Primary and secondary causes of constipation in older people.

Older people are at risk of constipation because of age-related changes that may weaken intestinal muscles, decrease peristalsis and reduce physical activity. Primary causes of constipation include decrease in fluid intake, decrease in ingestion of high fibre foods which may be associated with reduced ability to chew food, and weak abdominal muscles reducing effective evacuation. Secondary causes include disease processes such as dementia, Parkinson's, hypothryroidism, diverticular disease and prescribed medications, including narcotics, calcium channel blockers, anticholinergics and antidepressants. In this study a mixture was made up consisting of one cup of each of the following.