Chronic Constipation as a symptom of underlying diseases

The association of Chronic constipation with various diseases

Chronic constipation, as mentioned earlier, can be associated with multiple health problems and it could be the result of an underlying disease. This claim is justified by the fact that these disorders contribute to the slowing of the movement of feces through the colon, rectum or anus. In this way, they may cause or worsen constipation.

Some of the most common medical conditions for which constipation is a symptom may be Hypothyroidism, Diabetes, Lupus, Scleroderma, Amyloidosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Dementia, spinal cord injuries, Adrenal insufficiency, Parkinson’s Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

In fact, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, also known as spastic colitis, afflicts many people and constipation is one of the symptoms by which it manifests. Certain individuals who suffer from constipation for many years and do not respond to standard treatment may suffer from chronic idiopathic, unknown etiology, constipation, which is also known as functional constipation.

Chronic constipation may be the result of local abnormalities that prevent the passage of stool, such as stretch marks, abscesses, intestinal ischemia, Hirschsprung disease, rectal prolapse and solitary ulcer syndrome.

Chronic constipation can also be caused by other problems, such as low blood magnesium levels, hypokalemia and high calcium levels in our body. In many cases, it is caused by the use of certain medications (antidepressants, antiepileptics, antihistamines, antihypertensives, diuretics, bone medications, neurological drugs, etc.).

Diagnosis

A visit to the doctor is necessary if symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, fatigue, anal pain during defecation or fever after emptying are present. In the first stage, a complete medical history is requested, in which the patient is asked to describe the duration of symptoms, the frequency of bowel movements, the composition of the stool (soft or hard) and the presence or absence of blood in the stool, as well as factors which are related to eating habits and drug use.

Based on the symptoms and the history of each patient, the tests that need to be performed are determined Specialized diagnostic tests are nowadays available, that  analyze the intestinal microbiome and its functions in a painless and non-invasive way. The combination of all these innovative laboratory tests helps to detect the real causes that lead to the appearance of certain pathological conditions, such as chronic constipation.

Personalized treatment

Based on the diagnostic findings, a personalized treatment can be developed, which can eliminate the underlying causes of  constipation. This is where the role of Modern Medicine lies, the fundamental view of which is that a disease can have many causes or that one cause can cause many diseases.

This means that if ten people have constipation, the causes may be different for each of them. The main goal, then, is to identify the cause of constipation for each individual. This is why personalized treatment becomes so important. Now, there are many different therapeutic approaches depending on the underlying causes that aim to treat constipation.

Dr. Nikoleta Koini, M.D.

Doctor of Functional, Preventive, Anti-ageing and Restorative Medicine.
Diplomate and Board Certified in Anti-aging, Preventive, Functional and Regenerative Medicine from A4M (American Academy in Antiaging Medicine).