Why are patients with hypothyroidism prone to constipation?
May 12, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Introduction
Hypothyroidism causes reduced secretion of thyroid hormones, slows down the body's overall metabolic rate, and decreases gastrointestinal motility. This leads to prolonged intestinal retention of food, excessive water absorption, and consequently, constipation. Patients should increase their intake of dietary fiber-rich foods, such as oats, sweet potatoes, and celery, and engage in moderate physical activity, such as walking or jogging, in daily life.
Hypothyroidism refers to underactive thyroid function. Patients with hypothyroidism may experience constipation due to factors such as slowed metabolism, gastrointestinal motility dysfunction, intestinal flora imbalance, functional dyspepsia, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Management should be based on individual circumstances. It is recommended to visit a hospital promptly and follow medical advice for treatment.
1. Slowed metabolism: Hypothyroidism causes reduced secretion of thyroid hormones, leading to an overall slowdown in bodily metabolism. Gastrointestinal motility also decreases, prolonging the retention time of food in the intestines and causing excessive water absorption, which results in constipation. Patients should increase their intake of dietary fiber-rich foods such as oats, sweet potatoes, and celery, while engaging in moderate physical activity like walking or jogging to stimulate intestinal motility and relieve constipation.
2. Gastrointestinal motility dysfunction: Hypothyroidism may impair nerve conduction and muscle function, weakening the contraction ability of gastrointestinal smooth muscles and reducing motility, making it difficult for feces to pass. It is recommended to develop a regular bowel habit, attempting defecation every morning, even without a strong urge, by sitting on the toilet for a few minutes to train the defecation reflex. Abdominal massage can also help, using circular motions in a clockwise direction centered around the navel.
3. Intestinal flora imbalance: Patients may experience intestinal microecological imbalance, characterized by a decrease in beneficial bacteria and a relative increase in harmful bacteria. This affects normal digestive and motility functions of the intestines, leading to constipation accompanied by symptoms such as bloating and indigestion. Patients may take medications such as Bifidobacterium quadruple viable tablets, Bacillus licheniformis viable capsules, or Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus subtilis enteric-coated capsules under a doctor's guidance to regulate the intestinal flora and alleviate constipation.
4. Functional dyspepsia: Hypothyroidism may lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction, easily causing functional dyspepsia. Food is inadequately digested and accumulates in the intestines, worsening constipation, often accompanied by symptoms such as loss of appetite, early satiety, and upper abdominal pain. Follow medical advice to use medications such as domperidone tablets, mosapride tablets, or Jianwei Xiaoshi tablets to alleviate constipation.
5. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Some patients may experience significant mental stress due to their condition, potentially triggering irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Increased intestinal sensitivity and disordered motility can cause constipation, possibly accompanied by abdominal pain and alternating episodes of diarrhea and constipation. It is recommended to use medications such as pinaverium bromide tablets, trimebutine maleate tablets, or lactulose oral solution under medical guidance to alleviate constipation symptoms.
In daily life, adequate hydration is important, with a daily water intake of more than 1500 milliliters recommended to soften stools and facilitate defecation.
