Have constipation and bloating become your new โnormalโ? Itโs easy to shrug it off, but constipation may signal bigger issues, like sluggish bile flow or unwelcome guests like parasites. Knowing the constipation danger signs could mean the difference between feeling like crapโor finally feeling like yourself again.
Alright, letโs talk about something weโve all dealt with, but no one likes to admit โย constipation.
Yeah, it sucks, but itโs fixable.
If youโre one of those people whoย dread sitting down at the toiletย because it feels more like a wrestling match than a simple bodily function, let me introduce you to a hidden culprit:ย bile flow.
You know โ that miracle fluid your liver and gallbladder whip up to help youย digest fatsย and, yes,ย make poop.
Bile is like theย unsung heroย of your digestion system.
When itโsย flowingย like it should,ย lifeโs good.
Youโreย absorbing nutrients, keeping thingsย moving, and avoiding that lovely backed-up feeling.
Butย when itโs not? Letโs just say, yourย gutย becomes aย sluggish mess.
And hereโs the kickerโlow bile flowย isย more commonย than youย think.
Fromย poor diet choicesย to thoseย sneaky parasitesย making themselves at home in your intestines, there are plenty of reasons why your bile might be taking a little nap.
But what about whenย constipationย isย chronicย and lasts for months โ or (gulp!) years โ on end? Are thereย danger signsย you should be aware of?
You bet, and Iโve got youย covered!
Ready to take aย closer lookย at yourย โno-goโ issue, includingย root causes,ย effects, andย danger signs?
Letโs GO!
Key Takeaways
- Everyone deals with constipation on occasion.
- Root causes of constipation can include low bile, dysbiosis due to parasites, mold exposure, and toxicities, and more โ but they can be reversed.
- There are constipation danger signs you should understand.
What is Constipation?
Constipation occurs when you have difficulty going โnumber 2,โ or if itโs infrequent (7).
It can make you feel like youย ate a boulderย for breakfast โย heavy, weighed down, andย slow.
Then when youย finallyย doย poop, it can feel like youโreย giving birthย through yourย butt!
In general, you should haveย 2-3 bulky, formed,ย easyย and regular bowel movementsย per day.
Be honest, are you freaking out a little right now?
I know โ it seems like a lot. Yet when you consider thatโs our bodyโsย main wayย of โtaking out the trash,โ it makes sense.
But Iโve met thousands of people over my years in practice who only poo two to four times perย month.
Their bodies areย toxicย andย strugglingย to make it through the day. And nothing will change until they make a change.
Sound familiar?
Have youย tried allll the thingsย toย relieveย yourย constipation, only to be right back where you started? (Well, maybe a little lighter in the wallet.)
Perhaps you didnโt dig deep enough into theย causeย of your difficult to pass stool?
Itโsย not your faultย โ everyone tells you itโs all about hydration and fiber.
The reality is that itโs about so much more. And that conversation has to includeย bile flowย andย root causesย such as parasites.
Bile Flow and Constipation
Bile plays a key role in digestion and can affect how well your body processes waste and makes poop. Reduced bile flow may slow digestion and cause uncomfortable hard stool.
What is Bile?
Bile is aย miracle liquidย made by yourย liverย andย storedย (andย concentrated) in yourย gallbladder.
It might just be theย most incredible fluidย in your body โ but I guess thatโs a topic for another time.
When youย eat, yourย gallbladder contractsย andย squirtsย concentratedย bileย into yourย small intestineย where itย mixesย with the contents of your stomach.
Bile helps your bodyย digest fatsย byย emulsifyingย them, breaking them down intoย smaller and smaller droplets.
This allows your intestines toย absorb nutrientsย (especially theย fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K) andย remove wasteย more effectively.
Without enoughย bile, your fatย digestionย isย compromised, making you feel heavy, bloated, and constipated (4).
Bile and Motility
Bile also helpsย trigger peristalsis, which is theย sequential, rhythmic contractionย of muscles in your intestines thatย moves foodย along theย conveyor beltย of your gut.
Itโs like โthe waveโ you see at sporting events, only in the muscles of your gut!
Whenย bileย flow isย reduced,ย peristalsis slows, and this can lead to sluggish digestion and constipation.
Certainย medicationsย likeย cholesterol-lowering drugsย andย narcotic pain relieversย may interfere with bile production and are known toย cause constipationย (6).
Causes of Low Bile
Low bile (AKA โcholestasisโ) can result fromย several factors, including anything that interferes with yourย liverย (like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis, cirrhosis, parasitic infection, mold toxicity, heavy metal or chemical exposure, and more).
Also, anything that affects your gallbladder โ like stones or parasitic infection โ can reduce bile flow.
If youโve had yourย gallbladder removed, it canโt squirt bile into your small intestine in response to your meals.
It also canโt get concentrated.
Instead, you just have aย steady dripย of bile into your small intestinesย all the time, whether you need it or not.
This canย cause diarrhea. (Lucky you โ you getย bothย constipation and diarrhea!)
But when you have that slice ofย pizzaย (or other fatty meal), thereโsย not enough bileย in your intestines to fully break it down or to move it through your system.
Theย โconveyor beltโ slowsย down.
You feel likeย crapย (pun intended).
Some otherย causes of low bileย include:
Parasites Can Cause Constipation
Parasites in your gut can cause several digestion problems, including constipation. These uninvited visitors can disrupt how your intestines work and lead to other symptoms that signal their presence.
How Parasites Affect Digestion
Parasites in your digestive tract such as roundworms, hookworms, and protozoa can significantly disrupt intestinal motility (1, 2, 3, 16).
Theyย impair nutrient absorption, leading to various digestive issues.
When theseย freeloadersย settle in your gut, they causeย inflammationย in the gut lining.
This inflammation affects theย normal movementย of the intestines and can result inย constipation.
Parasites alsoย changeย theย compositionย of theย gut microbiome, a condition calledย dysbiosisย (19).
They can evenย physically blockย yourย bile flowย orย intestines!
Start by taking myย Parasite Assessment Quiz,ย supportingย yourย liver, getting yourย bile flowย back on track, andย kicking outย anyย unwanted squattersย in your gut (looking at you, parasites).
Itโs not glamorous work, but itโsย fixableโand once youโve tackled theย root causes, youโll love how much lighter (literally and figuratively) you feel. Go ahead,ย give your gut the green lightโitโs time to get things moving again. Iโm rooting for you!
Take My Parasite Assessment Quiz NowSigns of a Parasitic Infection
There are several warning signs to look out for if you suspect aย parasitic infection.
You might noticeย abdominal pain,ย run-to-the-bathroomย diarrhea, and low-gradeย nausea.
Bloatingย that makes it hard to button your pants,ย stinky gas, and being โbacked upโ are also common symptoms (19).
You may haveย chronic hivesย or otherย skin rashesย that make you want to scratch the day away.
As the infection persists, more serious signs likeย bloody stools, significantย weight loss,ย anemia, orย malnutritionย might occur.
These invaders can even cause immune suppression, so you catch every cold that comes around (18) and neurological effects likeย brain fogย making it hard to deal.
The Body and Persistent Constipation Symptoms
Chronic constipation can lead to several serious health issues. These include the reabsorption of toxins, changes in gut bacteria, impacts on the entire body, and immune system challenges.
Toxic Reabsorption
When youโre constipated,ย waste stays in your colonย longer than it should.
This allows toxins to beย reabsorbedย into yourย bloodstream, increasing yourย toxic load.
You might experience symptoms likeย fatigueย orย brain fogย as your body struggles to cope with the extra toxins.
Over time, aย buildup of toxinsย can affect yourย organsย andย overall health.
Dysbiosis: A Warning Sign and A Cause
Chronic constipation canย perpetuateย dysbiosis, which is anย imbalanceย in the naturalย bacteriaย in your gut.
Dysbiosisย can beย causedย byย parasitesย (19),ย moldย toxicity (20), heavyย metalsย (23),ย EMFย exposure (22), industrial chemicals (21), and more.
This imbalance can lead to issues likeย irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and leaky gut syndrome.
Systemic Symptoms of Constipationย
The effects of chronic constipation arenโt limited to your digestive system.
But did you know constipation can also causeย systemic issues?
One alarming study found an association between constipation and anย increased riskย of โmajor adverse cardiac eventsย (15).โ (Really? Are there non-adverse cardiac events?)
If you developย leaky gut syndrome, that can impactย virtually every systemย in your body.
A long-termย toxic burdenย puts added stress on your liver, and this can cause hormonal imbalances, metabolism issues, and more.
Inflammation and Immune Response
Constipationย (and its root causes) can influenceย inflammation and immune responseย (1, 8, 11).
If waste stays in your body too long, it can causeย chronic inflammationย in your colon (8).
This can lead to conditions likeย colon inflammationย orย colon cancerย and mightย suppressย yourย immune system, making you more prone to illnesses.
Constipation Danger Signsย
Constipation can lead to more serious problems if not addressed promptly. Knowing when it becomes a significant health issue can help you seek the right care.
Risks of Chronic Constipation
Not going is no joke!
When constipation persists, it increases the risk ofย fecal impaction, where stool becomes stuck in the intestines. Gross, right!
Worse, fecal impaction can cause your intestines to perforate or tear, leaking toxins into your system.
It might also lead toย rectal prolapse, a situation where part of the intestine protrudes through the anus.
So yes, by not pooping, you can experienceย fun thingsย like itchy and burningย hemorrhoids, painfulย anal fissures,ย diverticulitis, intestinal perforation, fecal impaction, and rectal prolapseย due to straining (16, 19).
That almost sounds like the side effects rattled off in a prescription medication commercial.
Constipation Red Flags
Certain signs indicate that constipation might be more than just an uncomfortable annoyance.
If you noticeย bloody stoolsย orย bright red blood, this could meanย hemorrhoids,ย intestinal tearsย or more serious conditions likeย bowel obstruction.
Experiencingย severe abdominal painย should also put you on high alert.
Some other symptoms to watch out for include sudden constipation,ย unintended weight loss,ย fever, aย family historyย of colon cancer, and theย onsetย of constipationย after the age of 50ย with no known cause (12).
Natural Approaches to Constipation
Natural ways to relieve constipation often focus on finding the cause, making smart food choices, and adopting healthier habits. These steps not only aim to ease symptoms but also help prevent future issues.
Find the Root Causes of Constipation
Understanding theย reason behind constipationย is crucial for effective treatment.
Sure,ย in theory, it could be as simple as not drinking enoughย fluids, getting enoughย fiberย or managing yourย stress.
In my experience, chronic constipation is not as simple as it seems.
Insidiousย root causesย of constipation (through various mechanisms) can be:
- A history of past or currentย moldย exposure
- Parasiticย infection
- EMFย exposure
- Heavyย metals
- Exposure to industrialย chemicalsย such as herbicides and pesticides
Constipation is a symptom of a larger issue.
The larger issues (root causes) ARE fixable, but only if you address them directly.
Dietary Changes
Eating theย right foodsย can improve bowel movements, but they must be the right foodsย for you.
For example, high-fiber foods such as apples and broccoli may be helpful for some people, but they may cause gas, bloating, or other icky symptoms in your body.
Eating โhealthyโ foodsย yourย bodyย reactsย to does not help you. Identifying your food triggers does.
Donโt forgetย healthy fatsย like those found in avocados, as they help move things along in your gut.
Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Constipation
Regularย physical activityย is your ally against constipation.
Exerciseย stimulatesย theย musclesย in yourย intestines, helping with efficient bowel movements.
Activities such asย walking or yogaย can be beneficial.
Stress managementย is important, as stress affects digestion.
Find ways toย relax, like meditation, Epsom salt baths, or grounding in nature.
Also, tryย bowel trainingย by sticking to aย regular scheduleย for bathroom visits.
Supplements to Ease Constipation
Using anย enemaย orย naturalย stool softenersย may be appropriate to help you with occasional constipation, but they shouldnโt be all you do to address chronic constipation.
Likewise, supplements can help in the short-term while youโre tackling root causes. They areย notย a replacement for resolving root causes!!
Letโs be real: You have to be able to poop to detox and get rid of parasites!
Some of my favorite, non-habit-forming supplements to temporarily relieve constipation are as follows:
- OxyPowder: Empowers the body to release stored trapped material.ย Take it on the way to dreamland for the best results, and away from other supplements. Fun fact: Itโs common to see bowel consistency changes when using OxyPowder, odd textures and smells, etc. Thatโs a sign itโs working!
- Bowel Mover: This is more subtle and contains a light antiparasitic component. Itโs fine to take with other supplements at any time of day, but is best taken away from food.
- Magnesium Citrate: A standard bowel support supplement that just helps things to gently move.
(Full disclosure: If you click & purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and love!)
Conclusionย
Constipationย may seem like a minor inconvenience, but as weโve seen, it can lead to someย serious health issuesย if leftย unchecked.
And no, sitting around hoping the next fiber supplement is going to solve all your problems isnโt going to cut it.
Theย good news? This isnโt a life sentence.
Yourย body is built to heal. It just needs a little push in the right (root cause) direction.
Nobody can fix this for you, but youโll be amazed at how quickly things can get moving again when you put in the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Constipation can sometimes signal other health issues. Itโs important to recognize when it might be more than a temporary inconvenience. Here are some common questions answered to help guide you.
What are some serious symptoms that can accompany constipation?
Severe symptoms of constipation include major bloating, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or a noticeable swelling of the belly and might mean itโs an emergency. In such cases, itโs crucial to seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Is constipation ever an indicator of something serious like cancer?
While constipation is common and usually not serious, it can sometimes be a sign of colorectal cancer. This is rare, but if you experience symptoms like unexplained weight loss, blood in your stool, or persistent changes in bowel habits, consult with a healthcare professional.
How can long-term constipation affect your overall health?
Chronic constipation can lead to discomfort and might even cause complications like hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Over time, this can impact your quality of life and daily activities.
What are some other causes of infrequent bowel movements and severe constipation?
Other causes include age (older adults tend to experience constipation more than their younger counterparts); pelvic floor issues; spinal cord injury; and certain medical conditions can lead to constipation. For example, constipation is very common in Parkinsonโs Disease or in any condition that causes your body to absorb too much water from the large intestines
When should an adult be concerned about constipation?ย
If you havenโt had a bowel movement in a prolonged period or are also experiencing other symptoms like severe pain or bloating, itโs time to be concerned. A healthcare professional can provide guidance and help you determine the cause and the best course of action.
Can you still pass gas if youโre severely constipated?
Yes, itโs still possible to pass gas even if you are constipated. However, if you notice a significant reduction in gas along with constipation, it might indicate a blockage.
Are there other (secondary) symptoms that are related to constipation?
Oh yes! As your body becomes more toxic, signs of liver overload and toxicity can abound. These can include headaches, brain fog that makes you feel like your head is filled with cotton, irritability where you snap at people for almost nothing, breakouts, oily skin, anxiety, horrible fatigue, itchy skin, jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, muscle cramps, hair loss that makes a mess in your shower (24), easy bruising (25), low libido (26), tinnitus, insomnia (27), lowered immunity, blood sugar imbalances (28), and more!
Start by taking myย Parasite Assessment Quiz,ย supportingย yourย liver, getting yourย bile flowย back on track, andย kicking outย anyย unwanted squattersย in your gut (looking at you, parasites).
Itโs not glamorous work, but itโsย fixableโand once youโve tackled theย root causes, youโll love how much lighter (literally and figuratively) you feel. Go ahead,ย give your gut the green lightโitโs time to get things moving again. Iโm rooting for you!
Take My Parasite Assessment Quiz Now