What are the dangers of constipation?

Most often, constipation does not cause any special changes in the intestines. Constipation causes problems with the colon. But constipation is not just a short-term stool disorder. It can be dangerous due to other, more serious diseases. What is the danger of constipation?

The harm of constipation

When feces move with difficulty through the intestines and their mass is large, and they are also dehydrated, they can damage the delicate walls of the intestines, in particular, its mucous membrane. Therefore, internal bleeding occurs. A person may not know about them at all until they are examined. Or they may notice blood on the toilet, on toilet paper and only then sound the alarm.

Chronic constipation with delayed stool can lead to deformation of the rectum and even its degeneration. If a person, trying to free the body from feces, strains hard during defecation, this can cause anal fissures, prolapse of the rectum, not to mention hemorrhoids. These symptoms are such that they aggravate each other, and if they are not treated, the person gets worse.

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Risk factors for constipation

A person is more likely to have constipation if he or she:

• Elderly.
• Constantly at a sedentary job.
• Bedridden.
• Is on a low-fiber diet.
• Not getting enough fluids.
• Takes certain medications, including sedatives, pain relievers, or medications to lower blood pressure.
• Undergoing chemotherapy.

Women suffer from constipation more often than men, and children more than adults.

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Pregnancy and constipation

If you are pregnant, you may have a bout of constipation due to hormonal changes. Later in your pregnancy, the pressure on your intestines from your uterus increases and this can cause constipation.

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Consequences of constipation

If constipation is not short-term, but chronic, it can bring undesirable changes to the body and be a serious symptom of a whole range of ailments. If a person has nausea, vomiting, periodic bowel movements that last more than a month, as well as loss of appetite, flatulence - the consequences of constipation are even more dangerous. These consequences are even more dangerous if feces are retained in the intestines for a long time.

This threatens to intoxicate the body, because fecal matter is absorbed through the intestinal walls, which cannot exit the anus. And toxins are immediately absorbed into the blood. With normal digestion, this would not happen, the fecal matter would be excreted.

When fecal retention occurs constantly, it causes constant poisoning of the body with toxins. Then a person quickly gets tired, has a bad mood, bad sleep, is angry and irritable, cannot work productively.

The human immune system becomes weak and the person is at risk of various infections. Headaches and infrequent bowel movements are the consequences of fecal retention in the intestines.

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The danger of complications with constipation

Although constipation can be very bothersome, it is usually not a serious condition in itself. However, if it continues over and over, and especially if a person experiences straining during bowel movements, certain complications may develop.

Hemorrhoids or anal fissures can cause hard stools to stretch the sphincter muscles.

Fecal matter becomes retained when you pass a lot of dehydrated stool and it cannot be eliminated through normal bowel movements. You may need to help the stool pass, either with an enema or manually.

Rectal prolapse occurs when a small amount of rectal tissue falls out through the anus. This condition can lead to mucus secretion from the anus.

Lazy bowel syndrome can occur if you use laxatives frequently, causing your bowels to become dependent on them and not return to normal function. Laxatives can also lead to other problems, including poor absorption of vitamins and other nutrients and damage to the intestinal tract.

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