Scientists have found a link between constipation and kidney health issues. The results of a new research, which will be published in the following issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, show that both the diagnosis and the way constipation is treated could be efficient in preventing and treating kidney health issues.
While constipation is a common condition, it can also have many effects on people's health. For instance, it has been previously associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, possibly due to the effects of gut bacteria.
How Severe Constipation Is Linked To Kidney Failure
As it turns out, constipation could be a marker of an altered gut microbiome, which could contribute to changes in metabolism, such as an increased inflammation, because of gut microbe activity.
To analyze the possible links between constipation and kidney disease, the team of scientists analyzed data of more than 3.5 million U.S. veterans. The subjects were first examined in 2004 and 2006, then again in 2013. They used, for a period of approximately 7 years, laxatives, after reporting constipation symptoms. The study found that the ones who did not report constipation had a lower chance of developing kidney malfunctions later in life.
The patients who did not suffer from constipation were compared to those who did. The results suggested a 13 percent increase in the chance of developing chronic kidney disease, as well as a 9 percent chance of suffering kidney failure. Additionally, severe constipation was linked with a higher risk of having both kidney disease and failure.
Preventing Kidney Health Issues
According to the researchers, the findings point out the possibility that this connection between the two will give further insight into how to treat these conditions, as the pathogenesis of kidney disease progression is one of the key factors in designing a helpful treatment.
The results of this study imply that patients who suffer from constipation should be carefully examined to make sure that the symptoms are not signaling more complicated health issues, especially when it comes to the patients who accuse a more severe constipation.
According to Csaba Kovesdy, M.D. from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and one of the lead authors of the study, constipation does seem to have a causal role when it comes to kidney disease. Consequently, a good treatment for the constipation symptoms, including a change in lifestyle and more healthy dietary habits, could prevent a more severe kidney-related health issue in the future.
