipation, it’s helpful to know how
your colon works.
The colon (COAL-uhn) absorbs water from
your food and helps push it along with the
help of its muscles towards your rectum.
This is where the term “bowel movement”
comes from. Stool then leaves your body
through the rectum when you go to the
washroom.2
By the time it has reached your rectum,
most of the water has been absorbed
- this is what makes the stool solid. It’s at this
stage that constipation affects the body.
In some people, the colon absorbs too
much water when the muscles in the colon
are slow or sluggish. This slow movement,
combined with the body’s natural process
of drawing out water from the stools,
can then lead to the hard and dry stool
common in constipation.2
BUT I EAT WELL AND EXERCISE –
WHAT DID I DO TO CAUSE THIS?
If you are experiencing constipation, there
are many triggers that might have caused
it. Changes in diet, lack of exercise, illness
or certain medications can all have an
impact on our bowels.6
In constipation, these changes are what
lead to a disorder in bowel function, as
opposed to something being structurally
wrong with your insides.7
If your constipation is what’s referred to as
idiopathic (id-ee-oh-PATH-ic) constipation,
the brief answer is that there is nothing that
doctors can determine as an underlying
cause of your constipation.8
The term “idiopathic” means that y
our
symptoms are unexplained by diseases,
disorders or medication side effects.8
So even though you may be otherwise
healthy, taking little to no medications,
or you may not have any other underlying
diseases, you may still suffer from
constipation.
Contrary to what you may hear, there is no
actual evidence of harmful toxins building
up in the bodies of people who don’t have
regular bowel movements.9
WHAT HAVE YOU TRIED?
Have you ever browsed the various treatments for occasional constipation at your
local pharmacy? It can be easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options.
Most treatments fall into a handful of categories.
Not every type of constipation responds to all therapies. Speak to your doctor about treatment
recommendations for the type of constipation you suffer from.
Canadian doctors are constantly learning about the condition, and your doctor is your best source
of information about treatment options. Many people with constipation also find relief in knowing that
they can talk openly with someone about an issue that they had been keeping private for so long.
Most treatments for constipation should not be taken on a regular basis.
All brand names are trademark or registered trademark of their respective owners.
USE THE FOLLOWING
TO GET THE CONVERSATION
STARTED WITH YOUR DOCTOR TODAY
I’ve filled out an evaluation form
about my digestive health. Can we
take a minute to review it together?
Why haven’t laxatives, diet or
lifestyle changes worked for me?
Are there any treatment options
that might be an option for me,
taking into consideration previous
treatments I have already tried?
Which of the following have you tried to treat
your constipation? Check all that apply.
Bulking agents (e.g., Prodiem Fiber
Therapy®; Metamucil®)
Stool softeners (e.g., Colace®)
Osmotic laxatives (e.g., RestoraLax®,
Lax-a-day, milk of magnesia®)
Stimulant laxatives
(e.g., Senokot®, Ex-Lax®)
Hyperosmotic laxatives
(e.g., glycerine suppositories)
Lubricant laxatives (e.g., mineral oil)
Enterokinetic agent (e.g., ResotranTM
[prucalopride succinate])
KNOW MORE
ABOUT CONSTIPATION
Take a few moments to fill out the following and review it with your doctor.
TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT CONSTIPATION
VISIT WWW.CONSTIPATIONINFO.CA
19 Green Belt Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1L9
All trademarks used under license.
© JANSSEN Inc. 2012 RSCB120229E
1. International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Signs and
symptoms of chronic constipation. Source: http://www.aboutconstipation.
org/site/aboutconstipation/characteristics/.
2. National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse: Constipation.
Source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/diseases/pubs/constipation/.
3. Chang L. Impact of Chronic Constipation and IBS. Adv Stud in Med 2006;6
(2a):S49–S57.
4. Brandt LJ, et al. Systematic review on the management of chronic
constipation in North America. Am J Gastroenterol 2005;100 Suppl 1:S5–S22.
5. Irvine EJ, et al. Health-related quality of life in functional GI disorders:
Focus on constipation and resource utilization. Am J Gastroenterol 2002
Aug;97(8):1986–93.
6. Yale Medical Group: Constipation. Source: http://www.yalemedicalgroup.
org/stw/Page.asp?PageID=STW023012.
7. WebMD. The basics of constipation. Source: http://www.webmd.com/
digestivedisorders/digestive-diseases-constipation.
8. Jacobs TQ, et al. Adult constipation: a review and clinical guide. J Natl Med
Assoc 2001 Jan;93(1):22–30.
9. Canadian Digestive Health Foundation: Constipation FAQs.
Source: http://www.cdhf.ca/disorders-faq/constipation/.
10. Mayo Clinic: Constipation: Treatments and drugs.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/constipation/DS00063/
DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs.
11. MacCara ME. The uses and abuses of laxatives. Can Med Assoc J 1982
Apr 1;126(7):780–82.
12. Familydoctor.org. Laxatives: OTC products for constipation.
Source: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/otc-center/
otc-medicines/861.html.
13. University of Maryland: Laxatives – lubricant laxatives. Source:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/laxatives-lubricant-000214.htm.
14. MedlinePlus. Stool Softeners. Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
druginfo/meds/a601113.html.
15. Janssen Inc. RESOTRANTM Product Monograph, December 2, 2011.