Thousands of people in Denmark suffer from constipation. It is more common among women than men and especially the age group 15-40 years and older people over 65 suffer from the disease. Constipation is usually located in the large intestine and in rare cases also in the small intestine.
Conditions with constipation (obstipation) are divided into two groups:

1. Constipation caused by other diseases
   
   For instance when operating the abdominal cavity, the groin, the female abdomen et al.
   When operating for appendicitis, gallstone and kidney stone or blood clots in the heart or brain.
   
   When using morphine, ketogan and similar drugs in treatment.
   This type of constipation wears off a while after the operation, or when the medicinal illness has been treated or treatment with morphine or similar drugs has stopped.
   
   
2. Constipation with no explanation to cause of symptoms
   
   Constipation which is not caused by another disease or medicinal drugs is called "unexplained constipation".

Scientific studies have shown that many people with constipation suffer from disturbances in the muscle and nerve functions in the wall of the large intestine. These affect the transport of the intestinal content and it takes too long for it to pass through the intestines. Thereby a large part of the intestinal water is absorbed, the intestinal content dry out and becomes even more difficult to transport.

A frequent cause of constipation among older people is often too little fluid and too little physical activity.

The duration of the illness varies from person to person. With some people the condition lasts from a few months to a year, with others the condition lasts much longer, sometimes many years, only relieved by periods of less severe symptoms.

Constipation is not life threatening and cannot cause cancer. The disease can be very troublesome and unpleasant, but it does not affect the ability to work.

People suffering from constipation rarely go to the toilet. In mild cases stools are passed every 3 or 4 days, but it can be much worse with stools passed only once a week or every 10 days. The stools are small, hard and lumpy, and the abdomen feels bloated, sometimes with severe abdominal pains. Some people feel unwell and nauseous.

Source:

Steen Nørby Rasmussen, Dr. Med, "Lægernes patientvejledning 2003", page 21.