Chronic Constipation and Health Risks
Constipation or Chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) is a prevalent health concern among the most common digestive complaints in the United States. “CIC affects 9%–20% of adults (18 years or older) who had experienced constipation in the United States,” as stated in Chronic Constipation in the United States Journal. Constipation is common among all age groups in the USA and more in the older population than other ages.
The American Gastroenterological Association study mentioned that approximately 33% of adults aged 60 and older in the USA have symptoms of ‘Constipation or Chronic idiopathic constipation’, and Low fluid and water intake is found to be a common cause of constipation in elders. Water is vital for the digestive system to function properly. It helps move the food we eat through the intestines and keeps the intestines flexible for more effortless bowel movement.
Constipation is not just another uncomfortable health issue; chronic constipation can also cause significant health risks as colorectal cancer. It has also been found in this Chronic Constipation in the United States Journal that only 1.3% of respondents take prescription medication to manage their constipation. Close to 93.5% of constipation respondents in the research rely on over-the-counter medication. Constipation is becoming a severe health concern, and people who are suffering want to relieve their constipation to lead a healthy lifestyle. This article will cover digestion and constipation, symptoms, reasons, and the role of water in relieving digestion and constipation.
Constipation Definition and Symptoms
Constipation is defined as a health disorder characterized by the infrequent movement of the bowel or passage of stool in an individual as fewer than three bowel movements a week. According to the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO), USA, ‘constipation’ explains as;
Fewer than three bowel movements (BMs) per week
Hard stool in more than 25% of BMs
A sense of incomplete evacuation in more than 25% of BMs
Excessive straining in more than 25% of BMs
Common constipation symptoms include less frequent bowel movements, straining during defecation, a sense of incomplete evacuation, and hard or lumpy stools. Individuals with constipation may also experience abdominal pain, bloating, and discomfort. Additionally, nausea, lack of appetite, abdomen cramping, frequent acidity, and gastric irritation could also be experienced by an individual during constipation.
Understanding Constipation Causes
Constipation pathogenesis occurs when the stool gets dehydrated in the colon due to less or too little water in the large intestine. It then becomes dry, hard, and difficult to pass through the colon. Various factors, including diet, lifestyle habits, medications, water intake, and underlying medical conditions, can cause constipation. The type of diet, genetic predisposition, colonic motility, and absorption make it difficult for individuals to pass the stool.
As per the study of NCBI’s Chronic Constipation, “low fiber dietary intake, inadequate water intake, sedentary lifestyle, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), failure to respond to urge to defecate, and slow transit” are also the causes of constipation. In another study published on NCBI, the low fluid intake is indicative of hypo-hydration in the elderly that causes constipation. It also shows a significant relationship between liquid deprivation of 500 to 2500ml per day and constipation.
Correlation Between Water Intake and Digestion
Pure water and a healthy digestive process have a relationship where liquids, gastric juices, and enzymes with water help the digestive system. A better digestive system indicates better bowel movement and prevents constipation, as the University of Rochester Medical Center suggested.
The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food into smaller particles that can be absorbed by the body. Water is needed to help the digestive juices, such as saliva, gastric acid, and pancreatic enzymes, to mix with the food and break it down. It also helps to soften the food and move it through the digestive tract smoothly.
Moreover, water aids in the absorption of nutrients by carrying them through the intestinal walls and into the bloodstream. A dehydrated body may not be able to absorb nutrients properly, leading to deficiencies and other health issues including but not limited to kidney stones, constipation, migraine headaches, urinary tract infections (UTI), and dry or flaky skin.
It is recommended that individuals consume at least eight glasses of water per day to maintain optimal digestive health. However, the amount of water needed varies depending on factors such as age, gender, and physical activity level. Ensuring adequate water intake is a simple yet effective way to support digestive health and overall well-being. A better digestive system indicates better bowel movement and prevents constipation, as the University of Rochester Medical Center found in the study.
Correlation between Water Intake and Constipation
In the study Chronic Constipation in the United States, published by NCBI, dehydration has been observed as the most common cause of constipation after ‘Food Intake.’ Water and fluid (whereas milk, as fluid, could trigger constipation in some cases) intake has been an approach to relieve constipation as it is related to dehydration in the colon.
Drinking adequate amounts of water and maintaining euhydration helps prevent constipation. In addition, one can maintain euhydration by drinking close to 60-80 oz. or at least 8-10 glasses of pure drinking water in a day along with changes in nutritional habits and lifestyles. The aforementioned intake works for most individuals to prevent constipation, but should not be considered medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for a personalized healthcare recommendation.
Water is essential for the proper digestive system functioning as it helps soften stool and promotes regular bowel movements.
Dehydration can cause the colon to absorb more water from the stool, making them even harder to pass. Increasing water intake can be a simple yet effective way to promote regular bowel movements and improve overall digestive health.
Pure Water and Constipation
Calcium carbonate hardness in our drinking water is usually associated with gastrointestinal side effects such as constipation, flatulence, and bloating. According to USGS, extreme hard water is not suitable for domestic use. Hard water contains > 10 gpg calcium and magnesium minerals, which causes constipation too. In order to make the hard water into perfect drinking water, the minerals should be at around 30-60 mg/L. Home Master’s patented 2-pass full contact Artesian remineralization system first removes up to 99% of salts and hardness then remineralizes the water with 30-60 mg/L of clean fresh calcium and magnesium minerals with a slightly alkaline pH for a healthier gut and to prevent constipation when used as directed. Use a RO water purifier to get pure water, stay hydrated, and maintain euhydration to prevent constipation.
Mineral Water: A Natural Constipation Relief
Chronic Constipation (CC) and constipation have the non-invasive first line of treatment that starts with adequate water intake (1.5–2 L/day). Water intake, especially the rich in minerals like magnesium and sulfate, gives a laxative-like action to relieve constipation, even though the colon can absorb most ingested water.
Water with minerals like Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄) and Magnesium Hydroxide (Mg(OH)2 is rich in magnesium compounds that bring laxative effectiveness into the mineral water.
Magnesium Hydroxide (Mg(OH)2 is a mineral known to be used as an osmotic laxative for constipation at doses greater than 2g per day. When it reaches the stomach (here with the mineral water intake), it reacts with the protons (H+) available in the gastric acid and produces Mg2+ and water. When the intake of (Mg(OH)2) is in high doses, then it gets converted into magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) that absorbs water from the intestinal walls to hydrate and soften the stool and relieve constipation. - Pubmed
Additionally, a recent study found that Slovenian natural water that comes with 13 g/l (sulfate 2,000 mg/l, magnesium 1,000 mg/l, hydrogen carbonate 7,600 mg/l, and others) of mineralization content helps in improving bowel movement frequency and stool consistency. This result indicates that mineral-rich water intake could be helpful in constipation relief.
Conclusion
Constipation and chronic constipation is a health condition that majorly occurs due to lifestyle, diet, and fitness. Prescribed and over-the-counter medications are available to treat constipation, yet in this case the truism prevails - ‘prevention is better than the cure.’
The NCBI study suggests that purified water helps improve bowel movement frequency and aids in stool consistency with functional constipation. Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems are helpful in getting purified water that helps to get hydrated and relieve constipation for better digestive health. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested, drinking pure water helps in bowel movements. The therapeutic treatment assigns water a significant role in preventing constipation and improving digestion.