Healthy Bowel Movements (BM) are a fact of life. The subject doesn’t make for the best table conversations but (no pun intended) it is a constant in everyone’s everyday life.
The number of times a day, or week, varies from person to person. Some people might go up to three times a day, while others only have a bowel movement a few times a week. Some researchers indicate that anywhere from three bowel movements a day to three a week can be normal. It’s also important to remember that sometimes the consistency of a person’s stool can be a more significant indicator of bowel health than frequency. However, if a person doesn’t poop often enough or too frequently, both can cause severe health problems.
Constipation happens when your colon absorbs too much water or the muscles contract too slowly or poorly, which means stool moves through your digestive system too slowly. When the stool loses too much water, it hardens. If feces sit in your colon for three days or longer, the mass becomes even harder and more difficult to pass.
There are a number of different causes of constipation and vary from person to person. Here is a list of fourteen possible reasons for your constipation.
1. Hypothyroidism
An underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, can cause your metabolic processes to slow down. According to Dr Catherine Ngo, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in California, “The slower the system, the longer the digestive contents have to be reabsorbed by the colon, resulting not only in decreased frequency of stools, but harder stools.”
Although constipation is not always related to thyroid problems, Dr Carla H Ginsburg, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, says, “When I see a young person who’s constipated more than normal and really complaining, I do tend to get a thyroid level.”
2. Medications
Medications come with side effects and many list constipation. Common offenders include antidepressants (especially SSRIs like Prozac), anti-anxiety drugs, heartburn drugs and blood pressure medication.
“There is always an alternative medication you can try,” Dr Atif Iqbal, a gastroenterologist and medical director of the Digestive Care Center at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center, told Reader’s Digest. “You just need to be clear with your doctor about what problems you’re experiencing.” If your heartburn medication contains calcium, for example, you can try one that contains magnesium.
Painkillers – prescription or over the counter – can also cause constipation. “These medications bind to the same receptors in the stomach, blunting the whole digestive system as well as your pain,” explains Dr Iqbal. Don’t use painkillers continuously for longer than 30 days. Dr Iqbal says you should address the underlying injury or find alternative ways to treat your pain.
3. Bad bathroom habits
If the need to go strikes while you’re at the office or mall, do you hold it in? Experts say you shouldn’t, and doing it too often can lead to constipation. “You eventually confuse the muscles in the rectum and anal sphincter and develop constipation,” said Dr Gina Sam, assistant professor of gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
In addition, the longer stool remains in your colon, the more water it absorbs which will make it even more difficult to pass when you eventually get home to your toilet.
“Some research suggests that people who use the bathroom at timed intervals and don’t fight the urge to have a bowel movement tend to have more regular bowel movements,” Dr David Poppers, a clinical associate professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at NYU School of Medicine and NYU Langone Health, told Women’s Health.
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4. Diabetes
According to a 2014 study, about one in three diabetics suffer from constipation. When you have diabetes, nerve damage affects your entire your entire body over time.
When this damage affects your gut, you may experience “slow transit time in your intestines, as well as problems with rectal sensation”, Dr Ron Schey, an associate professor of medicine in the gastroenterology department at Temple School of Medicine, told Men’s Health. And that results in constipation.
5. Overusing laxatives
When you are constipated, it’s natural to reach for laxatives. But don’t rely on them for long-term use – over long periods of time nerve cells that release chemicals that tell your colon it’s time to move a stool become depleted. Eventually you’ll need to use more laxatives for them to work, until they no longer work.
“More of a problem is that when they stop working, the other simple measures that we might try have less chance of working as well because those stimulatory neurons are now dead,” Dr Pradeep Kumar, a gastroenterologist, told Fox News.
6. Vitamins
Generally, vitamins shouldn’t cause constipation but sometimes calcium or iron can cause your system to become backed up.
“I would tell a patient to stop taking the iron [or calcium] unless they really need it and, if they do need it, I would put them on a stool softener to counteract that,” said Dr Ginsburg, who is a spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association.
7. A lack of exercise (or too much)
Not exercising often enough can cause digestive problems that may lead to constipation. Exercise helps stimulate intestinal activity, which keeps food waste moving through your digestive system. In fact, exercises that focus on toning your abdominal muscles can even help with bowel movements.
On the other hand, however, too much exercise can also cause constipation. Exercising causes your body to sweat, which helps regulate body temperature. As a result, your body may need more water, which your intestines may try to recover from stool moving through your digestive system. Constipation can occur when the poop becomes hard and compact, and unable to pass easily through your rectum.
Make sure you are properly hydrated before, during and after exercise.
8. Too much dairy
A diet high in cheese and other low-fiber/high-fat foods such as eggs and meat can slow down your digestion. The obvious solution? Cut down on your intake of such foods, and increase fiber intake to 20 to 35 grams a day.
“If you’re going to have cheeses and red meat and eggs, mix in some salads or other foods that have fiber,” Dr. Park advises. And avoid fast foods and processed foods, which are generally low in fiber.
9. Antidepressants
Constipation can be associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants such as Prozac (fluoxetine).
However, constipation is more of a problem with older tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil (amitriptyline), says Dr. Park. Why any of these drugs have this effect isn’t clear, though.
If you’re taking an antidepressant and have this side effect, think about using a gentle stool softener.
10. Depression
Ironically, the very condition that antidepressants are meant to treat – depression – can also cause constipation.
Like hypothyroidism, depression causes a general slowdown of the body’s normal processes, which can also affect the bowel.
People with irritable bowel syndrome, which can be closely linked to depression, are also prone to constipation, Dr. Park says.
11. Antacids
Antacids are great for fighting heartburn, but some can cause constipation, particularly those containing calcium or aluminum, Dr. Park says.
Fortunately, the drugstore aisles are crammed with options, so if one medication is a problem you can try something else.
You can also cut down on your risk of heartburn by not overstuffing at meals. And consuming fewer fatty foods and more fiber will help prevent both problems.
12. Childbirth
Constipation is common during and after pregnancy, but childbirth itself can be a problem, possibly due to sluggish abdominal muscles or perhaps the use of pain relievers or an anesthetic during the delivery.
Also, “there may be some perineal soreness right after the delivery, so the fear of causing more discomfort may be an important factor in the constipation,” says Dr. Park.
Although stretch injuries during childbirth can sometimes cause nerve damage that leads to constipation, this is less common.
13. Diabetes and neurological conditions
Diabetes can cause nerve damage that can affect a person’s ability to digest food, says Dr. Park.
Most people with advanced diabetes know they have it. Still, it’s reasonable to do a blood sugar test on someone who is regularly constipated, says Dr. Ginsburg.
Neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease can cause constipation. Usually, though, “this goes with another symptom such as trouble urinating, double vision, or a gait problem,” Dr. Ginsburg says.
14. Anticonvulsants
AED’s (anti epileptic drugs) are supposed to stop seizures but unfortunately they can also stop the bowels from operating properly.
The way I found to combat that is to drink water on a regular basis, a minimum of 32 ounces a day, and to follow a sensible diet with a minimum amount of dairy and sweets.
We all have BM issues to deal with. The important thing is to know your body and adjust what’s necessary to improve and maintain the overall functioning of it.
