Experts Reveal How Chronic Constipation Impacts Your Metabolic And Heart Health

Constipation is often dismissed as a minor inconvenience, something solved with extra water or a quick dietary tweak. But emerging research is reshaping that perception, revealing that chronic constipation can be a subtle indicator of much larger health concerns. Increasingly, doctors are finding links between long-term constipation and the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome. Rather than being the cause of these conditions, constipation serves as a biological red flag by hinting at deeper imbalances within the body’s metabolic and cardiovascular systems.

Decoding The Constipation–Heart Health Connection

Dr. Tushar Tayal, Associate Director, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, says, “Chronic constipation is not just a stomach issue. People who

are constipated for a long time may have a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome.” He explains that slow bowel movement allows harmful bacteria to thrive and release toxins, contributing to inflammation.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Rinkesh Kumar Bansal, Additional Director, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, adds that “chronic constipation is increasingly recognized as a condition with important systemic implications, particularly its hidden links to heart disease and metabolic disorders.”

Together, their insights highlight a growing medical consensus: gut function and heart health are more intertwined than previously understood.

How Constipation Fuels Metabolic And Cardiac Stress

Low-Grade Inflammation: When stool sits in the intestine for too long, toxins accumulate and raise inflammation levels – one of the early drivers of insulin resistance and arterial changes.

Unbalanced Gut Microbiome: Both experts point to gut dysbiosis as a shared factor for constipation and cardiometabolic disorders. An unhealthy bacterial balance can alter cholesterol levels, disrupt blood sugar regulation, and even influence blood pressure.

Lifestyle Habits That Link The Two: Most people with chronic constipation have diets low in fibre, inadequate hydration, and reduced physical activity. These same lifestyle patterns significantly increase the likelihood of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

Reduced Protective Gut Chemicals: Slow bowel transit also reduces the production of short-chain fatty acids – compounds that help regulate inflammation, strengthen the heart, and improve insulin sensitivity.

Straining And Heart Stress: Straining during bowel movements triggers the body’s stress response, temporarily elevating blood pressure and potentially causing rhythm disturbances in high-risk individuals.

Medication Overlap: Dr. Bansal notes that common cardiac medications such as calcium channel blockers and diuretics can worsen constipation, creating a cycle that impacts both gut and heart health.

Why Early Intervention Matters

Persistent constipation can hint at dietary gaps, sedentary habits, poorly controlled diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or thyroid dysfunction. Addressing it early through fibre-rich foods, adequate hydration, probiotics, regular exercise, and timely medical care can improve gut function while supporting long-term heart and metabolic health. Treating constipation isn’t just about comfort. It’s a crucial step toward better overall well-being.