Constipation

Normal bowel movement (peristalsis) slows down causing the stools to become harder, compact, painful to pass and difficult to pass (hence causing one to strain).
More water is absorbed from the intestine than normal and that result in stools becoming harder and compact causing their passage slow down even further.
Please note different people have different bowel habits, so it’s important to notice yourself if your bowel habits have reduced from its normal motion and not to compare those habits with others.
Some people go once daily while other may go every two or three days.

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Source: https: simple.wikipedia.org/wiki-Bristol_stool_scale

Cause

Poor diet
Not drinking enough water
Eat too much dairy, processed foods, high-fat meats, eggs, and sugar-containing sweets
Eating not enough fibre
Travel or otherwise change your routine
Stressed
Depression
Ignore urges to use the bathroom
Lack of exercise
Old age, as muscles don’t work quite as well
Abdominal conditions
Recovery from surgery
Pregnancy
Medication e.g. Strong painkillers, taking too much laxatives, antacids, anti-depressants, diurectics

The Rome III diagnostic criteria can be used to classify functional gastrointestinal disorders, and may be useful when functional constipation is suspected and contributing medicines or medical conditions have been excluded.

Using the Rome III diagnostic criteria, constipation may be diagnosed if patients who do not take laxatives report at least two of the following in any three-month period during the previous six months:

Straining in at least 25% of bowel motions;
Lumpy or hard stools in at least 25% of bowel motions;
Sensation of incomplete evacuation in at least 25% of bowel motions;
Sensation of anorectal blockage in at least 25% of bowel motions;
Manual manoeuvres have been required to facilitate at least 25% of bowel motions (e.g. digital evacuation);
Fewer than three bowel movements per week;
Loose stools are not present, and there are insufficient criteria for irritable bowel syndrome.

Thompson WG, Longstreth GF, Drossman DA et al. Functional bowel disorders and functional abdominal pain. Gut 1999;45.

Symptoms

Does one have:

Person who release their bowels less than 3 times a week?

Find it difficult to pass stools and/or are straining?

Finding one takes long time to pass stool?

Feeling like one has not passed all your stool?

Faeces dry and hard?

Stools abnormally large and painful?

Small Stools?

Stomach ache, cramp and abdominal pain?

Soiling accident (soft stool leaks around hard stool)?

Loss of appetite?

Feeling irritable, angry or unhappy?

Feel a lack of energy?

Drink less than two litres of water throughout the day?

Dehydrated?

Foul smelling stools?

Not passing stools as normal?

Unable to completely empty bowels?

Feel any nausea/sickness?

Wind?

Feel anxious or nervous when going to bathroom?

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