More people have clinical constipation but do not recognise it, new study shows

New research by King’s has found that the public’s perception of constipation differs from formal diagnosis guidelines and nearly one in three €œhealthy€ patients could be clinically constipated but does not recognise it. The research, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, also identified six key sets of symptoms common to both that in the future could form the basis of a new medical definition for constipation. These include abdominal discomfort, pain and bloating; rectal discomfort; infrequent bowel movements and hard stools; sensory dysfunction; flatulence and bloating; faecal incontinence. Constipation is a very common condition. Although most people with chronic constipation do not visit a