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Effects Of Chronic Constipation On Health
Chronic constipation is a common health problem and
millions of adults in the US suffer from this condition. It can be highly frustrating
and uncomfortable. Though this is not a life threatening ailment, its side
effects can endanger your health. Constipation, a digestive health disorder,
occurs due to the decrease in frequency of bowel movements. This is an
incomplete excretion of bowel or passing of dry and hard feces. Prolonged
retention of food in intestines leads to the production and build up of toxins
in your body. This is one of the major problems of constipation.
Causes of Constipation
* Inadequate intake of water
* Insufficient consumption of dietary fibers
* Intake of different drugs like spastic colon, hypothyroidism, gut disorders, etc
* Slow bowel movements due to pregnancy
* Emotional or physical stress
Symptoms Of Constipation
* Excessive gas and bloating
* Abdominal pain and cramps
* Passing hard and dry stools
* Painful and infrequent bowel movements
* Difficulty in evacuating bowel
* Bad taste and foul breath in mouth
* Loss of appetite
* Headaches and nausea
* Distended abdomen
* Change in bowel habits
Harmful Effects of Chronic Constipation
Constipation weakens your body's immune system and it reduces your body's ability to fight diseases. So, your body applies excessive stain on other vital excretory organs such as lungs, kidneys, liver, skin and lymph. As a result, these organs become overworked, which affects their ability to eliminate waste from your body. It will slower down your cellular metabolism and reduce energy levels in your body.
Hemorrhoids
Pressure from accumulated stools obstructs the outflow of blood from veins in rectum and anus. As a result, they become abnormally distended. Abdominal pressure increases due to the strain to produce bowel movement. So, the veins distant further and push them outside their usual location. It will lead to internal or external hemorrhoids or the combination of both. Internal hemorrhoids can cause pain and may bleed profusely. On the other hand, external hemorrhoids case itching, pain and extreme sensitivity.
Piles and Anal Fissures
Chronic constipation can cause cracks in your skin around anus. This condition is called anal fissures. It occurs when hard stools abrades and stretches the anal sphincter. Itching, pain, and small amounts of blood in stools are the major symptoms of fissures. When fissures become infected, it causes a collection of pus called abscess. Surgical drainage is needed for treating this condition.
Rectal Prolapse
Chronic accumulation of large amounts of stool adversely affects the rectum's ability to contract to the former size even after the elimination of stool. As a result, your rectum becomes stretched. The loose tissue falls out of your body and they protrude through your anus. This tissue appears like a small bubble or pink mass. People with rectal prolapse experience itching, sensation of incomplete defecation, pain, leakage of small amounts of mucus and stool, or bleeding. Surgical repair is required to cure rectal prolapse.
Fecal impaction is the other side effect of chronic constipation. This is the condition of your body's inability to expel stool. The stool may also become extremely impacted in bowels. In such a situation, enemas or other invasive methods are used to break up stool.
When bowel is constipated with stool, colon becomes the breeding ground for parasites and harmful bacteria. It leads to a series of health problems throughout your body, which include varicose veins, gall bladder problems, hernia, arthritis, appendicitis, heart disorders, and even colorectal cancer. Sleep disorders, mood swing, fatigue, feeling of lethargy, etc are the other side effects of chronic constipation.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of constipation. You must adopt a fiber rich diet, which include lots of vegetables, fruits, eggs, dairy products, etc. This will help to speed up the passage of waste through bowel. Around 2-3 liters of water should be consumed every day. Regular exercise enables proper muscle contraction. Effects of chronic constipation can go beyond your digestive health. So, you must consult a doctor immediately before it becomes life threatening.
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