2024-01-28 12:11:33
There are many people who, as soon as they are on vacation and especially if they go on a trip, begin to notice that they go to the bathroom less: constipation associated with a change in habits or location is very common.
This phenomenon is estimated to affect between 30 and 40% of travelers. It is often the result of dehydration, sitting for a long period of time on planes and trains, the stress of travel, eating new food or fast food, or a combination of all of these.
While the strict rule that you should poop every day is a myth, pooping less than two or three times a week could be an indicator that the body needs more fiber and fluid to stimulate the colon and trigger a bowel movement.
In addition to staying hydrated and eating high-fiber foods, gastroenterologists advise their patients to maintain a normal sleep schedule as much as possible, since time zone changes disrupt the body’s internal clock that regulates sleep and digestion. .
And, if possible, prepare by taking a probiotic supplement or eating fermented foods that aid digestion, like yogurt and kimchi, in the days before your trip.
Travel and vacations do not lend themselves to being regular. In fact, everything related to them affects bath time. The stress of rushing to pack your bags or get out the door can cause a crash.
In response to stress, the body releases corticotropin-releasing factor or CRF, which stimulates the production of a number of other hormones. One of them is adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which is released in the pituitary gland.
ACTH then stimulates the adrenal glands to produce and release cortisol, a stress hormone that interferes with the normal movement of food through the digestive tract.
High levels of cortisol limit the secretion of crucial digestive enzymes that help the body break down food and absorb nutrients, slowing the pace of food moving through the digestive system.
This means that the muscles do not contract as they normally do, which is what propels food through the digestive system, leading to a slower transit time.
Travel also often involves changes in your sleep schedule, which contributes to constipation. Getting too little sleep has been linked to a 30% increased risk of constipation.
Dehydration is also a major contributor to constipation, and flying to your destination can dry out your body.
Airplane cabins have very low humidity levels. About 50% of the air in an airplane cabin comes from outside, at high altitude, where it is almost completely free of moisture.
In addition, there are many people who find it difficult to use a public bathroom or it is simply not theirs. On the other hand, eating unhealthy foods while traveling does not do much for gastrointestinal health.
These foods are typically high in fat and low in fiber, a combination that slows digestion, causing bowel movements to slow down.
In addition to drinking plenty of water and eating healthy foods while traveling, experts recommend trying osmotic laxatives, which draw water into the stool to soften it.
Taking a stool softener before a long trip can also help you defecate more frequently while you’re away from home, making it easier to pass stool with the natural moisture in your intestine.
If all else fails, stimulant laxatives like Ex-Lax and Dulcolax might be the way to go. They cause contractions in the intestines that move stool.
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