Why Am I Constipated? National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse:"Constipation (con-stuh-PAY-shun) means that a person has three bowel movements or fewer in a week. The stool is hard and dry. Sometimes it is painful to pass. You may feel "draggy" and full. Some people think they should have a bowel movement every day. That is not really true. There is no "right" number of bowel movements. Each person's body finds its own normal number of bowel movements. It depends on the food you eat, how much you exercise, and other things.
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/whyconst/whyconst.htm

Agenet.com:"Constipation is a symptom, not a disease. It is defined as having fewer bowel movements than usual, with a long or hard passing of stools. Older people are more likely than younger people to have constipation. But experts agree that older people often worry too much about having a bowel movement every day. There is no right number of daily or weekly bowel movements. Regularity may mean bowel movements twice a day for some people or just twice a week for others."
http://www.agenet.com/aging_constipation.html

Constipation, American Gastroenterological Association:"Constipation is the infrequent and difficult passage of stool. The frequency of bowel movements among healthy people varies greatly, ranging from three movements a day to three a week. As a rule, if more than three days pass without a bowel movement, the intestinal contents may harden, and a person may have difficulty or even pain during elimination. Stool may harden and be painful to pass, however, even after shorter intervals between bowel movements. Straining during bowel movements or the feeling of incomplete evacuation may also be reported as constipation."
7910 Woodmont Ave., Seventh Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: (301) 654-2055 Fax: (301) 652-3890 or Email ctheokas@gastro.org
http://www.gastro.org/constipation.html

Constipation, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons:"Constipation is a symptom that has different meanings to different individuals. Most commonly, it refers to infrequent bowel movements, but it may also refer to a decrease in the volume or weight of stool, the need to strain to have a movement, a sense of incomplete evacuation, or the need for enemas, suppositories or laxatives in order to maintain regularity. For most people, it is normal for bowel movements to occur from three times a day to three times a week; other people may go a week or more without experiencing discomfort or harmful effects. Normal bowel habits are affected by diet. The average American diet includes 12 to 15 grams of fiber per day, although 25 to 30 grams of fiber and about 60 to 80 ounces of fluid daily are recommended for proper bowel function. Exercise is also beneficial to proper function of the colon. Eating foods high in fiber, including bran, shredded wheat, whole grain breads and certain fruits and vegetables will help provide the 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day recommended for proper bowel function."
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons 85 W. Algonquin Rd., Suite 550 Arlington Heights, IL 60005 Email: ascrs@fascrs.org
http://www.fascrs.org/brochures/constipation.html

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse:"Constipation is passage of small amounts of hard, dry bowel movements, usually fewer than three times a week. People who are constipated may find it difficult and painful to have a bowel movement. Other symptoms of constipation include feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish."
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/const/const.htm

Pediatrics, Children:

Are Your Bowels Moving? Kidshealth.org:"Some kids feel too embarrassed to talk about the lower parts of their digestive systems - their intestines (bowels). They may also feel shy about asking questions about their bowel movements. But kids need to know what's normal and what's not."
http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/body/bowel.html

Constipation in Children, National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse:"When a child does not eat enough fiber, drink enough liquids, or get enough exercise, constipation is more likely to occur. It also happens when children ignore the urge to have a bowel movement, which they often do out of either embarrassment to use a public bathroom, fear or lack of confidence in the absence of a parent, or unwillingness to take a break from play. Sometimes constipation is caused by medicines or a disease."
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/summary/conchild/index.htm

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