Constipation-induced pressor effects as triggers for cardiovascular events

Abstract

Constipation is associated with cardiovascular events. Changes to the intestinal microbiota by constipation can induce atherosclerosis, blood pressure rise, and cardiovascular events. Constipation increases with age and often coexists with cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, strain at stool causes blood pressure rise, which can trigger cardiovascular events such as congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, acute coronary disease, and aortic dissection. However, because cardiovascular medical research often focuses on more dramatic interventions, the risk from constipation can be overlooked. Physicians caring for patients with cardiovascular disease should acknowledge constipation and straining with it as important cardiovascular risk, and prematurely intervene to prevent it. The authors review and discuss the relationship between constipation and cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: cardiovascular disease; constipation; hemodynamic atherothrombotic syndrome; intestinal microbiota; strain at stool; synergistic resonance hypothesis of blood pressure variability.

Figure 1

Relationship between constipation and cardiovascular disease

Figure 2

Chest X‐ray of severe aortic valve stenosis patients: A, the day before the event, B, flash pulmonary edema after defecation