Summary: Constipation is a common gastroenterological disorder in primary healthcare. This problem most often affects older women, but it can occur in any group of patients. The most common cause of chronic constipation is functional constipation. However, before making a diagnosis you should carefully take the medical history and exclude other causes and alarm symptoms. Many additional tests are available, but they should not be routinely performed for every patient complaining of constipation. The most common signs of constipation are fewer than three stools a week, hard stools and difficulty during defecation. During the treatment of constipation, lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, proper fluid intake and physical activity are recommended. Treatment should begin with fiber supplementation; in the case of unsatisfactory effects, the drugs used to treat constipation are osmotic, stimulant, stool softeners and lubricants.