Constipation

Constipation
Infrequent (and frequently incomplete) bowel movements. The opposite of diarrhea, constipation is commonly caused by irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis, and medications (constipation can paradoxically be caused by overuse of laxatives). Colon cancer can narrow the colon and thereby cause constipation. The large bowel (colon) can be visualized by barium enema x-rays, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. Barring a condition such as cancer, high-fiber diets can
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A condition in which bowel movements are infrequent or incomplete. SYN: costiveness. [L. con-stipo, pp. -atus, to press together]

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con·sti·pa·tion .kän(t)-stə-'pā-shən n abnormally delayed or infrequent passage of dry hardened feces

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n.
a condition in which bowel evacuations occur infrequently, or in which the faeces are hard and small, or where passage of faeces causes difficulty or pain. The frequency of bowel evacuation varies considerably from person to person and the normal cannot be precisely defined. Constipation developing in a person of previously regular bowel habit may be a symptom of intestinal disease. Recurrent or longstanding constipation is treated by increasing dietary fibre (roughage), laxative, or enema. Faecal impaction, the end-result of chronic constipation common in senile patients, often requires manual removal of the faecal bolus under an anaesthetic.

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con·sti·pa·tion (kon″stĭ-paґshən) [L. constipatio a crowding together] infrequent or difficult evacuation of the feces.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • constipation — [ kɔ̃stipasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • fin XIIIe; de constiper ♦ Difficulté dans l évacuation des selles. Laxatif contre la constipation. Constipation chronique. ⊗ CONTR. Diarrhée. ● constipation nom féminin (latin constipatio, onis) Rareté ou difficulté de l… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Constipation — Con sti*pa tion, n. [L. constipatio a crowding together: cf. F. constipation.] 1. Act of crowding anything into a less compass, or the state of being crowded or pressed together; condensation. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Fullness of matter, or a pretty …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • constipation — CONSTIPATION. subs. fém. État de celui qui est constipé. Une si longue constipation est dangereuse …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • constipation — Constipation. sub. f. v. Estat de celuy qui est constipé. Une si longue constipation est dangereuse …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • constipation — [kän΄stə pā′shən] n. [ME constipacioun < OFr constipation < L constipatio: see CONSTIPATE] a condition in which the feces are hard and elimination from the bowels is infrequent and difficult …   English World dictionary

  • Constipation — (v. lat. Constipatio alvi), Hartleibigkeit, Verstopfung; daher Constipirende Mittel u. Stoffe (Constipantia), Arzneien od. Nahrungsmittel, welche den Durchlauf hemmen u. Hartleibigkeit bewirken; Constipirt, verstopft, hartleibig …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Constipation — Constipation, lat., Verstopfung des Stuhlganges; constipirende Mittel, solche, welche C. verursachen …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • constipation — CONSTIPATION: Tous les gens de lettres sont constipés. Influe sur les convictions politiques …   Dictionnaire des idées reçues

  • constipation — (n.) c.1400, constriction of tissue, from L.L. constipationem (nom. constipatio), noun of state from L. constipare to press or crowd together, from com together (see COM (Cf. com )) + stipare to cram, pack (see STIFF (Cf. stiff) (adj.)). Specif …   Etymology dictionary

  • constipation — ► NOUN ▪ a difficulty in emptying the bowels, associated with hardened faeces …   English terms dictionary

  • Constipation — in a young child as seen by X ray. Circles represent areas of fecal matter (stool is opaque white surrounded by black bowel gas) …   Wikipedia

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