What Are the Causes of Very Severe Constipation?

Having a bowel movement is a natural physical process that every individual experiences. Normally, having a bowel movement is relatively easy and does not involve any type of discomfort or pain. Sometimes, however, an individual can become constipated, and it can become hard to expel fecal matter. Most of the time, constipation is not serious and can be resolved with minimal effort on the part of the individual, but occasionally constipation reaches the point of severity. There are several reasons why this can occur.

Metabolism

• Metabolism is connected to many body functions such as cell growth. It also is connected to how quickly digestion happens and how quickly the body is able to expel waste. Some diseases impact metabolism negatively and therefore slow down the expulsion of fecal matter from the colon. Examples of conditions that can cause this problem are diabetes and hypothyroidism.

Nerves

• Waste is expelled from the bowels through muscular movements known as peristalsis. These movements are controlled by nerves within the bowels. Occasionally these nerves are impaired in function. They therefore cannot push the waste from the bowel effectively. The waste collects in the colon and causes blockage, resulting in constipation.

Sphincter

• The sphincter is a strong muscle around the anal opening. Normally, when a person has a bowel movement, the sphincter relaxes so that the anal opening can expand and the waste can pass out of the body. In some individuals, the sphincter does not relax properly. This means that the waste cannot be expelled adequately from the body, and the individual will become constipated.

Diet

• Diet has a large impact on colon function and the expulsion of fecal matter from the body. For instance, fiber and water both ensure that stools can be formed and that they are the right consistency to pass from the body without pain or difficulty. When a person does not eat right, this is prevented and constipation can result.

Anatomy

• The bowels have a specific shape that doesn't vary much from person to person. Sometimes, however, a person's bowels are shaped in such a way that it is not easy for the body to accomplish movement of matter through them. In such cases, severe constipation can occur regardless of overall health and diet because part of the body itself blocks the expulsion of waste from the bowels. Obstructions also can occur in the bowel due to changes in shape of the bowel that happen as a result of surgery.