Indigestion and constipation can occur together due to triggers such as dairy consumption, irritable bowel syndrome, medication, or serious digestive system disease. Lactose intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome are common causes, while prolonged use of antacids can lead to constipation. A healthcare professional should be consulted if symptoms persist.
Indigestion, the feeling of abdominal fullness or burning that sometimes follows a meal, and constipation, continual difficulty passing a bowel movement, are unpleasant but usually temporary problems that most people experience at some point. of one’s life. When indigestion and constipation occur simultaneously, however, the sufferer may feel as if they are in a state of digestive distress. Understanding the common triggers of each may be key to reducing or even preventing future attacks from this unpleasant duo. Factors that can lead to both constipation and indigestion can include dairy product consumption, irritable bowel syndrome, medications, and in rare cases, serious digestive system disease.
One of the most common causes of simultaneous indigestion and constipation is the consumption of dairy products. In some cases, such digestive problems can result from an inability to process the sugars found in dairy products, a condition known as lactose intolerance. While the consumption of dairy products by lactose intolerant individuals may initially cause indigestion accompanied by diarrhea, the fluids and body salts lost through these loose bowel movements can lead to constipation. Even those who don’t normally have a sensitivity to lactose can develop digestive problems after consuming large amounts of dairy products.
Another common cause of these combined symptoms is a health condition known as irritable bowel syndrome. For reasons that aren’t fully understood by researchers yet, the intestinal muscles of people with irritable bowel syndrome function abnormally, moving food through the digestive tract either too quickly or too slowly. When these muscles work too slowly, waste dries out and hardens, causing constipation. This constipation is often accompanied by an extremely unpleasant feeling of indigestion.
Some medications can also cause concurrent indigestion and constipation. Most commonly at fault are aspirin and other pain relievers. Sometimes, prolonged use of calcium-containing antacids, usually taken to relieve the burning sensation associated with indigestion, can lead to constipation. In other words, in this unfortunate situation, treating your indigestion can actually cause constipation.
Sometimes, a more serious underlying disease is the cause of these problems. For example, the presence of a growth in the digestive tract can cause intestinal blockage, leading to decreased bowel movements and abdominal discomfort. Those who experience digestive symptoms that last for several weeks or longer and are unresponsive to conventional treatments should consider seeing a healthcare professional to rule out a more serious underlying condition.
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