Constipation | Causes & Risk Factors

What causes constipation?

As the food you eat passes through your digestive tract, your body takes nutrients and water from the food. This process creates a stool, which is moved through your intestines with muscle contractions (squeezing motions).

A number of things can cause the stools to move more slowly through your intestines, leading to constipation. You can affect the process if you don’t go to the bathroom when you have the urge to have a bowel movement, drink enough fluids, get enough exercise or eat enough fiber, and if you take certain medicines or regularly use laxatives. Constipation is also common in pregnant women.

What causes constipation in children?

Constipation in children is caused by many of the same things that cause adults to have it. For example, it is likely to happen when your child doesn't drink enough water, milk or other fluids, or if your child doesn't eat a healthy diet that includes enough fiber. Fiber is found in foods such as cereals, grains, fruits and vegetables. If your child eats a diet high in fat and refined sugars (candy and desserts), he or she is probably not getting enough fiber, which may result in constipation.

Constipation may also begin when you switch your baby from breast milk or baby formula to whole cow's milk, and when you switch from baby food to solid food. Sometimes constipation happens after your child has been sick or has taken certain medicines. You should not be concerned if your child becomes constipated for a short period of time. Constipation is common in children and usually goes away on its own.

Young children who have chronic constipation often ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. Your child may not want to interrupt play, or may be afraid or embarrassed to ask a teacher or use a public restroom. When a child avoids bowel movements, stool builds up in the lower bowel. The stool becomes larger and harder. Passage of the stool can be painful and makes children want to avoid having a bowel movement even more.