Can Constipation Cause Nausea? Here’re The Answers You Need!
Finding it difficult to poop? The condition is called constipation — it can prevent or delay food from reaching the intestines and turning into waste. When this happens, it becomes difficult for you to pass stools, and you become nauseous and may even vomit.
Such a slowed-down digestive system can be harmful to your body. Nausea can especially be troublesome. But how do you relieve nausea from constipation? Read on to know.
In this blog, we have covered:
- How can constipation cause nausea?
- Treatment for Nausea Caused By Constipation
- Can Constipation Cause Nausea In Toddlers?
- Other Causes of Nausea
- Conclusion
How Can Constipation Cause Nausea?
Nausea is often regarded as an uncomfortable feeling. With stool build-up in the digestive tract, you are sure to experience that.
In fact, constipation can cause gas and bloating, as well, because the feces stay in the colon for a longer time.
The intensity of the problem increases when you realize this promotes the development of germs in the colon.
Considering that the intestines are a crucial part of the detoxification process in the body, it is ironic how constipation can make them the home of toxins.
This build-up of germs or toxins is one of the significant constipation danger signs and is responsible for causing nausea.
That’s not all! Constipation also leads to an imbalance of gut bacteria. The result is methane gas production, which too, causes nausea.
How To Treat Nausea Caused By Constipation?
Answer: Make lifestyle changes that help you poop better.
Try these upset stomach/ constipation remedies:
- Avoid High-Fat Foods
That’s right. Greasy or fried foods have high fats, which can slow down your digestive tract. (2) These foods can make you feel bloated and cause constipation.
You should pay special attention to your body when you eat fried foods. These foods often contain large quantities of salt, which can dehydrate you. This means your stool may lose water content, become dry, and therefore, become tough to pass through the body.
What if you are following a keto diet plan? In that case, try incorporating more naturally fatty foods like nuts, seeds, avocados, or milk (in small quantities) instead of greasy or fried foods.
- Take Electrolytes
Chronic dehydration is one of the symptoms found in those with constipation and nausea.
One of the first remedies that come to mind is drinking more water.
But, you don’t want to get stuck in the trap of overhydration. Excess water can cause low sodium levels, which too, can lead to nausea.
What you need to do is solve the root cause. Most likely – it is an electrolyte imbalance caused by low potassium levels.
Potassium tends to push water out of the body. So when you have potassium in your system it pushes water toward the intestines and makes the feces on its way softer. The water exits the body along with the waste – easily.
With the lack of potassium, there is no drawing out of water. Additionally, the contractions in the muscle of the intestine become weaker, which makes the passage of the food slower. Thus causing constipation.
What you need to do is consume food sources rich in electrolytes.
These will help replace the essential electrolytes, thus preventing constipation and nausea.
- Eat Fiber-Rich Foods
Dietary fiber makes your feces softer and heavier. This helps them pass through faster and therefore, reduces constipation.
Nuts, seeds, grains, fruits, and veggies have soluble and insoluble fiber.
Soluble fiber absorbs water and helps develop your stool’s consistency to pass it smoothly. For this reason, it is effective for issues like keto diarrhea, as well.
Insoluble fiber helps your stool to increase its weight. Thus, pushing down the waste easily.
With waste out of your digestive system, that uncomfortable feeling of nausea also goes away.
- Exercise
What if diet changes are not working for you? In some cases, exercise can be better than dieting.
Exercise shortens the time it takes for food to pass through the large intestine. This increases the overall effectiveness of the digestive system.
Exercise strengthens the abdominal muscles that play a significant part in the defecation process. Weak muscles can otherwise cause the digestive tract to slow down, slowing the removal of feces in the process.
Now, I am not asking you to work out like athletes. All you need to do is add some exercise to your daily routine. This can be yoga before bed, morning walks, or something fun like burpees.
Exercising will help you poop better. And pooping will make the nausea go away.
Can Constipation Cause Nausea In Toddlers?
Yes, this is possible.
Functional constipation typically develops in children during their first year of life in about 40% of cases.
Constipation in children is most commonly caused by holding in their stool to avoid or delay bowel movements. Guess what, potty training is not fun for most of them.
Whenever stool sits in the colon for too long, the colon absorbs its fluid. Thus leading to harder stool that’s difficult to poop out. Nausea and vomiting follow as common symptoms.
Some Other Causes Of Nausea
Taking care of your diet and exercise can help you pass your stools smoothly. But what if your nauseous feeling doesn’t go away even after treating constipation?
If that’s the case, you may be experiencing nausea due to one of the following reasons:
- Motion sickness
- Anxiety or depression
- Medications
- Stomach flu
- Certain food allergies
- Eating disorders
These causes of nausea may not go away with a couple of lifestyle changes. To treat these, you may need proper treatment. So make sure to consult a doctor instead of waiting too long or treating it yourself at home.
Also Read: Can Anxiety cause Nausea – Let’s Find Out!
Wrapping Up
If constipation is the reason behind you feeling nauseous, work on pooping better, and you will get healed.
For that, focus on your diet and avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
- Eat foods high in potassium.
- Avoid high-fat foods.
- Take dietary fiber.
- Take electrolytes.
- Try yoga for constipation, join a gym, or take up your favorite sport to enjoy daily.
Resources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6393144/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4584183/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4291444/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4130869/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0016508506005178
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/constipation-children/symptoms-causes
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/constipation/symptoms-causes
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3601187/
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