If you develop constipation and the weather isn't so great, blaming your fever on your constipation is quite a common thing to do, and as it turns out, you might not be wrong.
Although constipation and fever aren't directly connected, they can often happen simultaneously, and how you link the two depends on where your constipation came from.
In short, constipation can cause fever if it originates from a bacterial agent or a viral pathogen, which are often the root causes of fever and other illnesses.
Though the two aren't always directly linked, there's an underlying cause or condition that brings out the other, which is why we suggest reading on and getting to know more about them, and how both of them can coincide.
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What Causes Constipation & Painful Bowel Movements?
Constipation can put a damper on your day, leaving you feeling uncomfortable and just straight-up painful bowel movements that render you useless. But what exactly causes this pesky problem?
Well, to begin with, numerous factors can contribute to constipation, including diet, hydration, and lifestyle choices.
However, one of the most important and primary culprits of constipation is a lack of fiber in your meals, as this essential nutrient helps to bulk up and soften stools, making them easier to pass.
Dehydration is another common cause, as adequate water intake is crucial for healthy digestion and bowel movements.
Additionally, leading a sedentary lifestyle, stress, and certain medications can make you more prone to constipation. So, the next time you find yourself in a bind, try incorporating more fiber-rich foods, drinking plenty of water, and engaging in regular physical activity to keep things moving smoothly.
Symptoms Of Constipation
If you're experiencing infrequent bowel movements or having difficulty passing stools, you might be dealing with the medical condition of constipation.
Though not pooping enough or having some abdominal is largely associated with problems like chronic constipation and IBS, other signs tell that you're constipated, and they include:
- Passing 3 or fewer stools in a week
- Stools that feel hard and lumpy
- Not feeling like you’ve fully gone after a bathroom trip
- Fecal impaction - Read more about it here.
- Bloating
- Nausea and mild vomiting
- Straining while pooping
In more severe cases, you may even notice mucus or blood in your stool, and though that’s a sign that you should be getting professional medical care, It’s important to know that there are ways to recover, which is something we’ll get to later in this article
Can Constipation Cause Fever Or Vice Versa?
On a broader view, both constipation and fever come from different sources. Constipation comes after altered bowel movements and digestive tract distress, while fever, on the other hand, is a sign of some inflammation in the body.
Thus, in the grand scheme of all bodily diseases, fever, and constipation aren't directly related, and not a single one of them invokes the other voluntarily.
However, suppose you have both a fever and constipation. In that case, there's almost a definite chance that there's an underlying condition for both of them and that targeting both of those individually will get you out of this twisted pickle.
How To Treat Constipation
Constipation can be an uncomfortable and inconvenient issue to deal with, yet it is an all too common problem.
While the occasional bout of constipation may not be cause for alarm, persistent issues can have serious repercussions on your health and overall well-being, which includes a weakened immune system, and other digestive distress.
Though as common as constipation is, it’s largely treatable without having to make expensive trips to the doctor.
Probiotic Supplements
Constipation has a lot to do with your gut flora and those billions of probiotic bacteria that line up your gut, preventing problems like constipation from happening.
When an imbalance in your gut bacteria is caused by antibiotic usage and diet change, your digestive system senses something is wrong. As a result, you get constipated.
This means you can reverse the process, get supplements that increase your gut bacteria, and replenish the beneficial bacteria to their optimal number.
Our products, especially IBSupport, are filled with superfoods that act as stool softeners and help prevent constipation and other problems, including IBS, IBD, and more.
Dietary changes
Making simple adjustments to your daily meal plan can work wonders in aiding digestion and promoting regular bowel movements. For instance, having a high fiber diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will add bulk to your stool, making it easier to pass.
Though, do make sure that if you’re increasing your fiber diet, don’t forget to guzzle down enough water to complement that fiber, as staying hydrated also plays a crucial role, especially when it comes to softening your stools.
Get Moving
When your bowel movements and intestinal motility are slowed down, exercising can greatly help. When your muscles get moving, they help massage your intestines and stimulate peristalsis - the rhythmic contractions that keep your digestion smooth and regular.
Though you don’t have to go all out on this one. Even modest activity levels, such as walking, swimming, or yoga, can encourage the bowels to do their thing more efficiently. Besides, various studies have linked exercise and reduced stress, improved mental health, and other factors impacting your gut.
Can Constipation Cause Fever In Children
If you have a constipated child who's also showing signs of a slightly raised temperature, it's a good sign to take them to a pediatrician or the doctor as soon as possible.
Though the two aren't directly related, as we've mentioned previously, your child showing symptoms of both can mean problems. Other symptoms that mean a trip to the doctor for your constipated child include:
- There’s blood in stools
- Your child is experiencing rectal prolapse
- Their constipation has lasted more than two weeks
- They’re not eating properly
Though this isn't an exhaustive list of your child's symptoms when it comes to constipation and fever, you must take them to a pediatrician at the first sign of trouble.
Bottom Line
Whether it's your child's constipation or it's that you've been suffering from constipation yourself, having a fever with it makes it all the worse.
However, as we've explained countlessly before, they're likely, not related, and you have both constipation and fever can mean that you've been hit by a viral pathogen that's bringing out the worst.