Introduction
Constipation is a symptom, not a disease, and can be caused by many factors.
To understand constipation, it helps to be familiar with how the colon, or large intestine, works. When food travels through the colon, the water is absorbed by the colon while it forms stool. Muscle contractions in the colon then push the stool down toward the rectum. Upon reaching the rectum the stool is solid, because most of the water has been absorbed.
Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water or if the colon’s muscle contractions are sluggish or slow, consequentially the stool moves through the colon too slowly. As a result, stools can become hard and dry.