Constipated for days at a time
Days go by and nothing happens. When a bowel movement finally comes, the stool is hard and dry, and you have to strain. In between, your belly may feel full, bloated, or heavy.
Stool slows down when there is little fibre or water in it. Sitting still for long hours slows it further. Some drugs do the same, such as pain pills with codeine, iron tablets, and certain antacids.
Your gut is home to trillions of tiny microbes. Diet, stress, illness, and a course of antibiotics can shift that mix. A slow thyroid, pregnancy, and travel can also throw off your usual timing.
When to see someone
See a doctor if you spot blood in your stool, or if it looks black and tarry. Go too for strong belly pain, vomiting, no wind at all, or weight loss you did not plan. A new pattern that lasts weeks, or one that starts after age 50, needs a check.
Below is a list of remedies people use around slow bowels and gut health. Each one carries a grade for how strong the research behind it is, not a promise of results. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you try anything new, above all if you take other drugs.
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