Can Constipation Cause Headaches or Vice Versa?
Constipation may cause headaches in people who have certain medical conditions.
Whileheadachesandconstipationare common disorders on their own, some studies indicate they may occur together.
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Researchers noted that treating constipation issues typically improved headaches as well.
What Exactly Is Constipation?
Severe constipation can become a medical emergency.
If you have extreme abdominal cramps, vomiting, and blood in your stool, seek immediate medical attention.
Women are more likely than men to be affected by both conditions at the same time.
Stress also has an impact on the severity of bothmigrainesand IBS.
Researchers are exploring whether some people have a more hyperactive stress response that causes these conditions to occur together.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgiaand IBS are often comorbid conditions, meaning that they occur together.
IBS symptoms can include chronic constipation.
Further, the low-grade inflammation that constipation causes may actually trigger fibromyalgia.
Celiac Disease
Celiac diseaseis a genetic autoimmune disorder that affects 1% of the population.
This can shrink or eliminate the villitiny fingerlike projections that absorb nutrients along the walls of the small intestine.
The headaches can be migraine or unspecific.
There are theories about what causes neurological symptoms in people with celiac disease, but more research is needed.
Studies on constipation in adults show psychological factors have an impact.
One study showed that constipated adults have higher psychological distress.
Several studies indicate that the intestinal microbiome is abnormal in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Migraine headaches appear to be much more common in people with CFS.
Talk with a healthcare professional, especially if symptoms are getting worse or impacting your quality of life.
Summary
People may experience constipation and headaches or migraines at the same time.
These conditions occurring simultaneously may be an indication of another health issue.
A Word From Verywell
Both migraines and constipation are treatable conditions.
Once you find the source of your triggers, you will find these conditions are easier to treat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Constipation may feel like a sense of fullness.
You may have a feeling of needing to pass a bowel movement but are not able to.
You may experience bloating and abdominal pain as well.
If a person has fewer than three bowel movements per week, that is technically considered constipation.
Your healthcare provider can prescribe laxatives, over-the-counter remedies, or other treatment recommendations based on your medical history.
The longer a person is constipated, the riskier the condition becomes.
There are several ways to relieve constipation.
These can include increasing water intake and eating more fiber.
Fruits like apples and peaches may be helpful in relieving constipation.
A migraine can last anywhere from four hours to several days.
If your pattern of migraines worsens, it’s important to seek medical attention.
A randomized clinical trial study.J Pediatr Neurosci.
2019;14(4):186. doi:10.4103/jpn.JPN_19_19
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.
2016;22(36):8149-8160. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i36.8149
Neumeister MW, Neumeister EL.Fibromyalgia.Clin Plast Surg.
2022;14(8):e28346.
Half were treated with oral approaches, and half were treated with faecal microbiome transplantation.Hum Microbiome J.
Published 2011 Mar 5. doi:10.1186/1471-2377-11-30
Harvard Health.What to do when medication makes you constipated.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Migraine.
