Man in nice clothes on grey couch holding stomach in pain

News Study Links Constipation to kidney Disease

Gut health seems to prove more important as the years go by and more research is validated. A new study links constipation to kidney disease. The National Institute of Health defines constipation as a condition in which you have fewer than three bowel movements a week, or hard, dry and small bowel movements that are painful or difficult to pass.

For the study, 3.5 million U.S veteran’s records were examined in an effort to determine if they had reported being constipated or had used laxatives for seven years. The studies found that those who had bowel irregularity had higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease and kidney failure than those who had not.

How Severe Constipation Is Linked to Kidney Failure

Patients with constipation had a 13 percent chance of developing chronic kidney disease and a 9 percent greater chance of developing kidney failure compared with patients without constipation. When the severity of the patient’s constipation increased, so did the risk of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. The studied was performed by Keiichi Sumida, MD and Csaba Kovesdy, MD (University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Memphis VA Medical Center)

Our findings highlight the plausible link between the gut and the kidneys and provide additional insights into the pathogenesis of kidney disease progression, said Dr. Kovesdy.

Many people may look at constipation as a normal way of life, and choose to just deal with the symptoms of bloating, gas, abdominal pain and irregularity as a price to pay for eating less than favorable food that may hinder the digestive system. Constipation can lead to other harmful but not as severe conditions as Kidney Failure. Conditions such as anal fissures and hemorrhoids.

Veterans with gut issues linked to kidney disease, study

Anal Fissures vs Hemorrhoids

 

Diet to Help Prevent Constipation and Improve Gut Health

Experts suggest getting 22 to 34 grams of fiber per day, depending on age. Drinking water and other liquids made from 100 percent vegetable or fruit juices may assist the fiber in your diet to work better Clear soups such as chicken, and Beef broth may help to improve gut health. Supplements like digestive enzymes have been proven to help digestion by the chemical breakdown of food into smaller absorbable components. A quality probiotic with live active cultures can keep good-bacteria in your gut to help restore intestinal flora.

For more information and resources on digestive diseases, the Digestive Disease Organization provides a directory list of government agencies and professional and voluntary association can asset you.

 

http://www.livescience.com/56827-constipation-linked-to-kidney-disease.html

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/constipation/Pages/overview.aspx

Nutrition