Chronic constipation

Wouldn’t it be easy if you could blame your chronic constipation on one thing? While that typically isn’t the case, your irregularity could be pointing to either one or multiple causes. Read on to learn what your gut may be trying to tell you, and what you can do about it.

If you’re constipated, your gut might simply be in sharp disagreement with your lifestyle. Poor diet and lack of physical activity are the most common causes of constipation, so it’s a good idea to rule these out first before looking into other causes.

Here are some diet- and lifestyle-related factors that can make you constipated:

  • a diet heavy in meat and dairy products
  • a diet heavy in processed foods, which are high in fat and sugar
  • lack of high-fiber foods
  • not enough water and other fluids
  • 酒精或咖啡因过多
  • lack of exercise
  • 忽略使用浴室的冲动

Make a few changes to your lifestyle and see if they result in any positive bowel changes. For example:

  • Include more high-fiber foods in your meals: fruits, vegetables, whole grains.
  • Take a fiber supplement along with a tall glass of water each day.
  • Do some form of physical activity for 30 minutes each day, even if it’s just a long walk.
  • Use the bathroom as soon as you have the urge.
  • Avoid alcohol and caffeine.

Perhaps you’ve made changes to your diet and lifestyle and still aren’t getting any relief. At this point, it may be a good idea to visit your doctor to see if your gut symptoms are a result of something else going on in your body.

While having chronic constipation doesn’t necessarily mean you also have one of these conditions, it may be a good idea to have some additional diagnostic tests just to check.

如果您有其他症状，例如疲劳，脱发，腹部痉挛，体重改变或视力问题，尤其如此。

慢性便秘可能是以下条件的标志：

Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

当您的甲状腺（脖子前方附近的一小腺）无法产生足够的激素时，它会对您的新陈代谢产生巨大影响。缓慢的代谢导致整个消化过程的放缓，从而导致便秘。

The symptoms of hypothyroidism usually develop slowly over time. Aside from constipation, if you have an underactive thyroid, you may also experience:

  • fatigue
  • increased sensitivity to cold
  • dry skin
  • weight gain
  • 如果你是女人，月经时期不规则
  • thinning hair
  • brittle fingernails
  • impaired memory
  • a puffy face

A blood test known as a thyroid function test can help assess the function of your thyroid. If you’re found to have hypothyroidism, your doctor will likely have to run more tests. Hypothyroidism can be caused by other conditions, including:

  • 一种被称为桥本甲状腺炎的自身免疫性疾病
  • 放射治疗
  • congenital diseases
  • 垂体障碍
  • pregnancy
  • iodine deficiency
  • certain medications, such as lithium
  • cancer
  • thyroid surgery

Hypothyroidism can be successfully treated with a synthetic thyroid hormone calledlevothyroxine(Levothroid, Unithroid).

Diabetes

Like hypothyroidism, diabetes is also a hormonal problem. In diabetes, your body stops producing enough of the hormone insulin so your body can no longer break down sugar in your blood.

The high blood sugar levels seen in type 1 and 2 diabetes can lead to diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage. According to theMayo Clinic，控制消化道的神经损害可能导致便秘。

必须尽早诊断糖尿病。如果不治疗，糖尿病症状会恶化。除便秘外，还要注意其他症状，包括：

  • being thirsty all the time
  • frequent urination, particularly at night
  • fatigue
  • 减肥
  • 模糊的视野

Irritable bowel syndrome

Constipation can be a result of a bowel disease known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The exact cause of IBS is not well understood, but it’s thought to be a result of problems with the way your brain and gut interact with each other.

A diagnosis of IBS can be made by assessing your symptoms. Aside from constipation, other symptoms of IBS include:

  • abdominal pain and cramping
  • bloating
  • excessive flatulence
  • occasional urgent diarrhea
  • passing mucus

Anxiety

When you’re anxious or stressed out, your body goes into “flight or fight” mode. Your sympathetic nervous system becomes active, which means your digestion gets put on hold.

不会消失的焦虑，有时被称为普遍的焦虑症（GAD）会损害您的消化过程。

Other symptoms of GAD include:

  • excessive worry
  • restlessness
  • insomnia
  • 易怒
  • difficulty concentrating

Anxiety can be treated with medications and psychological counseling or therapy.

Depression

Depression can cause constipation for a variety of reasons. People who are depressed might stay in bed all day and have decreased physical activity.

They might also change their diet, eat a lot of foods high in sugar or fat, or not eat much at all. Such lifestyle and diet changes can likely lead to constipation.

药物and psychological counseling are very effective for people with depression. Symptoms of depression include:

  • feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or despair
  • suicidal thoughts
  • angry outbursts
  • loss of interest in pleasurable activities
  • 麻烦集中
  • fatigue
  • reduced appetite

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, consider talking to a therapist. Once your psychological problems are addressed, your gut will respond.

Other conditions

In some cases, constipation symptoms can be a sign of a more serious problem. For example, problems with your brain or nervous system can affect the nerves that cause muscles in your intestines to contract and move stool.

Alternatively, something blocking your bowel, like a tumor, can also lead to constipation. In most of these conditions, constipation is usually not the only symptom. Other conditions that could cause constipation include:

  • hypercalcemia, or too much calcium in your bloodstream
  • multiple sclerosis, a condition that affects your nervous system
  • Parkinson’s disease, a condition where part of your brain becomes progressively damaged
  • 肠梗阻
  • bowel cancer
  • spinal cord injury
  • stroke

Constipation is common during pregnancy. At leasttwo in five womenexperience constipation when they’re pregnant. This is caused by the body producing more of the hormone progesterone, which might make it more difficult for intestinal muscles to contract.

If you’re pregnant, ask your doctor about ways to safely treat constipation without harming your baby.

您的便秘实际上可能不是由您的医疗状况引起的，而是由用于治疗病情的药物引起的。已知以下药物会导致便秘：

  • 阿片类止痛药，例如可待因和吗啡
  • calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure and heart disease
  • anticholinergic agents used to treat muscle spasms
  • drugs used to treat epilepsy
  • tricyclic antidepressants
  • drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease
  • 利尿剂,用来帮助肾脏消除流体from your blood
  • antacids for stomach acid, especially antacids high in calcium
  • calcium supplements
  • iron supplements for treating anemia
  • 抗原剂

如果您注意到开始使用任何一种药物后，肠子运动的频率或质量发生了变化，请解决您对医生的担忧。

They may want to adjust your medications, switch you to a new medication, or prescribe you an additional medication to manage your constipation symptoms.

If diet and lifestyle changes don’t solve your bowel troubles, visit your doctor for more diagnostic tests.

Take a moment to think about any other symptoms you have that your doctor might want to know about, such as fatigue, thinning hair, or changes in your weight. Ask your doctor if any of your medications could be causing changes in your bowel movements.

While chronic constipation doesn’t always mean you have another underlying condition, your doctor will want to perform some diagnostic tests just to be sure.

If you’re diagnosed with another medical problem, don’t fret. Your doctor will get you on a treatment plan as soon as possible.

If you’ve been feeling depressed or anxious lately and you think it may be having an effect on your digestion, make an appointment to talk to a therapist.