Ever had a hard time passing stools? This may be a sign of being constipated. Constipation means that your bowel movements happen less frequently than normal.

However, how frequent you pass stools are different from person to person. Some people have bowel movements three times a day while others have their bowel movements once or twice a week.

Having bowel movements one or twice a week are normal as long as you don't experience any negative symptoms.

Regardless of your bowel movement, the important thing to look at is how your bowel movement patterns, from frequent to much less than before.

If you don't have a bowel movement even after 3 days or more, your stool becomes harder and eventually makes it more difficult to pass.

There are several key factors to easily know if you have constipation, these include: having painful bowel movements and difficulty passing stools, dry and hard stools, and having a feeling of not being satisfied with your bowel movement.

This condition can happen to anyone of any age that’s why it’s a very common occurrence. Thus, it’s easily treatable with prescription drugs.

Even though it’s not a significantly serious condition, having constipation can be irritating.

Your stool is the by-product of the residual foods absorbed by the colon as it’s passing through your digestive system.

The colon’s muscles help release the wastes through the rectum to be removed from the system.

However, if the stool remains in your colon for too long, it can harden and make bowel movements difficult. Constipation arises due to several causes such as:

• Poor diet

• Low-fiber diet

• Lack of exercise

• Dehydration

• Pregnancy

• Change in routine

• Delaying a bowel movement

• Certain medications such as pain killers, high calcium antacids, antidepressants, and iron pills

• Stress

• Laxative abuse

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Colon cancer

• Hypothyroidism

Having constipation feels like many symptoms. These include:

• Stomach cramps

• Bloatedness

• Back aches

• feeling as if your stool is still in the rectum

• Heaviness or discomfort in your stomach and intestines

• Excessive consumption of milk or cheese

Few complications may arise if you have hard and difficulty passing stools. These complications include:

Teared tissue in the lining of the anus caused by passing hard stools.

Fecal impaction — A large quantity of piled up stool in the rectum and anus.

Damage to the pelvic floor muscles caused by straining to pass stools. Since these muscles are also responsible for helping control your bladder, too much straining for long periods of time may cause urine to automatically leak from the bladder.

This is a condition called stress urinary incontinence.

Diverticulitis — a condition caused by an infection from stools that are stuck are trapped in the colon.

Hemorrhoids — a condition which causes swelling and inflammation in the vein of the rectum.

People who are usually affected by constipation start by using self-treatments such as changing their diets, getting active, or using over-the-counter laxatives.

However, laxative shall not be consumed for more than two weeks as it might make your body dependent on laxatives.

Several symptoms that may be a medical emergency shall be taken with your doctor or health professionals. These symptoms include:

• Having constipation for more than three weeks

• Losing weight

• Blood in stool

• Constant abdominal pain

As this condition isn’t that serious than others, it still needs to be given some attention if prolonged, as it might cause more symptoms.

Since constipation can be treated by over-the-counter medication or laxatives, it still may have side effects when prolonged.

It would be best to try treating your constipation with natural remedies along with simple lifestyle changes.

Here are several natural remedies for constipation:

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Rhubarb

This can be seen as an ingredient for pie, but that’s not all, it can also be used to treat constipation. This ingredient can actually cause you to use the bathroom afterward.

This is due to the senna and cascara compounds found in rhubarb that can act as a natural laxative.

However, rhubarb shall only be used for a short period of time.

Artichoke

This vegetable is an antioxidant rich, and provides a good source of fiber at exactly 10.3 grams of fiber.

It’s specifically a rich insoluble fiber which is the type that doesn't absorb water, but instead bulks up your stool.

Consuming a healthy and natural dose of insoluble fiber is the best thing you need during constipation.

Beans

Legumes are known to be an accessible and good source of fiber. Beans contain 15 grams of fiber per cup, which almost has more fiber than any other source.

Beans are a combination of soluble and insoluble fiber which helps the food pass through the system smoothly.

You can get beans of any kind in a grocery, market, or even planted in your own backyard. That’s why parents stick with beans when treating their kids’ constipation.

Kiwi Fruit

This hairy and sour fruit contains about 2.5 grams of fiber and other vitamins and nutrients beneficial for one’s overall health and treating constipation.

According to Advances in Food and Nutrition, consuming kiwi promotes regular bowel movements.

Nuts and seeds

Nuts are a very popular snack packed with fiber and magnesium. Consuming nuts, specifically almonds, in a handful will provide 3.5 grams of fiber.

It might be a small amount of fiber, but eating several handfuls can help ease your constipation. Additionally, seeds like pumpkin seeds are a good source of fiber at about 5 grams.

Fiber and magnesium is a good addition to your diet when experiencing constipation. However, note that nuts and seeds are high in calories, so consume only a few handfuls.

Apples, pears, and plums

These are all healthy fruits which contain a good amount of fiber. This explains why baby food mostly contains apples or pears.

This is a mild way to treat your constipation. Both an apple and a pear contains about 5 to 6 grams of fiber. Thus, these are a great addition to your diet because it’s not only healthy but also good for your digestive system.