Leading a sedentary lifestyle can significantly affect digestion and intestinal function. To maintain a healthy digestive tract, prevent constipation, and avoid blockages in the digestive system, regular exercise is essential. Inactivity can lead to weight gain, further increasing the risk of digestive problems.
Regular physical exercise, such as walking or cycling, can significantly improve your digestive health by promoting smooth bowel movements and reducing the risk of constipation. When you are inactive, the natural contractions of your intestines are hindered, which can cause blockages in the digestive system and make it difficult to pass stool. Additionally, a sedentary lifestyle can cause weight gain, which has been linked to various digestive problems.
Dr Kiran Shinde, Consultant – Gastroenterologist, Sahyadri Super Specialty Hospital, Hadapsar, Pune, says, “Long sitting and little physical exercise can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which can have a significant impact on function. intestinal. Slow bowel movements and an increased risk of constipation are often the result of inactivity. Lack of activity reduces normal contractions of the muscles in the intestines, making it difficult for waste to pass through the digestive system effectively. “As a result, inactive people may experience rare and difficult episodes of constipation.”
“Prolonged periods of sitting can compress the abdomen and pelvis, which could hinder the normal passage of digestive juices. Because of this compression, the intestines receive less blood, which affects their ability to absorb nutrients and stimulate regular bowel movements. In addition to the obvious physical effects, a sedentary lifestyle can alter the delicate balance of the intestinal microbiota, decreasing the variety and quantity of good bacteria and perhaps aggravating digestive problems,” the doctor added.
Dr. Shinde also talked about how reduced physical activity can result in slower transit times of fecal matter through the intestines, leading to constipation and related complications. A sedentary lifestyle is associated with changes in the composition of the gut microbiome, increasing susceptibility to gastrointestinal disorders. Combining a sedentary lifestyle with poor dietary choices, such as a diet low in fiber and high in processed foods, contributes to inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. This double impact further compromises gut health, emphasizing the importance of addressing lifestyle choices holistically to manage digestive issues effectively.
Constipation is a major health problem that also results from a sedentary lifestyle. Dr Rajesh Jaria, consultant internal medicine, PD Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Khar, points out: “Constipation has many descriptions and often the unwillingness to discuss it openly leads to continuous differences in understanding.”
He continued and added: “As for the definition, constipation is having less than three bowel movements per week. This leaves room for other problems that occur despite three or more movements per week, such as straining to start or complete a bowel movement, a feeling of fullness or incomplete emptying, and a stool consistency like stones or pebbles. Constipation can cause abdominal pain, tenesmus and flatulence. Straining can cause hemorrhoids (piles), fissures or even rectal prolapse.”
Constipation can be due to problems within the patient's control or problems that are beyond the patient's complete control. Sometimes the baseline may be under control but is not controlled, resulting in chronic constipation. Doctors noted that the patient generally has the following under control, the causes are:
- Dietary problems: reduced fiber intake
- Avoiding going to the bathroom with an associated psychological overlay
- Inadequate hydration
- Changes in daily routine.
Pathological problems, which are often not under the control of the patient, are:
- Constipation due to slow transit or lazy bowel syndrome. Stool moves slowly through the digestive tract. In addition to the aforementioned problems related to the patient, the causes can be medications, intestinal obstruction due to stricture or even cancer.
- Nerve signaling disorders and neurological problems affect the movement of stool in the intestine in conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's.
- Weakness of the pelvic floor muscles and other muscle function problems contribute significantly to constipation. The pelvic floor muscles move in coordination to push stool down through the rectum.
It is essential to include regular physical exercise in daily activities to prevent these effects. Simple exercises that improve blood circulation and induce intestinal contractions, such as walking, running or cycling, promote better digestive function. Eating a diet rich in fiber and staying hydrated contribute to digestive regularity.
