Constipation occurs when you don’t empty your bowels as often as you should, can’t empty them fully, or find it difficult and uncomfortable to do so. This can be caused by food moving too slowly through the gut (known as slow transit) or by difficulties with actually passing stool (evacuation). Because bowel habits vary from person to person, constipation can look different for everyone—while some may only experience it occasionally, others may struggle with it as a long-term condition that causes pain and disruption to daily life. Common symptoms include stomach pain or cramping, bloating, nausea or reduced appetite, hard or lumpy stools, straining during bowel movements, unusually large or small stools, and the feeling of not being fully empty even after using the toilet.