What it is
Constipation involves infrequent bowel movements, difficulty passing stool, or incomplete evacuation.
Research-supported
Constipation
Infrequent or difficult bowel movements, typically defined as fewer than three per week, often associated with diet, lifestyle, stress, or underlying conditions.
CategoryDigestive
Reviewed by Ciara Magee · Functional Health
26 March 2026
At a glance
Constipation at a glance
Commonly experienced as
- People describe days passing without a bowel movement, straining, hard or pellet-like stools, abdominal cramping, bloating, and a persistent sense of incomplete evacuation. Some report feeling sluggish, uncomfortable, and irritable when constipated. Many find symptoms worsen during travel, stressful periods, or when routine is disrupted. Anxiety about bowel habits itself can worsen the constipation cycle.
