Is constipation a serious problem?

Is constipation a serious problem?

Being constipated means your bowel movements are tough or happen less often than normal. Almost everyone goes through it at some point. Although it’s not usually serious, you’ll feel much better when your body is back on track. The normal length of time between bowel movements varies widely from person to person.

What happens to your bowel movements when you are constipated?

But in addition to hard stools, constipation can also lead to loose stools. “It’s not uncommon to see watery-like stools when constipation is severe, as loose bowel movements ‘sneak around’ the harder stools stuck in your colon,” Dr. Newberry says. If you have chronic constipation, see a GI specialist, who can help alleviate your symptoms.

When is constipation a chronic symptom of the body?

When you’re constipated, your body isn’t able to get rid of waste like it needs to. Having it every once in a while is common, but if you’re dealing with symptoms for more than 3 months, your constipation is chronic.

What kind of complications can you have with constipation?

For most people constipation rarely causes complications, but people with long-term constipation can develop: haemorrhoids (piles) faecal impaction (where dry, hard stools collect in the rectum) bowel incontinence (the leakage of liquid stools)

What happens when you can’t get rid of constipation?

If you really can’t get rid of your constipation problem, get prepared for a pile-up. The technical term for the accumulation of stool in your rectum and anus is fecal impaction, which sounds better than “poo traffic jam” but amounts to much the same thing.

What happens when you have severe constipation?

Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. Constipation is a common cause of painful defecation. Severe constipation includes obstipation and fecal impaction, which can progress to bowel obstruction and become life-threatening.

What is bad about constipation?

Why Constipation Is Dangerous. Constipation could also cause fecal impaction which can result in fever, headaches, dehydration, vomiting, confusion, weight loss and rapid breathing too. Fecal impaction is dangerous.

What can cause constipation?

Stress, changes in routine, and conditions that slow muscle contractions of the colon or delay your urge to go may also lead to constipation. Common causes of constipation include: low-fiber diet, particularly diets high in meat, milk, or cheese. dehydration. lack of exercise. delaying the impulse to have a bowel movement.

What does it mean when you have a loose stool?

Loose stool, also known as loose bowel movements or diarrhea, is caused by infectious agents, inflammatory bowel diseases, intake of various medications, and systemic disorders. When a person has loose stool for less than two weeks, the condition is said to be acute.