Constipation

Constipation is a common symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD). It is caused by the muscles of the bowel moving more slowly than usual, together with the effects of less physical activity and/or a poor diet.

This particular symptom is relatively easy to treat – either through the sensible use of diet and exercise, or by receiving medication from the doctor. It is also important to treat, as constipation can lead to other health problems and can reduce the effect of some medications, so dealing with it may actually improve function.

Drinking plenty of water (8–10 glasses per day), is essential to help manage constipation, and other tips on using diet to avoid/relieve constipation can be found in the ‘Guide to healthy eating and PD’ section of the website.