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Slow transit

Constipation: hard stool, painful stool, and fewer bowel movements.

Constipation can mean fewer bowel movements than usual, hard or lumpy stool, painful stool, straining, or feeling like stool did not fully pass. Many cases improve with basic habits, but some symptoms need medical care.

What constipation can feel like

  • Fewer than your usual number of bowel movements.
  • Hard, dry, or lumpy stool.
  • Straining, pain, or long bathroom time.
  • A feeling that stool remains after you go.
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Bristol types 1 and 2 often line up with constipation. Type 3 may still be firm, while type 4 is usually easier to pass.

First steps that help many people

  1. Add fiber gradually.Sudden large fiber increases can cause gas or bloating. Increase slowly and drink fluids.
  2. Drink enough fluids.Hydration helps fiber work and can reduce hard stool for some people.
  3. Move your body.Walking and regular activity can support bowel movement regularity.
  4. Respond to the urge.Ignoring urges can make stool drier and harder to pass later.
  5. Review medicines.Iron, opioids, some antacids, some antidepressants, and other drugs can contribute. Ask a clinician before changing prescriptions.

When to call a clinician

Get medical advice if constipation does not improve with self-care, keeps coming back, is new and unexplained, or comes with rectal bleeding, blood in stool, continual abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, unexplained weight loss, anemia symptoms, or a major change in bowel habits.

What to track

A simple note can be more useful than a long symptom search: date, Bristol type, color, pain level, straining, fluids, fiber changes, medications, exercise, and whether there was blood or black tarry stool.

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