If you’ve been feeling a little backed up, you’re not alone. Constipation is one of the leading gastrointestinal complaints in America—about 63 million people in the United States experience the condition, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Chances are most of us have experienced constipation, a condition that becomes more prevalent with advancing age.
In layman’s terms, constipation is the inability to empty your bowels fully or regularly -- when fecal matter (stool) moves through the large bowel (colon) too slowly. Having three or fewer bowel movements a week is an indicator of constipation. Left unresolved, Sandra J. Arevalo Valencia, MPH, RDN, Director of Community Health & Wellness at Montefiore Nyack Hospital, says constipation can lead to increased discomfort and pain, as well as the development of hemorrhoids. Yes, that’s definitely not fun.
