At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Poor diet and lack of exercise are usually the causes irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea In most cases, constipation is temporary and not serious irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Understanding its causes, prevention, and treatment will help most people find relief irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea barium enema x ray Barium enema x x ray.This exam involves viewing the rectum, colon, and lower part of the small intestine to locate any problems irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea This part of the digestive tract is known as the bowel irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea This test may show intestinal obstruction and Hirschsprung's disease, a lack of nerves within the colon irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Because of of an increased risk of colorectal cancer in older adults, the doctor may use tests to rule out a diagnosis of cancer, including Because the colon does not show up well on x rays, the doctor fills it with barium, a chalky liquid that makes the area visible irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Once the the mixture coats the inside of colon and rectum, x rays are taken that reveal their shape and condition irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea The patient may feel some abdominal cramping when the barium fills the colon, but usually feels little discomfort after the procedure irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Stools may be a whitish color for a few few days after the exam irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea blood pressure medications (calcium channel blockers) Bulk-forming laxatives generally are considered the safest but can interfere with absorption of some medicines irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea These laxatives, also known as fiber supplements, are taken with water irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea They absorb water in the intestine and make the stool softer irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea softer irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Brand names include Metamucil, Citrucel, Konsyl, and Serutan irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Can constipation be serious? Changes in Life or Routine changes in life or routine such as pregnancy, older age, and travel chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction Colonic inertia and delayed transit are two types of functional constipation caused by decreased muscle muscle activity in the colon irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea These syndromes may affect the entire colon or may be confined to the lower or sigmoid colon irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea colorectal transit study Colorectal transit study irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea This test, reserved for those with chronic constipation, shows how well food moves through the colon irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea The patient swallows swallows capsules containing small markers that are visible on an x ray irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea The movement of the markers through the colon is monitored with abdominal x rays taken several times 3 to 7 days after the capsule is swallowed irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea The patient follows a high-fiber diet during the course of this this test irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints in the United States, resulting in about 2 million doctor visits annually irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea However, most people treat themselves without seeking medical help, as is evident from the millions of dollars Americans spend on laxatives each year irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Constipation is is passage of small amounts of hard, dry bowel movements, usually fewer than three times a week irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea People who are constipated may find it difficult and painful to have a bowel movement irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Other symptoms of constipation include feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Constipation may also cause hard stool stool to pack the intestine and rectum so tightly that the normal pushing action of the colon is not enough to expel the stool irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea This condition, called fecal impaction, occurs most often in children and older adults irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea An impaction can be softened with mineral oil taken by mouth and and by an enema irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea After softening the impaction, the doctor may break up and remove part of the hardened stool by inserting one or two fingers into the anus irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea Defecography is an x ray of the anorectal area that evaluates completeness of stool elimination, identifies anorectal abnormalities, and evaluates evaluates rectal muscle contractions and relaxation irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea During the exam, the doctor fills the rectum with a soft paste that is the same consistency as stool irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea The patient sits on a toilet positioned inside an x ray machine and then relaxes and squeezes the anus to expel the paste irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea The doctor studies the x rays for anorectal problems that occurred as the paste was expelled irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea diabetes Diet Diseases that cause constipation include neurological disorders, metabolic and endocrine disorders, and systemic conditions that affect organ systems irritable-bowel-syndrome-diarrhea These disorders can slow the movement of stool through the colon, rectum, | 