Defining chronic constipation
The definition for the term ‘chronic constipation’ varies between individuals. For some people, chronic constipation generally means infrequent bowel movements for weeks or months at a time. For others, chronic constipation means having to strain during bowel movements or having difficulty passing the stools. With chronic constipation, you may experience hard stools, small stools, or a combination of hard, formed or small stools.
The general definition of chronic constipation is a bowel movement frequency of less than three per week,and lasting several months. Experts believe that many individuals who think they are suffering from chronic constipation may actually underestimate the frequency of their bowel habits, so this definition may not be so accurate.
Alot of the anxiety and distress of suffering with chronic constipation may result from a lack of knowledge about the actual problem. It’s important to know the facts about chronic constipation and talk to your doctor about your situation.
