What causes constipation?

  • Low-fibre diet or low water intake
  • Inactivity or sedentary lifestyle
  • Ignoring the urge to pass stool
  • Certain medicines
  • Underlying conditions like an underactive thyroid or IBS
  • Slow movement of stool through the colon
When to see a doctor See Dr. Gattani if constipation is new and persistent (especially after age 50), comes with blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, or alternates with episodes of diarrhea, or if it doesn't improve with simple dietary changes.

What to expect at the clinic

Dr. Gattani will usually start with questions about your diet, activity, and bowel habits. If constipation is longstanding or doesn't respond to basic changes, a colon transit study can check how quickly stool is moving through your colon, and a colonoscopy may be recommended, especially if there are any warning signs.

Frequently asked questions

For many people, more fibre, more water, and regular activity make a real difference. If it persists despite these changes, it's worth getting checked.

New constipation after age 50, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, or constipation alternating with diarrhea are reasons to see a doctor rather than wait it out.

A colon transit study is specifically designed to measure this, using small markers tracked by X-ray over several days.