Why does travelling cause constipation

Both also dehydrate you. Push yourself to drink even more water than you normally do because traveling alone can increase dehydration. Avoid extra fiber. High-fiber foods in combination with dehydration can actually cause an increase in abdominal bloating and constipation. But eating more fiber than usual is not recommended. Vogler typically recommends getting one to two servings of vegetables and one to two servings of fruit every day.

Avoid foods that are high in fat. Vacations are meant to be fun. But if you can, avoid excessive amounts of unhealthy snack foods and desserts like candy, cheese, pizza, processed foods, chips and ice cream. They can make your constipation worse.

But realize that can also cause constipation. Exercise and stay physically active. To keep your digestive system moving, you need to keep your body moving. Hike, bike or swim when you can. Get plenty of rest. If you ignore the urge, Dr. Vogler says, it can lead to or worsen your constipation. Dietary changes are also a major factor, since you're probably eating different foods than you do at home. Sleep disruptions—especially if you've changed time zones or ended up on a lumpy pull-out sofa—can also impact your ability to poop regularly, as research has found an association between sleep disturbances and bowel symptoms.

While vacation constipation isn't the worst thing that can happen when you're away from home, it's not exactly fun. Luckily there are ways to prevent it or get your bowels moving again if it does strike. Here's your 3-part plan. Rao says more research is needed, but it can't hurt to take a probiotic supplement or eat yogurt with live cultures before you hit the road. For best results, get into the habit of consuming probiotics kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, and yogurt are good options at least a few days before you leave home and continue throughout your time away.

Some research suggests that the good bacteria in probiotics might soften stools and ease constipation. If you're flying, don't just sit there: Get up and walk the aisles to keep the blood flowing in your legs and well as in your gut. If you're traveling by car, take frequent breaks to stretch your legs for a few minutes. Meanwhile, avoid the urge to nibble on junky airport snacks like potato chips and chocolate bars; your colon will be happier if you munch on high-fiber fare like dried fruit and nuts.

And don't forget to drink lots of water. Rather, anyone and everyone can become backed up when traveling. When it comes to the battle of the bowels, infrequent stools are the number one symptom many people experience while traveling, according to Fola May , M. Travel constipation typically stems from two things: stress and changes in your everyday schedule.

Experiencing a disruption in your daily routine — and, thus, your diet and sleep schedule as well as the anxiety that tends to come with traveling — can cause a host of gastrointestinal issues. H, a board-certified gastroenterologist based in Chicago. ICYDK, airlines pressurize the air in the cabin to keep those flying aboard safe at varying altitudes. While you can continue to breathe normally during this change in pressure, your belly may not experience such smooth sailing with this shift, as it can cause your stomach and intestines to expand and leave you bloated, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Holding in your poop and moving less can lead to backed-up bowels. Whether in the Caribbean or your casa, constipation is constipation — essentially when poop moves too slowly through your GI system. But one of the major perks of going on vacation is being able to break free of your normal schedule and habits. Just as there's no need to set an alarm for the crack of dawn praise! But when you forgo your spinach salads and lemon water, packed with nutrients and H2O, for poolside burgers and daiquiris, you're more likely to become backed up.

Speaking of diet, experimenting with new cuisines can also aggravate the GI system, says Dr. You're not alone — just take it from Amy Schumer, who's asked Oprah for constipation advice. While, yes, what you consume can affect your gut, your emotions can also cause all that vacation constipation.

Traveling can often lead to feeling mentally drained and overwhelmed. Grappling with different time zones, unfamiliar territory, long waits at the airport can all attribute to stress and anxiety — both of which can impact how the enteric nervous system part of the nervous system that controls GI stuff functions.

A quick refresher: The brain part of the central nervous system and the gut are in constant communication. Your stomach can send signals to the brain, causing an emotional shift, and your brain can send signals to your stomach, causing a symphony of GI symptoms including, but not limited to, cramps, gas, diarrhea, and, yup, constipation.

When you're feeling worried or anxious, stress tends to impede all of the mechanisms in your gut. Say you're sitting in the airport and the gate agent just announced that your flight is delayed. Either way, both situations will likely stir up some worries, i. Meanwhile, your brain tells your gut that something stressful or "unsafe" is happening, causing your gut to gear up for whatever is about to come.