Constipation

Symptoms of constipation include going for a poo fewer than 3 times in a week and finding it hard to poo.

The cause of constipation is not always clear. But often it’s due to diet or lifestyle, such as not eating enough fibre and not exercising regularly.

Things you can do to help constipation include changing your diet to include more fibre, drinking more fluids (especially water) and exercising more.

Sometimes long-term constipation can lead to a build-up of poo in your bowel. This is called faecal impaction.

Constipation is common. You can usually treat it with simple changes to your diet and lifestyle.