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According to a new Australian study, patients over the age of 60 with constipation are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure and having strokes. Do not wait to deal with this situation!
It’s not a very obvious connection at first glance, but this one might just be for you. According to an Australian study published in Scientific Report last July, constipation was a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases but also for hypertension, even doubling the risk!
Constipation and hypertension, a dangerous association
The observational study thus involved 541,172 hospitalized patients aged over 60, of whom 15.2% suffered from constipation. Comparing the data, it appears that constipation was associated with a 96% increased risk of hypertension and an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular disease.
That’s not all: participants suffering not only from constipation but also from hypertension had a risk of cardiovascular events more than 500% higher than that of patients suffering from neither of these two conditions. A risk therefore multiplied by 6 in both men and women!
If this observational study makes it possible to highlight a correlation without explaining the phenomenon, Professor Chris Sobey, lead author of the study, already offers an explanation: “Constipation leads to increased water absorption from the gut, changes in the microbiota and inflammation, all of which could lead to hypertension.” It is also already known that constipated patients are more likely to suffer from major cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke.
For Professor Grant Drummond, co-author of the study, it is urgent to find new solutions to reduce cardiovascular events: to date, these are still responsible for 32% of deaths worldwide, 85% of which are due to heart attacks or strokes.
“Therefore, it is essential to identify non-traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and develop strategies to address them in order to further reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases”.
One of these strategies is undoubtedly based on the direct treatment of constipation. A treatment that can be based on various daily measures to facilitate transit, which can be recalled here. In case of constipation:
- Drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water a day;
- Enjoy a higher fiber diet that includes more fresh vegetables and fruits and whole grains;
- Practice regular physical activity;
- Go to the bathroom at regular times, and don’t hold back;
- Take your time in the bathroom.
Taking a laxative is also a possibility, but should be advised by a healthcare professional.
Slide: Misconceptions About Constipation