DAYANANDA SAGAR UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NURSING
 HEALTH EDUCATION ON CONSTIPATION

SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY
MISS MANPUII MAM LUCREATIA & TSERING
ASST.PROF: CHN 2 YEAR PBBSc nursing
D.S.U. D.S.U.
CONSTIPATION
INTRODUCTION:
 Constipation is a common condition that affects people of all ages. It
can mean that you're not passing stools regularly or you're unable to
completely empty your bowel.
 Constipation can also cause your stools to be hard and lumpy, as
well as unusually large or small.
 The severity of constipation varies from person to person. Many
people only experience constipation for a short time, but for others,
constipation can be a long-term (chronic) condition that causes
significant pain and discomfort and affects quality of life.
 It's estimated that around one in every seven adults and up to one in
every three children in the UK has constipation at any one time.
 The condition affects twice as many women as men and is also more
common in older adults and during pregnancy.
DEFINITION OF CONSTIPATION
Constipation: Infrequent and frequently in
complete bowel movements. Constipation is the
opposite of diarrhea and is commonly caused by 
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulosis, and
medications. Paradoxically, constipation can also
be caused by overuse of laxatives. Colon cancer
 can also narrow the colon and thereby cause
constipation. A high-fiber diet can frequently
relieve constipation. If the diet is not helpful,
medical evaluation is warranted.
CAUSES OF CONSTIPATION
Some causes of constipation include:

 Changes to what you eat or your activities.

 Not enough water or fiber in your diet.
 Eating a lot of dairy products.
 Not being active.
 Resisting the urge to poop.
 Stress.
 Overuse of laxatives.
 Some medications (especially strong pain drugs
such as narcotics, antidepressants, and iron pills)
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
RISK FACTORS
COMPLICATION:
PREVENTION:
 Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fiber. Good sources of
fiber are fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole-grain breads and
cereals. Fiber and water help the colon pass stool. Most of the
fiber in fruits is found in the skins, such as in apples. Fruits with
seeds you can eat, like strawberries, have the most fiber. Bran is
a great source of fiber: eat bran cereal or add bran cereal to
other foods, like soup and yogurt.
 Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. (Note: Milk can cause

constipation in some people.) Liquids that contain caffeine, such

as coffee and soft drinks, have a dehydrating effect and may
need to be avoided until your bowel habits return to normal.
 Exercise regularly.

 Move your bowels when you feel the urge.

TREATMENT OF CONSTIPATION
 Drink more water.
 Eat more fiber, especially soluble, non-

fermentable fiber.
 Exercise more.
 Drink coffee, especially caffeinated coffee.
 Take Senna, an herbal laxative.
 Eat probiotic foods or take probiotic

supplements.
 Over-the-counter or prescription laxatives