You May Be Constipated and Not Even Know It

Many people hear the word constipation and immediately think of straining.

But that is only part of the picture.

When I speak with patients and ask about their bowel habits, some will tell me they are not constipated.

Then I ask a few more questions.

"How often are you actually having a bowel movement?"

And sometimes the answer is:

Every two days.

Every three days.

Every four days.

They simply never thought of themselves as having a problem because they weren't struggling when they went.

That is why I encourage people to pay attention not only to whether they go, but also to regularity and whether they feel they are fully emptying.

Your digestive patterns are part of your overall health picture.

And when something feels consistently irregular, it is worth looking at the larger context:

Your diet.

Your hydration.

Your daily routines.

Your movement.

Your stress.

Your overall lifestyle.

Your body gives you information every day. The question is whether you're paying attention to it.s