Perceived Constipation: Clinical Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Functional Management

Perceived Constipation: Clinical Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Functional Management

1. Introduction Perceived constipation is a clinical presentation where a patient subjectively feels they are suffering from inadequate, infrequent, or incomplete bowel movements, despite objective medical assessments demonstrating normal gastrointestinal transit and stool frequency. This condition bridges the gap between functional gastrointestinal disorders and somatoform presentations, requiring a nuanced clinical approach to distinguish true physiological … Read more

Functional Bowel Disorders: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Functional Bowel Disorders: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

1. Introduction Functional bowel disorders encompass a broad spectrum of chronic gastrointestinal conditions characterized by persistent symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. These disorders are clinically classified as functional because routine medical investigations—including blood tests, endoscopic imaging, and tissue biopsies—reveal no visible structural, inflammatory, or biochemical abnormalities in the digestive organs. The … Read more