Natural treatments: Taking high-fiber foods like beans; whole grains and bran cereals; fresh fruits; and vegetables such as asparagus, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and carrots are helpful in reducing constipation. Drinking enough water and other liquids such as fruit and vegetable juices and clear soup, engaging in daily exercise can also cure the problem.

Laxatives:

Most people who are mildly constipated do not need laxatives. However, for those who have made lifestyle changes and are still constipated, health care providers may recommend laxatives or enemas for a limited time. These treatments can help retrain a chronically sluggish bowel. For children, short-term treatment with laxatives, along with retraining to establish regular bowel habits, also helps prevent constipation.

A health care provider should determine when a patient needs a laxative and which form is best. Laxatives taken by mouth are available in liquid, tablet, gum, powder, and granule forms. They work in various ways:

1. Bulk-forming laxatives generally are considered the safest but can interfere with absorption of some medicines. These laxatives, also known as fiber supplements, are taken with water. They absorb water in the intestine and make the stool softer.

2. Stimulants cause rhythmic muscle contractions in the intestines. Most laxative makers have replaced or plan to replace phenolphthalein with a safer ingredient.

3. Stool softeners provide moisture to the stool and prevent dehydration. These laxatives are often recommended after child birth or surgery.

4. Lubricants grease the stool enabling it to move through the intestine more easily. Mineral oil is the most common lubricant.

5. Saline laxatives act like a sponge to draw water into the colon for easier passage of stool.

People who are dependent on laxatives need to slowly stop using the medications. A health care provider can assist in this process. In most people, this restores the colon's natural ability to contract.

Treatment may be directed at a specific cause. For example, the health care provider may recommend discontinuing medication or performing surgery to correct an anorectal problem such as rectal prolapse.

People with chronic constipation caused by anorectal dysfunction can use biofeedback to retrain the muscles that control release of bowel movements. Biofeedback involves using a sensor to monitor muscle activity that at the same time can be displayed on a computer screen allowing for an accurate assessment of body functions. A health care professional uses this information to help the patient learn how to use these muscles.

Surgical removal of the colon may be an option for people with severe symptoms caused by colonic inertia. However, the benefits of this surgery must be weighed against possible complications, which include abdominal pain and diarrhea.