{"id":58977,"date":"2016-12-02T14:45:54","date_gmt":"2016-12-02T13:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.darmklachten.nl\/symptoms\/constipation-2\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T22:05:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T20:05:30","slug":"constipation-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.darmklachten.nl\/en\/symptoms\/constipation-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Constipation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What you need to know about constipation<\/h2>\n

The process of digestion and the elimination of the intestinal contents normally takes twelve to twenty-four hours. In thirty percent of people with constipation, intestinal transit is delayed because the rectum does not empty easily. The slow transit is associated with impaired function of the nerve cells present in the rectum that control movement. Constipation is characterised by slow bowel movements with hard, dry stools, and often you only need to go to the toilet to pass stool once every three days – or less often. There is often an urge, but the stool does not come, which causes an unpleasant feeling in the abdomen. Hard stools can also alternate with soft, unformed stools. Constipation occurs twice as often in women as in men. Adults and children who are overweight are also twice as likely to suffer from this condition. Some people have had constipation since childhood, while in others it develops later in life.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

\"\"More water, more exercise<\/strong>
\nThe standard advice for constipation is: drink more water and exercise more. In almost all cases, high-fibre food or a fibre product is prescribed; this appears to be of no benefit and in recent years has even been described as a myth. Scientists state that fibre is not a solution for constipation because the volume and blockage increase. As with a traffic jam, the inflow must be reduced. A low fibre content and therefore a reduction in stool volume is beneficial. In 2004, Dr Lesbros analysed hundreds of studies and showed that fibre consumption has no effect on constipation. The Dutch study by Dr Bijkerk, published in 2004, shows that whole grains have no effect on constipation. Bran and whole-grain products increase gas formation and constipation and can cause abdominal pain.<\/span><\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

Symptoms of constipation<\/h2>\n