Top 10 Side Effects of constipation that you need to know

Constipation can prevent stool passage and significantly affect your health. It causes waste to accumulate in your body, leading to unexpected reactions, including skin, hair and digestive problems.  Understanding the effects of constipation on the body will help you take steps sooner rather than later to avoid discomfort or prevent lasting issues.

According to the Abbott Gut Health Survey in Mumbai 2015, which covered 3,500 Indians across six major urban cities, constipation affects approximately 14% of urban Indians, higher than the global prevalence of 10%. The survey also found that people typically seek medical help only when the condition becomes chronic, by which point secondary complications like anal fissures, piles, and faecal incontinence have already developed. 

Before getting to know about the side effects, it is significant to gain insights about constipation, its causes, symptoms, and, specifically, the remedies. Now, let's dive in!

Constipation can be caused by more than just a lack of regular bowel movements. Many don’t realise that constipation can have a great impact on the body as well. Holding on to waste in your colon for an extended period can cause toxins to accumulate, affecting many areas of your life, from your skin tone to your emotional state.

How To Relieve Constipation And Reduce These Side Effects?

The WHO Healthy Diet Fact Sheet highlights the importance of fibre-rich foods, adequate hydration, and balanced nutrition for supporting smooth digestion and preventing constipation. These recommendations align with your blog’s focus on improving gut health through water intake, whole foods, and daily fibre, reinforcing evidence-based strategies for maintaining regular bowel movements.

• Drink enough fluids: Water every day helps keep your bowel movements soft.

• Incorporate more fibre into your diet: Add additional sources of fibre, such as fruits, vegetables, or whole grains, to help make it easier to pass stool.

• Stay active: Low-intensity exercise (e.g., walking) can stimulate your digestive system, potentially increasing bowel movement frequency.

• Consider taking probiotics: Probiotics and yoghurt help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut.

If the constipation continues for more than 3 days, is accompanied by pain, bleeding or vomiting or is severe, consult your physician.

What Are the Top Effects of Constipation on the Body?

Various body systems can be affected by constipation through different digestive processes. When bowel movement systems function slowly, waste retention in the large intestine (colon) is prolonged, leading to colonisation. 

When faecal material accumulates in the colon (large intestine) for an extended period, the body continues to absorb some of the toxins via the bloodstream that were not filtered by the liver. 

As a result, you may experience some common symptoms of constipation, including headaches, fatigue, halitosis (bad breath) and acne.

1. Hair Loss

Chronic constipation does not directly cause hair loss; however, it can impair nutrient absorption and disrupt the gut-hair axis, leading to deficiencies in biotin, B12, folate, iron, and zinc.  

Vitamins and minerals are critical to maintaining healthy hair growth. Weak hair follicles result from poor gut function, leading to hair loss from thinning, breakage, and shedding.  A few home remedies may help you to resolve this condition more quickly. 

• Nutrient deficiencies due to poor gut absorption can disrupt hair growth cycles. 

• Deficiencies in biotin, B12, folate, iron, and Zinc contribute to weak hair follicles. 

• Weak hair follicles lead to thinning, breakage, and/shedding. 

• Chronic constipation can further contribute to nutrient imbalances. 

• A healthy gut can support stronger hair growth.

• If you're experiencing hair loss over an extended period of time due to chronic constipation, see your doctor.

2. Skin Breakouts

Acne is the most frequently reported skin condition due to constipation. When toxins build up in our bodies, we produce more sweat to eliminate them through the skin. Resulting in blockage of the pores of the skin, dull complexion and inflammation.

By improving bowel health, we will likely improve the quality and appearance of our skin (making it clearer and brighter).

3. Weight Gain

Constipation usually does not increase body fat; instead, it often causes a weight gain on the scale over time due to prolonged weight loss stagnation and no change in diet or physical activity.

The slow digestion caused by constipation slows your metabolism and makes it harder for you to burn calories effectively. After your constipation resolves, most individuals experience decreased bloating and more consistent body weight, leading to greater stability.

4. Abdominal Pain

When stool remains in the colon, gas builds up behind it, causing bloating, cramping, and a feeling of fullness. This trapped gas can produce sharp pains or lower abdominal pressure that worsens after meals. 

The colon may stretch due to compacted stool, leading to more severe discomfort. Addressing constipation early prevents long-term bowel complications and reduces the risk of chronic bloating.

5. Mood and Energy Levels

The gut and brain are intimately connected. When the digestive system becomes unhealthy due to constipation, serotonin production (the hormone responsible for regulating moods) is affected; therefore, an individual may experience irritability/anxiety and a sense of decreased mood.

6. Bad Breath and Metallic Taste

Constipation may also lead to the production of gases that rise to your mouth, resulting in unpleasant odours or flavours. In addition, poor digestion, which can cause reflux, can make your throat feel unpleasant as stomach acid backs up.

If toxins accumulate, the human body will try to eliminate them through various routes, including the mouth.

7. Headaches 

Headaches are often related to constipation and toxins that create greater inflammation in the body, reducing the delivery of oxygen to the brain. 

Lower intestines become sluggish, and the brain receives fewer signals from the intestines that help regulate mood and clarity. 

8. Sudden Structural Problems

Sitting on the toilet for an excessive amount of time or trying to push out tough stool can put a lot of strain on the rectal and anal area's veins.

As a result, we may develop swollen, inflamed veins (haemorrhoids), anal fissures, and possibly rectal prolapse in extreme circumstances. 

Complications can be avoided by starting treatment early and by practising good bowel habits.

9. Excess Estrogen

Constipation can exacerbate the effects of excess estrogen and also prevent you from eliminating extra estrogen through detoxification, thus your body will reabsorb the excess estrogen back into your bloodstream. 

This will throw off the balance between your estrogen and progesterone, resulting in fatigue, anxiety, irritability, heavy menstrual bleeding (or periods), and weight gain. 

10. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth 

When bacteria from your colon grow in your small intestine, this is known as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). 

If you are constipated, you have a higher risk of getting SIBO because the movement of food through your intestines is impeded. Some common symptoms associated with SIBO include abdominal bloating, abdominal discomfort and indigestion. 

What Are the Constipation Danger Signs You Should Never Ignore?

According to Prof. Uday C. Ghoshal, President of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG) 2025 and Professor of Gastroenterology at Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata (formerly SGPGI, Lucknow), one of India's most cited gut health researchers, chronic constipation in India is often complicated by faecal evacuation disorder. In this condition, laxative therapy alone is frequently unsatisfactory.

Some symptoms require immediate medical attention. These include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, blood in the stool, or the inability to pass stool or gas. 

These warning signs may indicate a blockage or other serious digestive issues. Certain symptoms require urgent medical care, such as: Painful stomach, Vomiting, Blood in your faeces, You cannot go to the bathroom (for any reason), or pass gas.

What’s Worth Remembering?

Constipation is not just a slight irritation; it can affect your skin, hair, mood, and overall well-being. There are many early signs your body shows that you're not eliminating properly. These include bloating, acne, hair loss, and fatigue due to an underperforming digestive system. Therefore, understanding the side effects of constipation and promptly addressing them can greatly benefit your health and well-being.

Read also

1. How to Manage Constipation During Pregnancy

2. Foods That Cause Constipation and How to Keep Your Gut Healthy

3. Know About The Types Of Constipation And Their Treatments

4. Constipation From Medications

Reference

1. Abbott India.Gut Health Survey: Urban Constipation Prevalence; 2015, https://www.global-gastroenterology.com/pdf/abbott-gut-health-survey.

2. World Gastroenterology Organisation. Constipation Guidelines, https://www.worldgastroenterology.org/guidelines

3. World Health Organisation. Healthy diet: Fact sheet. Geneva: WHO; 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet

Disclaimer: The content in this blog is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a registered dietitian before making any changes to your diet, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking prescribed medication. While the information is based on trusted sources, individual needs and results may vary. MrMed does not promote or endorse any specific food or treatment mentioned unless explicitly stated.