Most healthy individuals have a bowel movement between three times a day and three times a week. However, when the body digests food poorly, the person’s usual bowel movement pattern slows down. As a result, the individual may develop constipation that interferes with their ability to carry out daily tasks. One can manage constipation with treatments. But at the same time, one must be aware of the warning signs that indicate its development.

Back pain
Constipation and back pain are often linked. An individual dealing with constipation may experience pain in their back. Another person may experience back pain due to a tumor or infection affecting their spine, which may trigger constipation as a complication. It is also possible for fecal impaction – a condition that occurs when a lump of dry and hard stool gets stuck in the colon or rectum – to trigger low back pain. The pressure in the rectum or colon may lead to pain spreading to the abdomen or the back.

Blood in stools
Someone who is constipated may strain too hard during a bowel movement. Excessive pressure may result in rectal bleeding, which is associated with constipation. People who strain too hard may develop conditions like hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Moreover, hardened stool may cause the skin around the anus to tear and lead to blood mixing with the stool. People who experience this symptom of constipation should immediately consult a healthcare expert for an opinion.

Rectal tenesmus
The situation where one feels like they have to go to the bathroom, even though they cannot, is known as rectal tenesmus. The individual’s body continues to urge them to try and pass bowel movements with symptoms like pain, pressure, cramps, and involuntary straining. Rectal tenesmus is a sign of constipation, which might make it hard to get anything out, despite frequent efforts. This symptom of constipation might occur when hard, impacted poop stuck in the bowel may irritate it and make the person constantly feel like relieving themselves.

Bloating
Someone who feels bloated may often be affected by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), characterized by changes in one’s bowel movements, including diarrhea, constipation, or both. An individual who is constipated may have fewer bowel movements. Restricted bowel movement means that stools remain in the colon for longer. This enables bacteria to ferment the contents, leading to gas and bloating. However, even in this situation, passing gas may not relieve the discomfort. The presence of stool for a long time in the bowel will also mean that an individual won’t feel as hungry as usual and lose their appetite.

Vomiting
If an individual experiences symptoms like vomiting, it could indicate constipation. Though the restrictive bowel condition affects the intestines and not the stomach, constipation could slow down the entire digestive system. It may delay or prevent food in the stomach from reaching the intestines. The incomplete digestion of food may lead to symptoms including vomiting and nausea.

Fatigue
Feeling exhausted after a busy day is usually not a cause for alarm. However, if a person feels unusually tired and sluggish, it could be a sign of constipation. Constipated people may lose their appetite due to symptoms like gas and bloating. These signs indicate that the body does not get enough nutrition. With fewer nutrients being converted into cellular energy, an individual may feel tired and sluggish even without doing any work.

Abdominal cramps
An individual may often experience abdominal cramps and discomfort if they are constipated. The symptoms of this pain could vary in type, duration, and severity. If an individual is constipated, abdominal pain may cause loss of appetite and cramping pains. The symptom may also trigger a dull ache in the stomach and bloating or gas. An individual may also experience abdominal cramps and constipation due to a lack of exercise, unhealthy food choices, and prescription treatment.

Pebble poop
When food passes through the digestive tract, the body slowly moves the nutrients and water through the intestinal lining into the bloodstream. The small intestine absorbs most vitamins and nutrients, while the large intestine absorbs excess water from the fecal matter. However, when a person is constipated, the stool remains in the large intestine for longer periods. The extra time allows the large intestine to absorb more water from the stool until it dries out. The result is a hard and large mass that becomes difficult to pass. In some situations, the bowel content may break into smaller lumps of stool, known as pebble poop.