“It is not just a casual complaint – medically, this is actually recognised as acute or secondary constipation brought on by environmental or behavioural changes related to travelling.”
Dr Chok Aik Yong, medical director at Aelius Surgical Centre at Mount Elizabeth Orchard, explained that “travel constipation” is essentially regular constipation – a medically recognised condition generally defined as having fewer than three bowel movements a week, or experiencing hard stools or straining when passing motion – triggered by specific circumstances of travel.
These triggers include dehydration, dietary changes, disrupted sleep, time-zone shifts and prolonged sitting.
“Your digestion follows a circadian rhythm,” said Dr Chok. “When eating and sleeping times shift, your bowel movements can become irregular.”
