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Eating plenty of fiber and drinking lots of fluids can help this common condition

	Simple changes to your diet can help alleviate constipation. Turn to ConsumerReportsHealth.org to learn more about the foods you can eat to make bowel movements more comfortable.
	Subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org to find out more about the different types of laxatives available to treat constipation and how each of them works.

Consumer Reports Health has brought together the best research about constipation in adults and weighed the evidence about how to treat it. You can use our information to talk with your doctor and decide which treatments are best for you.

Key points about constipation in adults

• When your stools are hard and it is difficult to have a bowel movement, you have constipation.
• Some people don’t have bowel movements often enough (they only pass stools 3 or less times per week). This is also a type of constipation.
• Not eating enough fiber, drinking enough fluid, or exercising enough can cause constipation.
• Pregnant women often get constipated. Certain drugs can also cause constipation.
• Most bouts of constipation can be treated with diet and behavioral changes.
• However, doctors usually treat chronic constipation (12 or more weeks) with laxatives.
• Laxatives work in different ways. Some soften the stools to make them easier to pass. Others help bowel muscles to move, making it easier to push out stools.

People's bowel habits and what they think is normal vary a lot. For some people passing a stool several times a week is normal, but for others, passing a stool several times a day is normal. A change from your usual pattern of bowel movements is often the best way of telling if you're constipated.

We encourage you to read our entire condition report and to consult with your doctor to learn more about constipation in adults. As a Consumer Reports Health subscriber, you’ll have access to our expert research and recommendations, and you’ll be more confident and knowledgeable when talking to your doctor about your condition.