Pills, pills, pills. These days, there is a pill for everything.
Sometimes those pills are necessary. Lives are saved thanks to modern medicine.
But somewhere along the way taking pills became a large part of the problem.
One area of health where this really stands out is the relationship between constipation and high blood pressure…
The serious side of constipation
I was a kid when Elvis passed away. But as an adult when I began researching health issues, I became very familiar with how he died.
It’s no secret that toward the end of his life, Elvis was a user of opiates — drugs that not only kill pain but also cause terrible constipation by slowing down the movement of stool through the gut.
Elvis wasn’t in the best of shape, and it’s believed that while straining to have a bowel movement he had a fatal heart attack.
It’s mind-boggling to think constipation could instigate an early death — unless you understand how a pill that may be the answer for one problem can cause many more…
Right now about 4 million Americans have a problem with constipation. You might be one of them. And even though you’re likely not taking opiates, you may be taking another constipating medication that one in four of us do…
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Compounding problems
Calcium channel blockers are used to manage blood pressure problems. They’re designed to relax the smooth muscles in blood vessels to lower blood pressure — but that same mechanism relaxes the muscles in the intestines.
That causes waste to move very slowly through the bowels. As it does, it dries out because the intestinal lining soaks up the moisture content it holds. I’m sure that’s a gross detail you’d rather not read, but here’s why it matters…
It’s one of the mechanisms research has found links constipation and hypertension. The increase in water absorption from the intestines during constipation raises blood pressure due to the increase in blood volume.
Another is the condition of a constipated gut…
Having an imbalance of unhealthy bacteria, or dysbiosis, can cause inflammation and changes in the production of short-chain fatty acids — which are metabolites normally produced in the gut that regulate renin, an enzyme that helps regulate blood pressure and maintain healthy levels of sodium and potassium in your body.
Of course, having high blood pressure increases anyone’s risk for heart problems. However, studies have shown the combination of constipation and high blood pressure takes those risks to a higher level.
Get to the root of the problem
Of course, there are lots of little pills to help you have regular bowel movements — just like there are lots of pills doctors will stack trying to lower blood pressure, especially resistant high blood pressure.
But relying on laxatives to help you poop can make chronic constipation worse. In fact, among the medications that Elvis abused, laxatives were listed.
The muscles in your colon become weak and your body becomes dependent on them. Then your body can no longer poop without that assistance, including straining hard.
The best way to overcome constipation is to provide safe, natural colon support with ingredients that work with the body’s natural processes so dependency does not become a concern, starting with…
- Ancient aloe – This cactus-like plant helps to naturally stimulate the bowel and soften stool for easier elimination.
- Inulin – This natural prebiotic found in chicory root helps support the natural production of beneficial bacteria in the colon by providing the intestinal fertilizer needed for healthy gut flora. Those bacteria generate the short-chain fatty acids I mentioned earlier.
- Potassium – This critical mineral helps keep stool hydrated and moist promoting a healthy transit time from digestive tract to toilet.
- Cascara sagrada – Used by Native Americans for centuries to help promote bowel contractions and the urge to “go” for normal healthy bowel movements.
- Senna leaf – This natural colon-balancing herb helps promote normal bowel health and healthy stool consistency for regular, gentle bowel movements.
- Slippery Elm – This herb is a natural anti-inflammatory that helps regulate anal tissue swelling.
- Black Walnut hulls – This ancient remedy contains juglone, tannins and natural iodine which work together to help eliminate harmful organisms from the digestive tract helping to support healthy digestion and regularity.
A well-functioning gut can do wonders for improving your health — and for just making you feel better. If yours isn’t working right, don’t ignore it, especially if you have a metabolic disorder.
Source:
Association of constipation with increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular events in elderly Australian patients — Journal Nature