From indigestion to constipation – the daily tummy signs you could have ADHD as it’s linked to ‘loss of bowels’

PLAGUED by tummy cramps, indigestion and constipation?

Chances are you might also have ADHD – as the neurodevelopmental condition is linked to a 50 per cent increase in gut issues.

The typical symptoms of ADHD, which stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, are trouble with concentration, restlessness and impulse control issues.

But analysis by researchers at the University of Warwick found that people with ADHD are more than twice as likely to suffer constipation – when you find it hard to poo.

They also had 58 per cent chance of experiencing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – a gut condition causing stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhoea – and were four times more likely than non-ADHD sufferers to have encopresis.

This is a loss of bowel control, meaning you can’t control when you poo.

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The new study, published in the Journal of Attention Disorders, analysed data from over 1.9 million people, pulled from 23 studies conducted across the world – including the US, Sweden, Germany and South Korea.

Participants were aged between two and 65.

Researchers analysed how likely people with ADHD were to experience digestive issues, compared to people without the condition.

Sarah Blake, a medical student at Warwick Medical School and one of the authors of the study, said: “Almost every gut symptom we looked at – constipation, IBS, even indigestion – appeared to be associated with ADHD.

“These symptoms can have a real impact on daily life, but they could easily be overlooked if the focus is on ADHD itself.”

The exact reasons for the link between ADHD and gut problems weren’t clear, but researchers had a few theories.

The 9 ‘hidden’ signs of ADHD in adults

ADHD has long been associated with naughty schoolkids who cannot sit still in class.

And that is part of it. Fidgeting, daydreaming and getting easily distracted are all symptoms of the behavioural condition, which is why it is often spotted in children.

However, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is far more complex than simply having trouble focusing.

Henry Shelford, CEO and co-founder of ADHD UK, says: “If it isn’t debilitating, it isn’t ADHD.”

In recent years, social media has given rise to trends which conflate specific personality traits or single behaviours with ADHD.

You might be thinking, ‘I’m always losing my keys, forgetting birthdays and I can never concentrate at work — I must have ADHD’. But it’s not as simple as that.

Though these may all point to the condition, Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic, says: “The key distinction lies in how much a behaviour impacts a person’s daily life.

“Genuine ADHD symptoms affect multiple areas of life – work, relationships and emotional wellbeing – whereas personality traits are typically context-dependent and less disruptive.”

ADHD UK’s Henry, who has the condition himself, adds: “Having ADHD is hard. One in ten men with ADHD and one in four women with ADHD will at some point try to take their own lives.”

So how can ADHD manifest in someone’s life? While hyperactivity is a common indicator, here are nine other subtle signs:

Time blindness – losing track of time, underestimating how long tasks will take, regularly being late or excessively early
Lack of organisation – a messy home, frequently misplacing items, forgetting deadlines
Hyperfocus – becoming deeply engrossed in activities for hours
Procrastination – feeling overwhelmed by to-do lists and struggling to determine what needs your attention first so focusing on less important tasks
Heightened emotions – emotional struggles can manifest in angry outbursts, feeling flooded with joy or shutting down because you feel too much at once
Being a ‘yes man’ – agreeing to new projects at work or dinner dates with friends when you’re already busy (a desire to please)
Impatience – interrupting people mid-conversation, finding it painful to stand in a queue, being overly-chatty
Restlessness – tapping, pacing, fidgeting or feeling restless on the inside
Easily distracted – by external things, like noises, or internal things like thoughts

ADHD can make people impulsive and many with the condition may have irregular eating patterns, both of which may contribute to digestive symptoms.

ADHD medications are known to cause gut side effects such as constipation.

There’s also evidence linking ADHD to differences in gut bacteria, which may affect the gut via the vagus nerve – a major line of communication between gut and brain.

The researchers said doctors treating people with ADHD should look out for gut symptoms and consider asking about them during consultations.

Those with more complex symptoms may benefit from seeing a dietitian or gastroenterologist.

The study findings show an association, not proof that ADHD causes gut problems, researchers stressed.

They called for further research to disentangle gut conditions from medication side effects.

Dr Saran Shantikumar, an associate clinical professor at Warwick Medical School, said: “We can’t yet say ADHD causes these gut problems, or exactly what is driving the link, but the pattern is striking enough to warrant attention.