Smoking, obesity, and stress are all common causes of heart disease. But a newly published study suggests a new culprit could be added to the list of risks to our hearts: constipation.
To reach this conclusion, researchers at Monash University in Australia analyzed the health records of individuals in the UK Biobank, a comprehensive database of 500,000 participants that has been maintained since 2006. The biobank collects data such as medical imaging, biomarker analysis, and gene sequencing. It also includes information about environmental conditions and lifestyle, including activity levels. Previous analyses of the biobank data have revealed possible genetic markers for loneliness; a link between getting too much light at night and an increased risk of diabetes; a single night of heavy drinking that quadruples the risk of liver disease; and much more.
For this particular study, the research team analyzed the health records of 408,354 Biobank participants and found that 23,814 people suffered from constipation. They then delved deeper into these records and found that those with the condition were more than twice as likely to have a major adverse cardiac event (MACE), such as a heart attack, stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure.
Even more worryingly, the study found that individuals with constipation and high blood pressure had a 34 percent higher risk of having a heart attack compared to those with high blood pressure alone.
“The implications of this study are far-reaching,” says lead author Francine Marques, from Monash’s School of Biological Sciences. “Given that constipation affects approximately 14% of the global population, particularly older adults and women, these findings suggest that a significant proportion of the population may be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to their bowel health.”
The study also found a genetic link between heart health and constipation.
“Positive genetic correlations were identified between constipation and various forms of MACE, suggesting that common genetic factors underlie both conditions,” says Leticia Camargo Tavares, co-first author of the study. “This discovery opens new avenues for investigating the underlying mechanisms linking gut health and heart health.”
The researchers note that more work needs to be done to investigate the link they discovered and to determine the biological mechanisms involved. One theory they are working on is that individuals who suffer from constipation may have a theoretical condition known as “leaky gut,” in which intestinal permeability increases, allowing toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
Regardless of the cause, constipation should be considered an important risk factor for future heart health, researchers say.
Their work was published in the journal: American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology.
Source: Monash University