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What is Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC)?
A good time to deal with and treat your Chronic Idiopathic Constipation condition and seeking relief starting today's date ... If your constipation is long-lasting or keeps reoccurring, it probably is chronic. Chronic constipation without a trackable cause is often referred to as Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC). "Idiopathic" means the cause is unknown.
Chronic Idiopathic Constipation is defined as infrequent bowel movements, difficulty passing stools, or both.
Chronic Idiopathic Constipation sufferers may also complain of stomach cramping, gas pain and bloating.
Symptoms of Chronic Idiopathic Constipation include:
- constipation or difficulty in passing stools
- fewer than three bowel movements a week
- bowel movements with stools that are hard, dry and small, making them painful or difficult to pass
- straining during bowel movements
- incomplete bowel movements
- abdominal pain
- abdominal discomfort and bloating
- excessive flatulence
Some people think they are constipated if they don’t have a bowel movement every day. However, people can have different bowel movement patterns. Some people may have three bowel movements a day. Other people may only have three bowel movements a week.
Constipation most often lasts for only a short time and is not dangerous. You can take steps to prevent or relieve constipation.
How Common is Constipation?
Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal (GI) problems, affecting about 42 million people in the United States.
Who's more Likely to become Constipated?
Constipation is common among all ages and populations in the United States, yet certain people are more likely to become constipated, including:
- women, especially during pregnancy or after giving birth
- older adults
- non-Caucasians
- people with lower incomes
- people who just had surgery
- people taking medicines to treat or to relieve pain from things such as a broken bone, a pulled tooth, or back pain
Complications of Constipation
Chronic, or long-lasting, constipation can lead to health problems such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, rectal prolapse, or fecal impaction.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins around your anus or in your lower rectum. You can develop hemorrhoids if you strain to have a bowel movement. If you have hemorrhoids, you may have bleeding in your rectum. You have bleeding in the rectum when you see bright red blood in your stool, on toilet paper, or in the toilet after a bowel movement.
Anal Fissures
Anal fissures are small tears in your anus that may cause itching, pain, or bleeding.
Rectal Prolapse
Rectal prolapse happens when your rectum slips so that it sticks out of your anus. Rectal prolapse can happen if you strain during bowel movements, among other reasons. Rectal prolapse may cause mucus to leak from your anus. Rectal prolapse is most common in older adults with a history of constipation, and is also more common in women than men, especially postmenopausal women.
Fecal Impaction
Fecal impaction happens when hard stool packs your intestine and rectum so tightly that the normal pushing action of your colon is not enough to push the stool out. Fecal impaction occurs most often in children and older adults.
More disease information regarding digestive medical conditions such as constipation and many other Health and Wellness concerns and disease conditions are coming soon.
Recommended Health Websites of Interest
Severe Diarrhea the exact opposite of chronic constipation, which sometimes happens after constipation condition gets better.