Constipation is something that almost all of us will suffer from at some point in our lives. For some people it is more common than others and can strike at virtually any time – maybe it’s after a heavy meal, maybe only when eating certain foods, maybe only when they are ill – but it’s often there as a constant problem. For others constipation is a much rarer affair that only happens once in a blue moon. We all know about certain things that are likely to cause us to have constipation, for example, having a diet that is low in fibre is a sure fire way to clog things up. And other things such as putting off using the toilet, not drinking enough water and not getting enough exercise can be choke points too.
But there are some reasons that people have constipation that may not be as obvious as these ones. These can range from anything from taking unusual supplements or medications, or perhaps it being part of a much more dangerous illness that is lurking somewhere beneath the surface and currently only manifesting itself as a relatively minor symptom such as thing. We’ve produced a list of some of the less normal reasons why you might be suffering from constipation. If you are suffering from the condition, and it’s been a mystery why, these could be some of the reasons that you haven’t thought of yet.
It could be something that you may never have even heard of: hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition that means you have an under-active thyroid gland and this can affect the body in a number of unexpected ways. It is well known, however, to slow the processes and metabolism of the body – and this even includes the gut, which is what would cause the constipation. It’s true that not everyone who suffers from hypothyroidism gets constipation, however, if your constipation is unexpected, it can be well worth having the test with your doctor to see if the gland in your neck is under-performing.
Here’s one that you may not have been expecting: painkillers. Painkillers, especially those that are narcotics, stop the process of much of the digestive tract which can really produce a high level of constipation. And how about life’s natural painkiller; chocolate – the sad news for any chocoholics is that chocolate can certainly cause you to become constipated. If you’re eating a lot of chocolate, this could be the key to unlocking your regularity. It pays to cut down.
Funnily enough one of the strangest things that can cause constipation is the overuse of laxatives. That might sound counter-intuitive but it’s certainly a problem if you try to use them for too often as your dependence on them stops them from working properly and then eventually does the reverse of what they were supposed to do.
And dairy is another problem that often can cause constipation – even if you’ve never really thought that it might be an issue. Cheese is especially bad as its low in fibre and high in fat which is a very bad combination for constipation. Cheese is still fine to have but it’s a much better idea to mix it up as part of a balanced diet.
Depression is another unusual thing that can cause you to have constipation. This might partially be because of the fact that people on antidepressants for depression and antidepressants are well known as a problem. Depression is known to slow down the processes of the body which is a real trouble for constipation.
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