If You Suffer from Constipation You Have Higher Chances of Getting Kidney Disease

Constipation, one of the most prevalent conditions increases risk of developing chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.

Highlights

Constipation is one of the most prevalent conditions encountered in primary care settings.
Constipation ups kidney disease risk.
Diagnosis and management of constipation might be helpful for preventing or treating kidney disease.

The link between constipation and poor kidney health discovered.

To further explore the association between constipation and kidney disease, Kovesdy, MD (University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Memphis VA Medical Center) studied information on more than 3.5 million US veterans with normal kidney function who were initially examined in 2004 and 2006 and were followed through 2013.

Acute Renal (Kidney) Failure- Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Complications
Acute renal failure is the sudden cessation of the functioning of kidneys, that can be due to reduced renal blood flow, damage to renal tissues.

‘Constipation plays a key role in kidney disease. Treatment by lifestyle modifications and/or use of probiotics could protect patients’ kidney health.’

Study Results

Patients with constipation had a 13% higher likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease and a 9% higher likelihood of developing kidney failure compared with patients without constipation
More severe constipation linked with an incrementally greater risk for both chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.

“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. “Our results suggest the need for careful observation of kidney function trajectory in patients with constipation, particularly among those with more severe constipation.”

Constipation - Facts and Statistics

Constipation is a condition in which you have

fewer than three bowel movements a week
bowel movements with hard, dry stools making them painful or difficult to pass

Constipation is a common condition that can have an impact on health. For example, constipation is known to boost heart disease risk, through effects caused by gut bacteria.

Constipation - Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment FAQs | Medindia
Constipation, or difficulty passing stool, is a common digestive complaint and is a symptom of gastrointestinal abnormalities and preventing constipation is done by treating underlying disease.

It affects 42 million people in the United States

In the UK, 1 in every 7 adults and up to 1 in every 3 children has constipation at any one time

About Pregnancy
Detailed look at Early pregnancy Symptoms and easy health solutions during 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. With an addition of an online pregnancy due date calculator.

Constipation affects women more when compared to men, and is common among older adults and during pregnancy.

Study co-authors include Keiichi Sumida, MD; Miklos Molnar, MD, PhD; Praveen Potukuchi, MS; Fridtjof Thomas, PhD; Jun Ling Lu, MD; Kunihiro Matsushita, MD, PhD; Kunihiro Yamagata, MD, PhD; and Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh, MD, PhD.

Health Benefits of Papaya
Papaya, is not only nutritious; it has numerous medicinal benefits as well. The leaves, seeds and the milk of the papaya tree are used to cure intestinal problems. Read more to find out the amazing health benefits of papaya.

Disclosures: Drs. Kovesdy and Kalantar-Zadeh are employees of the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health. None of the authors have relevant conflicts of interest.

Tips to Prevent Constipation

Include enough fiber-rich foods (fruits and vegetables, wholegrain rice and pasta, seeds and oats) in your diet as it reduces your chances of developing constipation.
Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
Never ignore the urge to have a bowel movement
Regular exercise helps reduce your risk of getting constipation

5 Foods that Help Prevent Constipation

Pears
Figs
Beets
Papaya
Okra

The findings are published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN)

References

Definition and Facts for Constipation - (https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/constipation/Pages/definition-facts.aspx)
Constipation - (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Constipation/Pages/Introduction.aspx)
Constipation - Prevention - (http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Constipation/Pages/Prevention.aspx)

Source-Medindia