Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Constipation?Is Constipation a Symptom of Hypothryoidism?Treatments and Management of ConstipationWhen to See Your Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Constipation?
Is Constipation a Symptom of Hypothryoidism?
Treatments and Management of Constipation
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
Constipation is a common symptom for people with an underactive thyroid, a condition called hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidismslows down many of your body’s systems, including digestion and elimination. Some people can end up being chronically constipated as a result of their disease.
This article will explore whether constipation could be a symptom of hypothyroidism, other potential causes of constipation, and treatment options.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Constipationis defined as having fewer than three bowel movements in a week. Other than the frequency of defecation, other criteria used to define constipation include symptoms like:
Constipation is a common symptom of hypothyroidism, in which the thyroid gland—a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck—does not make enoughthyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones control the way your body uses energy and affect nearly every organ in the body. Without enough thyroid hormone, many of your body’s functions slow down.
The primary cause of constipation in hypothyroidism is due to reduced gut motility. Normally, muscles in the colon contract to move the stool through the intestine toward the rectum. In hypothyroidism, the muscles don’t contract frequently or strongly enough, causing the stool to move too slowly through the colon.
There are many othercauses of constipationbesides hypothyroidism, including not getting enough fiber in the diet, not drinking enough liquids, and certain medications.
The most important thing is to make sure your thyroid treatment is optimized, as insufficient treatment may contribute to constipation problems.
Other strategies to relieve constipation include:
Fiber Intake
Dietary changes are a good start for managing constipation.Try to get around 25 to 31 grams of fiber per day. High-fiber foods include beans, fruits and vegetables, and whole-grain bread and cereals. Afiber supplementcan help if you find it challenging to get enough daily fiber through your diet.
Time Meals WiselyBe aware that fiber in your diet (and fiber supplements) may affect the absorption of your thyroid hormone replacement.This is why it’s important to take yourthyroid medicationfirst thing in the morning and then wait one hour before eating food and four hours before taking supplements.
Time Meals Wisely
Be aware that fiber in your diet (and fiber supplements) may affect the absorption of your thyroid hormone replacement.This is why it’s important to take yourthyroid medicationfirst thing in the morning and then wait one hour before eating food and four hours before taking supplements.
5-Day Meal Plan for People With Hypothyroidism
Lifestyle Changes
Other changes you can make that may help relieve constipation include:
Laxatives
If you’ve tried diet and lifestyle changes and are still suffering from chronic constipation, ask your healthcare provider aboutlaxatives.There are both over-the-counter and prescription options available.
Laxatives can be habit-forming, so it’s best not to self-treat with them and to only use them for a short period of time. Talk to your healthcare provider for guidance.
What to Ask About Your Thyroid Disease Management
Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following symptoms in relation to constipation:
Occasionally, chronic constipation can lead to complications. The most common are hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, or fecal impaction.
Summary
A Word From Verywell
If changes in your medication or conservative measures are not effective and you’re still experiencing chronic constipation, your healthcare provider may recommend that you consult with a gastroenterologist for diagnostic testing.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yaylali O, Kirac S, Yilmaz M, et al.Does hypothyroidism affect gastrointestinal motility?Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2009;2009:529802. doi:10.1155/2009/529802National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.University of Rochester Medical Center.Constipation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.Harvard Medical School.The lowdown on thyroid slowdown.National Institutes of Health.Eating, diet, & nutrition for constipation.National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus.Levothyroxine.US National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Constipation-self-care.National Institutes of Health.Treatment for constipation.Additional ReadingDimidi E, Christodoulides S, Fragkos KC, Scott SM, Whelan K.The Effect of probiotics on functional constipation in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.2014;100(4):1075–1084. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.089151.Jamshed N, Lee ZE, Olden KW.Diagnostic approach to chronic constipation in adults.American Family Physician. 2011;84(3):299–306.Wang X, Yin J.Complementary and alternative therapies for chronic constipation.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM. 2015;2015:396396. doi:10.1155/2015/396396.Woodward S, Norton C, Chiarelli P.Biofeedback for treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014;3:Art.No.:CD008486. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008486.pub2.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yaylali O, Kirac S, Yilmaz M, et al.Does hypothyroidism affect gastrointestinal motility?Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2009;2009:529802. doi:10.1155/2009/529802National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.University of Rochester Medical Center.Constipation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.Harvard Medical School.The lowdown on thyroid slowdown.National Institutes of Health.Eating, diet, & nutrition for constipation.National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus.Levothyroxine.US National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Constipation-self-care.National Institutes of Health.Treatment for constipation.Additional ReadingDimidi E, Christodoulides S, Fragkos KC, Scott SM, Whelan K.The Effect of probiotics on functional constipation in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.2014;100(4):1075–1084. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.089151.Jamshed N, Lee ZE, Olden KW.Diagnostic approach to chronic constipation in adults.American Family Physician. 2011;84(3):299–306.Wang X, Yin J.Complementary and alternative therapies for chronic constipation.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM. 2015;2015:396396. doi:10.1155/2015/396396.Woodward S, Norton C, Chiarelli P.Biofeedback for treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014;3:Art.No.:CD008486. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008486.pub2.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Yaylali O, Kirac S, Yilmaz M, et al.Does hypothyroidism affect gastrointestinal motility?Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2009;2009:529802. doi:10.1155/2009/529802National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.University of Rochester Medical Center.Constipation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.Harvard Medical School.The lowdown on thyroid slowdown.National Institutes of Health.Eating, diet, & nutrition for constipation.National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus.Levothyroxine.US National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Constipation-self-care.National Institutes of Health.Treatment for constipation.
Yaylali O, Kirac S, Yilmaz M, et al.Does hypothyroidism affect gastrointestinal motility?Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2009;2009:529802. doi:10.1155/2009/529802
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Constipation.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.
Harvard Medical School.The lowdown on thyroid slowdown.
National Institutes of Health.Eating, diet, & nutrition for constipation.
National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus.Levothyroxine.
US National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Constipation-self-care.
National Institutes of Health.Treatment for constipation.
Dimidi E, Christodoulides S, Fragkos KC, Scott SM, Whelan K.The Effect of probiotics on functional constipation in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.2014;100(4):1075–1084. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.089151.Jamshed N, Lee ZE, Olden KW.Diagnostic approach to chronic constipation in adults.American Family Physician. 2011;84(3):299–306.Wang X, Yin J.Complementary and alternative therapies for chronic constipation.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM. 2015;2015:396396. doi:10.1155/2015/396396.Woodward S, Norton C, Chiarelli P.Biofeedback for treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014;3:Art.No.:CD008486. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008486.pub2.
Dimidi E, Christodoulides S, Fragkos KC, Scott SM, Whelan K.The Effect of probiotics on functional constipation in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.2014;100(4):1075–1084. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.089151.
Jamshed N, Lee ZE, Olden KW.Diagnostic approach to chronic constipation in adults.American Family Physician. 2011;84(3):299–306.
Wang X, Yin J.Complementary and alternative therapies for chronic constipation.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM. 2015;2015:396396. doi:10.1155/2015/396396.
Woodward S, Norton C, Chiarelli P.Biofeedback for treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014;3:Art.No.:CD008486. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008486.pub2.
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