Constipation can have many different causes, but the result is always the same -- unpleasant abdominal discomfort. You may prefer to deal with this condition in private before visiting a doctor or asking others for medical advice. If you have been drinking large amounts of caffeine prior to your constipation, the condition could be resulting from poor hydration worsened by caffeine intake.
Caffeine's Dehydrating Effect
Consuming caffeine can reduce your body's water levels in several ways. The stimulant activates the body and makes you more likely to sweat. It can also stimulate bladder function, causing you to go to the bathroom more often and expel fluids that way. Lowered hydration levels are the reason caffeine sometimes causes or worsens constipation.
Constipation
Poor hydration in the body makes it difficult for the digestive tract to move along waste products. This can cause a buildup in the small and large intestine that becomes unpleasant and painful, and it can last for several days or longer if not treated properly.
Treatment and Prevention
If you have developed constipation related to your consumption of caffeine, your treatment and subsequent prevention of this condition take the same path: drink water. Replenishing your body with water will hydrate your bowels and make it easier to pass stool. It might be wise to abstain from caffeine until your body's hydration catches up. In the future, drink water and other fluids to avoid constipation.
Symptoms
Your constipation may not necessarily be related to caffeine consumption. It is possible that the condition arose coincidentally near the time of your caffeine intake. Multiple factors can conspire to cause constipation, including poor diet and a lack of exercise. Do not rule out these other factors in terms of how they affect your body and your case of constipation. If you are not able to alleviate constipation after a few days, call your doctor.
