Constipation is a very disturbing ailment, and it can significantly affect our everyday life. We all know what constipation is, and we must have experienced this issue at least once in our lifetime. Medically, the term constipation indicates a condition where the concerned individual has less than three bowel movements weekly. There are a lot of individuals who suffer from this health issue regularly. In such cases, they might wonder what chronic constipation icd 10 is. When the constipation persists for a longer time period such as several weeks, then it is regarded as chronic in nature. In such cases, the patients might have to put in a lot of effort to bring about the movement of the bowel. This can stress them out a lot, and they might find it extremely difficult to carry out their daily tasks. Because of this health issue, a lot of people often fail to utilize their full potential at their workplaces. If left untreated, then the chronic constipation can lead to several other health complications. So, it is highly advisable that if you are suffering from this condition, then you must seek medical attention without much delay.

Chronic constipation icd 10

• The ICD 10 Code for this particular health condition is K59.04. It includes chronic idiopathic constipation, as well as functional constipation.

• It excludes fecal impaction, incomplete defecation, change in bowel habit, intestinal malabsorption, psychogenic intestinal disorders, functional disorders of stomach, etc.

• In this condition, the stool becomes very hard, as well as dry. Because of this, passing stool becomes extremely difficult, and bowel movements don’t happen regularly.

• In most cases of chronic constipation, only about three or less bowel movements take place in a week. Sometimes, these bowel movements can be extremely painful.

• In some cases, the stool can become so hard that the person might experience bleeding while passing the stool. This can lead to several complications in the future.

• The people suffering from this health issue might also complain about severe bloating, uncomfortability, as well as sluggishness.

• This condition can occur because of a number of reasons such as emotional or nervous disturbances, low dietary fiber intake, drug-induced aggravation, systemic and structural disorders, infections, etc

• Several studies indicate that the condition of chronic constipation increases with age. In addition to that, it is more common in women than in men.

• The ICD 10 codes can be considered as very important because it provides a universal language which helps the people in the health care sectors to record, report, and monitor diseases quite efficiently.

• As a result, people and health organizations such as hospitals all over the world will be able to compare, as well as share data in a standard, and consistent manner.

• It also helps in the collection and storage of data for the purpose of analysis, as well as evidence-based decision-making.

Causes of Chronic Constipation

Let’s take a look at the different factors that are responsible for the development of chronic constipation icd 10.

• Chronic constipation can occur because of a number of reasons such as structural lesions of the colon. These include colon stricture, colon cancer, narrowing of colon, etc.

• Some medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, thyroid disorders, diabetes, pregnancy, etc can also cause chronic constipation.

• It can also occur because of several medications such as blood pressure medications, pain medications, anti-seizure medications, antispasmodics, etc.

• If the constipation is caused by some medications, then switching to a new medication will help in alleviating the symptoms. In such cases, you must get in touch with your doctor immediately. He or she will evaluate your condition, and modify the medications as per your requirement.

• It has been observed that in the majority of the cases, chronic constipation develops in people who are over 50 years of age. This mostly occurs when the person already has a structural disorder, or a serious bowel disease .

• If the illness is not due to any secondary causes, then it is often referred to as functional constipation. The most common causes of functional constipation are slow transit constipation, normal transit constipation, and defecatory or evacuation disorders, such as dyssynergic defecation, rectocele, rectal prolapse, etc.

Management of chronic constipation icd 10

• If you are suffering from milder forms of chronic constipation, then it is highly recommended that you switch to a high fiber diet.

• You can also consume fiber supplements, such as psyllium. These supplements are very much beneficial when it comes to the management of milder forms of constipation. It will help in easing the passage of stool, and thereby normalizes the bowel movements.

• In addition to that, you must try to increase your daily fluid intake. Exercising will also help you to alleviate this condition to some extent.

• If you are suffering from moderate to severe chronic constipation, then you must consider taking medications. There are a number of over-the-counter laxatives which have the capability of increasing the stool frequency. These laxatives will also soften the hard and dry stools.

• Sometimes, the doctor might prescribe lubiprostone. It is a calcium channel activator and it helps in enhancing the electrolyte, as well as fluid secretion into the lumen of the intestine. This will help in accelerating the transit time of stool, and thereby improves the symptoms associated with constipation.

• For dyssynergic defecation, the effective treatment option is anorectal biofeedback. If the patient is suffering from extreme cases of rectal prolapse and rectocele, then he or she might require surgery to manage the condition.

ConclusionWe have discussed chronic constipation icd 10, its causes, and management. If you want to alleviate chronic constipation, then you must avoid foods that have low or zero fiber content. These include food items such as processed and microwavable foods, frozen meals, fast food, meat, etc. Instead, you should try adding legumes such as, black beans, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, soybeans, etc into your diet. Foods such as whole wheat bread, bran flake cereals, whole wheat pasta, and oatmeal also contain decent amounts of fiber. In addition to that, add plenty of vegetables, and fruits into your daily diet.