Chronic constipation is a long-standing inflammation of the pancreas that alters the organ's normal structure and functions. It can present as episodes of acute inflammation in a previously injured pancreas, or as chronic damage with persistent pain or malabsorption. It is a disease process characterized by irreversible damage to the pancreas as distinct from reversible changes in acute pancreatitis.
The definition of chronic constipation varies from person to person. For some people, chronic constipation means infrequent bowel movements for weeks at a time. For others, chronic constipation means effort or trouble passing the stool. For example, many describe the concept of as long as you have a bowel movement, but no matter how long you sit, it just won't happen. With chronic constipation, you may have hard or formed stools, small stools, or a combination of hard, formed or small stools.
Generally, the definition of chronic constipation is a frequency of stool less than three weeks that lasts several months. Yet experts believe that many people who think they have chronic constipation may be underestimating the frequency of their intestinal habitats, so this definition may not be accurate.
There are chronic constipation of many different causes. It may cause structural damage to the colon (for example, colon cancer, colon shrinkage or narrowing), medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, Parkinson's disease such as analogues (narcotics), blood pressure drugs (calcium channel blockers), anti-ilepileptic and antispasmodic drugs. In these cases, switching to a new medication can improve symptoms. In the age of 50, there are more serious bowel disease or structural disorders that can cause constipation, so it's important for a healthcare professional to rule out any serious causes.