Medical expert warns of summer constipation and intestinal desertification

Dr. Tsuneo Matsuo, director of Matsuo Clinic, has identified a phenomenon termed “intestinal desertification” to describe the tendency for constipation to increase during summer months. This condition occurs when a lack of food intake, insufficient fiber, and dehydration cause stool to harden and stagnate in the large intestine.

A survey conducted by Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. involving 1,000 adults found that approximately 20% of respondents feel more prone to constipation during the summer (June to September), bringing the total number of those experiencing seasonal or chronic constipation to roughly one in three. Common symptoms reported include hard or pellet-like stools, a feeling of incomplete evacuation, and abdominal bloating.

Key lifestyle factors contributing to this issue include reduced physical activity due to heat, decreased appetite, drinking water only after feeling thirsty, and relying on single-item meals like noodles or bread. Experts emphasize that maintaining healthy bowel movements requires a balance of three elements: sufficient dietary material (food and fiber), adequate hydration reaching the intestines, and regular intestinal motility.