Constipation : A factor responsible for headaches

• Constipation is a medical condition that makes it difficult in which a person finds it difficult to pass stools.
• Infrequent stools and no bowel movements for three or more days results in the formation of hard and stools resulting in a lot of stain, stress, and pain.
• Constipation may cause nausea and bloating.
• Along with these, constipation may indirectly trigger headaches that are usually short-lived due to the stress associated with not being able to pass stools.
• Constipation is generally not serious and lasts for a short time.
• However, it needs to be treated first with certain dietary changes and medications.
• Once a person finds relief from constipation, the symptoms of headache can be treated.

Different types of headaches

• There are different types of headaches that a person may suffer from.
• These are tension headache, cluster headache, constipation migraine, and chronic headache,
• The symptoms vary depending on the type of headache.
• Tension headache is one of the most common types of headache. 
• In this type, a person feels dull, has aching head pain, and feels tightness or pressure across the forehead or at the sides of the head.
• After tension headaches, migraine headaches are the next most common one.
• In this type, a person may experience intense, deep pain usually on one side of the head, There may also be nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity.
• Studies conducted by researchers reveal that treatment of constipation helps provide relief from tension and migraine headaches.
• However, the researchers could not ascertain that constipation causes headaches and both are symptoms of the same underlying medical cause

Causes that lead to both constipation and headaches

In most cases, both constipation and headaches develop simultaneously due to two main causes.

Dehydration

When a person loses more water (fluid) from the body than he intakes, dehydration occurs.

This may result in constipation and headaches.

Little or no fiber diet

Constipation can also happen if a person has a diet that has little or no fibers at all.

Fibrous foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cereals, and beans provide roughage that facilitate effective bowel movements.

In addition to these two causes, some of the other factors that trigger both constipation and headaches in adults are:

• Having an inactive (sedentary) lifestyle
• Consuming fast foods and processed foods frequently
• Eating foodstuffs that are high in sugar
• Overuse of laxatives
• Ignoring improper bowel movements
• Side effects of certain medications

Medical Conditions Causing Headaches And Constipation

Headaches and constipation can possibly be the symptoms of two underlying medical conditions. An individual with one of these medical ailments may suffer from headaches and constipation simultaneously.

• Fibromyalgia, a painful muscular disorder
• Celiac disease, a chronic autoimmune gastrointestinal disorder
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Premenstrual Syndrome
• Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Diabetes

Diagnosis and treatment

• If you are suffering from headaches and constipation on a regular basis, identifying its cause is crucial.
• For this reason, visiting a doctor is essential.
• For short term relief from constipation, the doctor may prescribe laxatives, stool softeners, and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.
• However, if there is an underlying major ailment causing headaches and constipation, you may need to undergo certain medical tests.
• Medications will provide relief when passing stools.
• Once you get relief from constipation, the headaches will go away on their own. 

Prevention

As it is said ‘Prevention is better than cure’. The problem of constipation and headaches can easily be prevented by taking certain proactive measures. Some of these include:

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
• Eat a well-balanced and nutritious diet rich in fibrous foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, pulses, whole grains, seeds, and nuts.
• Have an active lifestyle
• Take regular walks and exercise
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, fast foods, and processed foods
• Meditation and yoga
• Reducing the amount of refined sugar in the diet

Constipation and headaches can sometimes occur at the same time. In some individuals, these two symptoms may have a common underlying medical problem. Treatment of the underlying condition can help provide relief to the patient from the symptoms. In certain cases, constipation related headaches may occur due to certain medications. Constipation headaches can also happen due to the stress arising from being constipated for several days. Avoiding dehydration by drinking plenty of water is essential to avoid constipation and dehydration related headaches.

If a person experiences headaches and constipation frequently, he/should consult a medical practitioner immediately to identify and eliminate the possibility of any underlying medical ailment.