Constipation and Headache

Experiencing constipation and headaches together can be quite a nightmare. If you are in such a condition, before finding out the ways to treat them, there are two things that you should consider. Firstly, it is possible that headaches that you are experiencing are totally disconnected to constipation. In that case, you will have to treat both constipation and headache separately. A second possibility is that your constipated condition is causing headaches, i.e. both the conditions are inter-related. In such a case, treat constipation first and the headache will automatically go away. Here are some of the causes of constipation and headaches, when experienced jointly.

Causes of Constipation and Headache

Stress
If you are experiencing stress and tension due to any reason, be it personal or professional, it could cause both constipation and headache. Worries, depression and mental strain play havoc with our digestive system and hence, cause constipation. Stress headaches are pretty common among people these days.

Toxins
When a person suffers from constipation, the waste does not get eliminated from the body. This leads to retention of wastes in the intestines, thus causing the release of various toxins in our system. In some people, these toxins cause headaches due to constipation.

Dehydration
Dehydration or insufficient intake of fluids is an invitation to both constipation and headache. Insufficient intake of water and fluids may trigger a migraine attack. A person experiencing a migraine attack suffers from severe headaches. There is another reason why dehydration or lack of water causes headaches. When the human brain detects that the amount of water in the body is too low, it produces histamines. Histamines cause pain and tiredness in the body, thus leading to headaches.

Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal imbalance in the body can also cause constipation and headache. Pregnant women are especially known to suffer from both of these conditions together. Many women experience constipation and hormonal headaches, just before their periods, due to the hormonal changes that take place in the body.

Treatment for Constipation and Headache

Since headaches are primarily experienced as a result of constipation, in order to treat both these conditions, treatment of constipation is essential. Here is a treatment for constipation, which will automatically relieve your headache too.

• Keep your body hydrated, by including lots of fluids in your diet. Drink 8-10 glasses of water everyday. Include coconut water and fruit juices in your diet too. High water content in the body can treat both constipation and headache.
• Eat a fiber-rich diet. High fiber food items such as vegetables, fruits, grains, speed up the process of passage of wastes through the bowel. A consistent high fiber diet can even cure chronic constipation and headaches which are caused as a result of it.
• Include such food items in your diet which are rich in sorbitol such as grapes, apples, prunes, raspberries and apricots. Sorbitol aids in softening the dry feces and thus, it can be eliminated easily.
• Physical activities such as exercises, running or jogging, if undertaken everyday, also help in increasing the bowel movement; thus, curing constipation and the resultant headache.
• Constipation and headaches that are experienced because of stress, can be relieved by adopting various relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises and yoga. Sleeping for 7-8 hours everyday and taking regular breaks, while working can provide headache relief too.

Mild constipation and headache can be treated at home, using the above-mentioned home remedies. However, if both these conditions persist even after all the possible measures have been undertaken or if the constipation becomes chronic and the headaches become severe, it is recommended that you contact your physician for proper treatment.