13 Surprising Causes of Constipation
What causes constipation? Well, the obvious culprits include a low fiber diet, repeatedly ignoring the urge to go, not drinking enough water, or a lack of exercise. Here are 13 possible causes of constipation you may not have considered.
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Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland, slows the body’s metabolic processes—even the gut.
Not everyone with an underactive thyroid has constipation, nor do all cases of constipation mean that the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck is underperforming.
Still, "when I see a young person who’s constipated more than normal and really complaining, I do tend to get a thyroid level," says Carla H. Ginsburg, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
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