RT Book, Section
A1 McQuaid, Kenneth R.
A2 Papadakis, Maxine A.
A2 McPhee, Stephen J.
A2 Rabow, Michael W.
A2 McQuaid, Kenneth R.
SR Print(0)
ID 1193150648
T1 Constipation
T2 Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2023
YR 2023
FD 2023
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781264687343
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1193150648
RD 2024/04/19
AB Constipation  occurs  in  15%  of  adults  and  up  to  one-third  of  older  adults  and  is  a  common  reason  for  seeking  medical  attention.  It  is  more  common  in  women.  Older  individuals  are  predisposed  due  to  comorbid  medical  conditions,  medications,  poor  eating  habits,  decreased  mobility,  and  in  some  cases,  inability  to  sit  on  a  toilet  (bed-bound  patients).  The  first  step  in  evaluating  the  patient  is  to  determine  what  is  meant  by  “constipation.”  Patients  may  define  constipation  as  infrequent  stools  (fewer  than  three  in  a  week),  hard  or  lumpy  stools,  excessive  straining,  or  a  sense  of  incomplete  evacuation.  Table  15–3  summarizes  the  many  causes  of  constipation,  which  are  discussed  below.