Almost everyone experience constipation at some point in their life. Many people assume that they are constipated if they do not have a bowel movement every day. The fact is, it's normal for bowels to move as often as three times a day or as infrequently as once in 3 or 4 days. The important thing to consider is the regularity and easy passage of a reasonably soft but well-formed stool.

With constipation stools are usually hard, dry, and difficult to eliminate. People who are constipated often experience straining, and bloating. Most constipation is temporary and not serious. Understanding its causes, prevention, and treatment will help most people find relief.

Two types of constipation:

• Atonic constipation is the more common type; it occurs when the diet lacks adequate fluids and fiber, when the person has sedentary lifestyle and when the colon muscles are weak.
• Spastic (sometimes called Irritable bowel syndrome) is characterized by irregular bowel movements. Spastic constipation can be caused by stress, nervous disorders, excessive smoking, irritating foods, and obstruction of the colon.

Ways to prevent constipation:

• Drink 8 or more glasses of nonalcoholic fluids every day. When a low fiber diet coincides with a low fluid intake, the stool becomes dry and hard, and increasingly difficult to move through the intestinal tract.
• Increase intake of raw fruits and vegetables, prunes, nuts and seeds these are all instrumental in preventing constipation.
• Eat three meals per day at least 4 hours apart. Frequent feeding keeps your intestines contracting and moving stool along.
• Drink a glass of water with apple cider vinegar and honey before going to bed.
• Regular exercise helps to stimulate bowel movements.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol this will deplete your body's stores of water. If you can't avoid these, then match your caffeinated or alcoholic beverage intake with an equal amount of water.

Causes:

• Dehydration. Not drinking at least 8 glasses of pure water and drinking alcohol and caffeinated beverages can cause dehydration and constipation.
• A diet low in fiber is the most common cause of constipation.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Not having a bowel movement when you have the urge can also cause constipation.
• Changes in daily routine such as when they travel can also cause constipation, because their normal diet and daily routine are disrupted.

• Excessive use of laxative can also cause constipation because with continued use, the body becomes accustomed to the effects of the laxative, and if they stop taking it, the colon slows down and its contractions become very weak. This is called laxative dependency constipation, and it can be severe.
• Some medication, especially painkillers reduces peristalsis, the rhythmic muscle movements that push digested food through the bowel.
• Hormonal changes. During pregnancy, women may be constipated because of hormonal changes or because the uterus compresses the intestine.

Caution: Sometimes constipation results in stools so hard they won't come out no matter what you try at home. This is called stool impaction. When this happens see your doctor immediately. If an impaction isn't removed, it can cause total bowel obstruction and require hospitalization.