• Dietary factors:
  • Inadequate intake of water is more frequent cause of Chronic Constipation than other causes.
  • Also lack of dietary fiber contributes to chronic constipation.
  • In some people excessive consumption of dairy products are also responsible.
• Sedentary life: Lack of exercise, immobility and inactivity are also common culprits.
• Resisting the urge: Sometimes not attending nature’s call because of various causes like work, meetings, travelling, and fear of pain in piles cases etc may ultimately lead to constipation.
• Disease conditions: Constipation is common in diseases like Hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s diseases, Multiple sclerosis, Depression etc. It is also common in IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Eating disorders, Cancer of colon etc.
• Medicines- Certain medicines like antacids, strong painkillers, iron pills, codeine, antidepressants, anticonvulsants etc also cause constipation in long run. This is one of the leading causes of chronic constipation.
• Pregnancy: Hormones like estrogen and progesterone which are high during pregnancy also cause colonic inertia. This is also important factor in causes of chronic constipation.
• Functional: Though uncommon; lack of good nerve and muscle function in the bowel may also be a cause of constipation. Two local colonic diseases which cause constipation are colonic inertia and pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Stress: It is again one of the common causes of chronic constipation.
• Laxatives: Overusing laxatives may weaken the bowel muscles in long run causing constipation. This is one of the important causes of chronic constipation.