I'm willing to bet that constipation is something every one of us has dealt with at some point in our lives, but the reluctance to talk about bowel movements remains strong. However, it's far more common than most of us realise, and can have some devastating effects.
"Constipation is very common, affecting around one in seven adults in the UK at any given time," says Dr Anisha Patel, GP and bowel cancer survivor and educator. "It’s more frequent in women than men, and tends to become more common with age. Studies suggest that up to a third of adults over 60 experience constipation regularly, while younger women often notice it around menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause due to hormonal changes."
