Problem
Constipation could mean that you have bowel movements so infrequently that you become uncomfortable. Or it could mean you have regular bowel movements- but with stools that are difficult, even painful, to pass. Either way the National Center for Health Statistics reported in 1997 that more than a million people in a recent two-year period, and 71.6 percent of these cases involved at least one visit to the doctor.

Cause
Usually it's a shortage of fiber and fluid in your diet. Both are essential if your stool is to have the right consistency for a timely, comfortable trip through the bowel. But a few other culprits can tighten you up, too. Certain medications can cause irregular bowel function, leaving you with either constipation or diarrhea. Constipation is also common in people who lead hectic, stressful, unhealthy lives. And constipation can beget constipation; continual straining on the toilet stretches and damages the nerves in the muscles that you use to go.

How Serious
If you find yourself on the throne reading Sports Illustrated cover to cover just once in awhile, don't sweat it. An uptake in fiber and fluids likely will get things moving again. But if constipation keeps recurring, it might mean that you have irritable bowel syndrome, colitis (inflammation of the colon), or diverticulitis (swelling in the walls of the large intestine). When constipation causes stop-what-you-are-doing pain or accompanied by severe cramping or abdominal swelling, it's time to see a doctor.

Solutions
Some people find relief from constipation by listening to music. Slow, steady music helps release tension that can subconsciously lead to constipation. --- Janalea Hoffman, R.M.T., a composer and music therapist based in Kanas City, Missouri.