Which term describes the difficult and often painful elimination of hard, dry stool?

Which term describes the difficult and often painful elimination of hard, dry stool?

• A. Constipation
• B. Dementia
• C. Edema
• D. Emesis

Answer: (A)

Constipation describes the difficulty and often painful process of passing hard, dry stool. It happens when stool moves slowly through the colon, leading to infrequent or incomplete bowel movements and straining. In daily care, look for reports of fewer bowel movements, a sense of fullness, and hard stools. Encourage fluids and fiber as appropriate, establish a regular toileting routine, and report persistent difficulty or pain to the nurse, since severe constipation can lead to complications like hemorrhoids or fecal impaction. The other terms don’t fit because dementia is a cognitive disorder, edema is swelling from fluid buildup, and emesis is vomiting.

Constipation describes the difficulty and often painful process of passing hard, dry stool. It happens when stool moves slowly through the colon, leading to infrequent or incomplete bowel movements and straining. In daily care, look for reports of fewer bowel movements, a sense of fullness, and hard stools. Encourage fluids and fiber as appropriate, establish a regular toileting routine, and report persistent difficulty or pain to the nurse, since severe constipation can lead to complications like hemorrhoids or fecal impaction. The other terms don’t fit because dementia is a cognitive disorder, edema is swelling from fluid buildup, and emesis is vomiting.