Constipation is defined by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse as having three or fewer bowel movements per week. Bloating--the sensation of feeling abdominal fullness even long after a meal--is usually attributed to excess gas, but this isn't correct. People who feel bloating commonly have increased sensitivity to the normal sensations in their abdominal cavity. This can be caused by many things, including irritable bowel syndrome, surgical scarring and Crohn's disease.
Dehydration and Lack of Fiber
If you have constipation and bloating at the same time, the combination may represent a short-term problem such as dehydration after a very long run on a hot day, with little fluid intake. A lack of fiber in your diet or being without enough exercise to promote a healthy frequency of bowel movements can also cause this.
Medications
Taking narcotic analgesics cause constipation by decreasing activity of the nerves in the intestine. The accumulation of pockets of trapped intestinal gas in an inactive colon can lead to a feeling of bloating.
Diabetes and Hypothyroidism
Longstanding patterns of constipation and bloating need further investigation; they can indicate diabetes or hypothyroidism, among other chronic diseases. Blood tests can rule out both diseases quickly.
Colon Cancer
Colon cancer can also cause these two symptoms--and by the time the disease process becomes severe enough to cause bloating and constipation, it normally causes pain and cramping as well. Earlier in the disease process, colon cancer is completely symptomless, according to the Mayo Clinic Patient Advisory.
Ovarian Cancer
In women, especially after age 55, bloating and constipation indicate the need to see a gynecologist. These are among the only symptoms of ovarian cancer. A pelvic ultrasound is performed to look for evidence of ovarian enlargement, and a vaginal and rectal examination is done to check the size and consistency of the ovaries. Many gynecologists also perform a CA-125, a blood test used to check for a chemical produced by tumors--though this test is only approved for the management of known disease after diagnosis. Most women are able to rule out this possibility, but if ovarian cancer is present, it's imperative to find and treat this aggressive disease before it spreads outside the ovary. If you have a combination of these symptoms or even abdominal bloating alone for more than two weeks, it's reasonable to test for ovarian cancer, according to Dr. Barbara Goff, director of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Washington in the June 13, 2007 issue of the New York Times.
