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Constipation is a common condition that occurs due to infrequent bowel movements, typically fewer than three per week. It can be caused by various factors, such as a low-fibre diet, dehydration, lack of physical activity, certain medications, or pre-existing medical conditions. While constipation is uncomfortable on its own, it can lead to other symptoms, including nausea and muscle aches. Nausea is a sensation of queasiness in the stomach, often accompanied by an unpleasant taste in the mouth and an urge to vomit. In the context of constipation, nausea can be caused by the buildup of toxins in the body due to delayed food movement through the colon. This backup of stool can also press against the walls of the stomach, contributing to nausea. Additionally, constipation can cause muscle aches due to outlet dysfunction, where the pelvic floor muscles responsible for releasing poop do not function correctly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Constipation is infrequent bowel activity, typically fewer than three bowel movements a week. |
| Causes | A sedentary lifestyle, inadequate fiber intake, dehydration, ignoring the urge to defecate, medications, pregnancy, neurological diseases, digestive diseases, hormonal changes, and age. |
| Symptoms | Nausea, stomach cramps, lower back pain, bloating, loss of appetite, vomiting, and unpleasant taste in the mouth. |
| Treatment | Home remedies like drinking more water, eating more fiber, increasing physical activity, prune juice, warm beverages, gentle abdominal massage, probiotics, and over-the-counter laxatives. |
| Prevention | Regular exercise, dietary changes (increasing fiber intake), and drinking more fluids. |
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What You'll Learn
Causes of constipation
Constipation is a common condition that affects people of all ages. It is typically characterised by changes in bowel movements, such as having fewer than three bowel movements a week, with stools that are hard, dry, and difficult to pass. While constipation is often temporary and not serious, it can lead to other symptoms and health problems if left untreated. Here are some of the causes of constipation:
Diet and Lifestyle Factors
Constipation can be caused by a lack of fibre, water, and other fluids in one's diet. Not consuming enough water can lead to a lack of fluids in the intestines, making it difficult for waste to pass through. A sedentary lifestyle or lack of regular exercise can also contribute to constipation. Exercise helps promote normal muscle contractions in the intestines, aiding in the easy passage of stools.
Medication and Supplements
Certain medications and supplements can cause constipation as a side effect. Narcotic pain medications, such as codeine and oxycodone, are known to cause gastrointestinal side effects, including constipation. It is important to consult a healthcare professional if you experience constipation while taking any medication, as they may need to adjust your dosage or recommend additional treatments.
Medical Conditions
In some cases, constipation can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. While this is rare, conditions such as diverticular disease, bowel cancer, or gastrointestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can lead to constipation. Additionally, constipation during pregnancy and after giving birth is common.
Other Factors
Constipation can also be caused by factors such as age, with individuals over 65 being more prone to constipation. Additionally, constipation can sometimes occur without any obvious reason, and there may be no identifiable cause.
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How constipation causes nausea
Constipation and nausea often occur together, with constipation being a common cause of nausea. Nausea is an uncomfortable sensation of queasiness in the stomach, which can cause an unpleasant taste in the mouth and an urge to vomit.
Constipation occurs when there is infrequent bowel activity, typically fewer than three bowel movements a week. It is caused by slow-moving food and stool in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in stool backing up in the colon. This can be due to a lack of water in the colon, leading to dry, hard stools that are difficult to pass. The pressure of the stool against the walls of the stomach can trigger nausea.
A sedentary lifestyle and a diet low in fibre can contribute to chronic constipation and subsequent nausea. Regular exercise promotes normal muscle contractions in the intestines, aiding stool movement. Eating more fibre can help soften stools, making them easier to pass and reducing the risk of constipation and associated nausea.
In addition to lifestyle factors, certain medications can also cause constipation and nausea as gastrointestinal side effects. Narcotic pain medications, such as codeine and oxycodone, are known to have these side effects. In some cases, constipation and nausea may be symptoms of an underlying medical condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or, in rare cases, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease.
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Home remedies for constipation and nausea
Constipation can cause nausea due to several reasons, such as food poisoning, motion sickness, or the pressure of stool in the colon pressing against the walls of the stomach. It can also be caused by a sedentary lifestyle, leading to chronic constipation.
- Increase fluid intake: Drinking more water can help soften stools, making them easier to pass. Aim for 2.5 litres/12 glasses of water per day. Some people also find relief from drinking carbonated water, as it can help with rehydration and getting things moving again. However, avoid sugary carbonated drinks as they may have harmful health effects and could worsen symptoms for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Eat more fibre: Fibre helps soften stools, reducing straining during bowel movements and increasing their frequency. Eat fibre-rich foods such as apples, pears, kiwis, cucumbers, celery, watermelon, strawberries, and oranges.
- Exercise regularly: Regular physical activity, including mild exercises like walking, helps promote normal muscle contractions in the intestines, aiding in easier stool passage. Adults are generally recommended to get about 150 minutes of exercise per week.
- Try natural laxatives: Prunes and prune juice are well-known natural laxatives. Prunes contain fibre and sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that has a laxative effect. Fennel is another mild-smelling natural laxative that can be added to warm water for a tasty evening drink.
- Drink lemon juice: A glass of water mixed with lemon juice before bed and in the morning can help encourage bowel movements.
- Yoga and stress relief: Yoga poses can help stimulate the digestive system and relieve gas. Stress can also cause constipation, so finding ways to manage stress can help relieve constipation.
If home remedies do not provide relief, over-the-counter medications, such as osmotic laxatives, are available. However, it is important to consult a healthcare provider before taking any medications. In some cases, prescription medications may be necessary to treat chronic constipation.
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Medical treatments for constipation and nausea
Constipation and nausea can be extremely uncomfortable and even unbearable. While constipation can sometimes resolve on its own without prescription treatment, there are several medical treatments available for when it doesn't.
Home Remedies
Home remedies such as increasing fibre intake and drinking more water can help regulate bowel movements. Fibre supplements absorb water to help form bulky stools to get your bowels moving. However, it's important to drink lots of water with fibre so it doesn't block you up.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines
For constipation, you can use over-the-counter laxatives or stool softeners. It is recommended to take laxatives for no more than a week at a time. If you need to use laxatives for longer, it may be that you need to treat an underlying condition that is causing constipation. Osmotic laxatives, for example, draw water into your large intestine, making your stool softer. However, laxatives can have side effects, including nausea, rashes, and a sore throat.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback therapy helps you train the muscles that control bowel movements. It involves working with a therapist using a machine that teaches you how to relax your pelvic floor muscles to allow for a bowel movement.
Prescription Medicines
If other treatments aren't working, your doctor may suggest prescription medicines. Plecanatide (Trulance) is a tablet that helps your body make fluids in your intestines, which helps your stool move through the bowel. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a powder that is mixed with water and puts a lot of water into your colon to help you go. Prucalopride (Motegrity) is a tablet that helps your colon make movements to get your stool going through your bowel.
Surgery
It's rare for people to need surgery to treat constipation. However, if you've tried other treatments and your chronic constipation is caused by a blockage, rectocele, anal tear, or narrowing, your doctor may consider whether surgery to remove part of the colon is an option.
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Lifestyle changes to prevent constipation and nausea
Constipation and nausea may co-occur, with constipation being able to induce nausea. This can be due to the pressure of stool in your colon pressing against your stomach walls, leading to nausea. A sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to constipation, which can then lead to nausea.
Dietary Changes
- Consume more fiber in your diet. Fiber-rich foods include fruits such as berries, grapes, peaches, apricots, plums, raisins, rhubarb, and prunes. Be sure to not peel fruits that have edible skins as a lot of the fiber is in the skin.
- Choose bread, crackers, pasta, pancakes, and waffles made with whole grains.
- Consume high-fiber cereals and vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, corn, squash, and potatoes with the skin on.
- Salads made with vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and cabbage are also helpful.
- Legumes (navy beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, soybeans, and lentils), peanuts, walnuts, and almonds are good sources of fiber.
- Drink plenty of water. Water helps prevent constipation by making stools softer and easier to pass.
- Avoid processed or fast foods, such as white bread, pastries, doughnuts, sausage, fast-food burgers, potato chips, and French fries.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise promotes normal muscle contractions in the intestines, helping stools move easily through the bowels. Aim to walk, swim, or do some form of physical activity at least 3 to 4 times a week.
Bowel Movement Habits
- Try to get to know your normal bowel movement pattern to prevent constipation and keep it from worsening.
- If you feel the urge to go to the bathroom, do not wait or hold it in.
- Train your bowels to be more regular by going to the bathroom every day at the same time, often after breakfast or dinner.
Medication
- Over-the-counter fiber supplements can help relieve constipation.
- Anti-nausea medications can help relieve nausea, but they can take 30 to 60 minutes to work.
- Laxatives can be used to relieve constipation, but they may have side effects such as nausea, rashes, and sore throat. Always consult a healthcare provider before taking any medication.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, constipation can cause nausea. This is due to the pressure of stool in your colon pressing against the walls of your stomach.
Symptoms of nausea caused by constipation include an unpleasant taste in the mouth, an urge to vomit, stomach distention, and bloating.
There are many home remedies that can be used to relieve constipation and nausea, such as drinking more water, eating more fibre, getting fresh air, and increasing physical activity.
Constipation can be caused by a diet low in fibre, dehydration, lack of physical activity, ignoring the need to have a bowel movement, medications, pregnancy, pre-existing medical conditions, changes in routine or lifestyle, and age.
Nausea can be caused by gastrointestinal syndromes such as the stomach flu, acid reflux, stomach ulcers, food poisoning, stress, and hormonal changes.
