23rd August 2023

A 75-year-old female presents to her GP complaining of difficulty passing stool for the past three weeks

A 75-year-old female presents to her GP complaining of difficulty passing stool for the past three weeks. She reports having bowel movements only twice a week, which is significantly less than her usual pattern. She also mentions having to strain excessively and has a feeling of incomplete evacuation. She had a recent colonoscopy which was clear, and has no red flag symptoms such as weight loss or blood in the stool. She is currently on multiple medications for her heart condition and hypertension, including a calcium channel blocker.

What would be the most likely cause of her constipation?