Patient's question:
I have been experiencing constipation for a long time. I only go to the bathroom twice a week, and each time it is extremely difficult. Recently, I noticed that my blood pressure has increased significantly compared to before, with the systolic pressure reaching 160 mmHg. Is this high blood pressure caused by constipation?Doctor's answer:
Middle-aged and elderly people who frequently suffer from constipation often have poor tone in their abdominal and pelvic muscles, insufficient force to push stool out, and difficulty expelling feces from the body, which is known as chronic habitual constipation. When elderly individuals strain during bowel movements, it can cause severe pain in the anal sphincter, pain during defecation, and recurrent elevation of intra-abdominal pressure, vasodilation, leading to a series of high blood pressure-like symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and headaches. It is recommended that patients seek medical treatment as soon as possible.