Constipation: causes and cures
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Updated: Sep 23, 2026

Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 18, 2023
Ruth Christer1, Liz Robinson, Clare Bird
1Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust.
Abstract:
Constipation is a common but poorly understood problem. Within the UK it is estimated that three million GP consultations relate to constipation every year. It is a problem that could affect any person at any time, yet it is often preventable. There is no accepted definition for constipation, however, and it is open to individual interpretation. Some may describe constipation as passing hard stools, others may describe it as infrequent defaecation. Constipation can affect a person's physical, psychological and social wellbeing. Nurses are in a key position to help with this problem, although a multidisciplinary approach is needed if treatment is to be successful.
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