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In a constipated colon, the normal muscle action fails to work properly: the peristaltic
motion stops temporarily, or works very slowly. There are a number of possible causes for this problem. Some causes are related
to age and gender. To learn more about this topic, please refer to "Constipation, gender and age" in the menu. Here are some of
the most common causes of constipation: |
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Causes of constipation |
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Constipation can be caused by: |
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advancing age |
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the effect of hormones within the menstrual cycle |
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hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause |
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a lack of exercise and/or an unbalanced diet |
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changes in lifestyle or routine, such as travel |
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stress or worry; ignoring the urge to go to the toilet |
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some medications, such as pain-killers, antacids, antidepressants and blood-pressure medicine |
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some illnesses such as hypothyroidism, (a condition where thyroid glands are "underactive" and do not produce enough thyroid hormones),diabetes, Parkinson's disease and other neurological diseases |
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