Constipation

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal occurrence that is defined by often having fewer than three bowel movements a week, having a difficult time passing stools, having stools that are lumpy or hard, or having a feeling of being blocked or of not having fully emptied your bowels.

Prevalence

 * Katrina Berne reports a prevalence of 50-90% for IBS symptoms (including diarrhea, nausea, gas, and abdominal pain).
 * 81.8% - 85.6% of the 2073 patients in a Belgian study of 2001 reported gastrointestinal disturbance.

Symptom recognition
Gastrointestinal issues (diarrhoea, constipation, acid reflux) as a group are a potential symptom of Long COVID in the World Health Organization's definition.

Possible causes

 * Allergies
 * Dehydration
 * Dysautonomia
 * Hypothyroidism
 * Hypovolemia
 * Imbalance of gut flora (often due to antibiotics)
 * Irritable bowel syndrome
 * Low fiber diet
 * Metabolic changes
 * Mold
 * Parasitic infections
 * SIBO
 * Side effect of methylation
 * Side effect of medication

Potential treatments

 * Adequate hydration
 * High fiber diet/fiber supplementation
 * Probiotics