The results suggest that decreased sleep is associated with constipation among adults in the United States, the researchers said.
The present population-based study showed that reporting poor sleep is associated with increased odds for multiple upper and lower GI symptoms, including upper abdominal pain and discomfort, nausea, difficulty swallowing, reflux symptoms, diarrhea and loose stools, and constipation.
Both decreased and increased sleep correlated with constipation among U.S. adults in a nationwide survey. Investigators found patients with normal sleep duration had a lower prevalence of constipation compared with those with short and long duration of sleep (8.3% vs.
The effects that stress hormones have on the body can cause constipation. In addition, when a person is stressed, they are more likely to eat an unhealthful diet, get less exercise or sleep, or forget to stay hydrated. These factors can lead to constipation.
Lack of sleep can increase stress, which affects the gut.
“Increased stress can cause intestinal permeability issues—or something known as leaky gut—where food and toxins are able to pass through the intestine and into the bloodstream.
The primary signs and symptoms of sleep deprivation include excessive daytime sleepiness and daytime impairment such as reduced concentration, slower thinking, and mood changes. Feeling extremely tired during the day is one of the hallmark signs of sleep deprivation.
Sleep deficiency is linked to many chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression. Sleep deficiency is also linked to a higher chance of injury in adults, teens, and children.
Stress can upset your gut and make you tense your muscles. That can make your constipation worse. And your brain is on high alert during times of stress, so you're more aware of belly upset.
Lifestyle factors such as stress and anxiety disorders may be responsible for the onset of constipation, and studies show high rates in people with anxiety. Other causes of constipation include: Lack of fiber or fluid in the diet. Neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.
You may think that cutting back on food will help “clear out” your colon. That's not the case. Do this: Eating, especially healthy whole foods that contain fiber, helps your body move stool.
Place a firm pillow between your knees and hug one to support your spine. While you sleep on your left side at night, gravity can help take waste on a trip through the ascending colon, then into the transverse colon, and finally dump it into the descending colon — encouraging a trip to the bathroom in the morning.
When constipation lingers for three weeks or more, get a check-up just to make sure a medical condition isn't causing the problem. Also see your doctor if: You've never been constipated before now. You have stomach pain.
Sleep disruption, the study concluded, was found to aggravate both GI (such as abdominal pain) and non-GI symptoms (such as joint pain and headaches) of IBS.
The link between IBS and sleep. A complex communication system called the gut-brain axis connects your brain and gastrointestinal tract, or gut. This connection means gut disturbances can disrupt the parts of your nervous system that control sleep. A lack of sleep, meanwhile, can worsen IBS symptoms.
Stress factor
If the stress you have is severe or long-term, symptoms such as stomach pain and constipation can become chronic. Stress can also cause inflammation to occur in your gastrointestinal tract, increasing constipation and worsening existing inflammatory conditions you may have.
Summary. Stress can lead to constipation in several ways. Stress hormones directly influence bowel movements by affecting bodily processes. In addition, people are more likely to have a poor diet, drink too little water, and get less exercise when stressed, which can cause constipation.
Try a combination of oatmeal and flax meal. Flax meal is ground flax seeds, which are extremely rich in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. You can further increase the fiber factor by stirring in some raisins. Dried fruit is very high in fiber too.
What to drink to make you poop? The following drinks can help relieve constipation: prune juice, lemon juice, apple juice, kefir, coffee, green tea, water or aloe vera juice.
Try natural laxatives that work fast for constipation relief, which include: aloe vera, leafy greens, chia and flax seeds, high fiber fruits, probiotic foods, and coconut water. Also make sure to drink plenty of water/fluids when consuming natural laxatives, since these work with high fiber foods to help soften stool.
An ongoing lack of sleep has been closely associated with hypertension, heart attacks and strokes, obesity, diabetes, depression and anxiety, decreased brain function, memory loss, weakened immune system, lower fertility rates and psychiatric disorders.
Sleep Deprivation Can Lead to Serious Health Problems
Heart failure. Irregular heartbeat. High blood pressure. Stroke.
The bottom line. The first stage of sleep deprivation occurs within 24 hours of missed sleep. Most people can tolerate this level of sleep loss.