Constipation
Infrequent or difficult bowel movements, typically defined as fewer than three per week, often associated with diet, lifestyle, stress, or underlying conditions.
Quick answer
Constipation (ICD-10: K59.0; ICD-11: DA93) involves infrequent bowel movements, difficulty passing stool, or incomplete evacuation. High evidence supports dietary fibre, hydration, and physical activity. Acupuncture and probiotics have moderate evidence.
Recognition
Do any of these feel familiar?
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.
What is Constipation?
Infrequent or difficult bowel movements, typically defined as fewer than three per week, often associated with diet, lifestyle, stress, or underlying conditions.
Approaches Commonly Explored
Commonly explored for conditions related to Constipation, grouped by mechanism — select your subtype above to highlight the most relevant path.
How to use these approaches
Most people begin with Stabilise approaches, then progress toward Resolve and Sustain.
Systemic or neuroinflammation and immune dysregulation.
Autonomic nervous system — sympathetic / parasympathetic balance.
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