<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/constipation-remedies-89088&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Constipation&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is a decrease in the frequency of passage of formed stools, and is characterized by stools that are hard and small and difficult to expel. It&amp;amp;#39;s a subjective condition, differing for individuals based upon their normal pattern of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/normal-bowel-movements-1942606&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;bowel movements&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and their symptoms of discomfort. It can be caused by anything that slows down the motility of the gut or obstructs the intestines.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Constipation occurs frequently in patients near the end of life. &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/most-common-cancers-in-the-united-states-513739&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Cancer patients&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; may have the highest prevalence, with as many as 70 to 100 percent of patients experiencing constipation at some point during their disease.\u00A0This impacts a patient&amp;amp;#39;s quality of life substantially. It causes physical, social, and psychological distress for patients, which can impact their caregivers as well.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;What Are the Symptoms of Constipation?&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The first sign of constipation is a decrease in the frequency and amount of bowel movements. Oftentimes, patients and their caregivers will attribute this decrease to a reduced intake of food or fluids. Because constipation is subjective, what it means for one patient may be different for another. For example, if a patient usually has a bowel movement every day and suddenly starts having them three times a week, constipation should be considered. If, however, a patient normally has a bowel movement every other day, going two or three days without one might not be a problem.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Other signs of constipation include &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-to-deal-with-bloating-and-gas-1941771&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;bloating&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/abdominal-distention-1942424&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;abdominal distention&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, a change in the amount of gas passed, oozing liquid stool, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/rectal-pain-causes-2328384&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;rectal pain&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or pressure, rectal pain with bowel movements, and the inability to pass stool. If constipation has been untreated for some time, nausea and vomiting may also occur.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;What Are the Causes of Constipation?&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Constipation may be caused by disease. Cancer-related constipation can be caused by tumors in or near digestive organs, the spine, or the pelvic region. The tumors may compress or obstruct the bowel or slow the motility of the intestines.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Neurological diseases, such as &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/parkinsons-4014674&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Parkinson&amp;amp;#39;s&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/multiple-sclerosis-4014686&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;MS&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als-2860868&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;ALS&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; can interfere with gastric motility. &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-diabetes-1087738&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Diabetes&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; can cause neuropathy leading to decreased movement in the colon. Other conditions, such as hypothyroidism, can also cause constipation.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Lifestyle changes\u2014such as decreased appetite and fluid intake\u2014may lead to &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/hypercalcemia-in-cancer-patients-2249011&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;hypercalcemia&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;,&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt; or an increase in calcium in the blood, which can in turn lead to decreased water absorption in the bowel, causing constipation. Weakness and decreased activity affect the ability to use abdominal wall muscles and to relax the pelvic floor muscles, which are essential for proper elimination.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Medications may also be to blame for constipation. Opioid analgesics, such as morphine and oxycodone, slow down the motility of the gut by suppressing forward peristalsis and increase the tone of the anal sphincter. Opioids also increase the absorption of water and electrolytes in the large and small intestine, leading to hard, dry stools.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Other medications that may contribute to constipation include:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Vinka alkaloid chemotherapy (e.g. Vinblastine)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Anticholinergic drugs (e.g. Phenergen)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. Paxil)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Antiparkinsonian drugs (e.g. Levodopa)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Iron supplements&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Anithypertensives (high blood pressure medication)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Anithistamines (e.g. Benadryl)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Antacids&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Diuretics (e.g. Lasix)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;How Can I Prevent or Treat Constipation?&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Effective &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/preventing-and-treating-constipation-1132090&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;constipation prevention&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is based upon adequate fluid intake, a proper diet, and activity (being active motivates the bowels).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Sources:&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Kinzbrunner, BM; Weinreb, NJ; Policzer, JS; 20 Common Problems: End of Life Care, McGraw-Hill Publishing, 2002.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Ferrell, BR and Coyle, N; Textbook of Palliative Nursing, Oxford University Press, 2006.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/constipation-in-palliative-care-and-hospice-1132087>