Gut experts are warning against ignoring long-term constipation after the common problem saw a woman unable to go to the bathroom for four months, increasing the risk of deadly bowel cancer.
Doctors said that her condition was so bad they could ‘leave indents’ in her abdomen due to the huge stool blockage.
The unnamed patient, 25, had reportedly struggled with constipation for years, as a result of a redundant colon—which is when the colon cannot fit neatly inside the body without twisting.
But, after noticing some improvement in her bowel movements, the patient stopped taking Miralax, a laxative treatment for constipation, against the advice of her doctors—triggering the resurgence of symptoms.
By the time she sought medical help, she was no longer responding to over-the-counter treatments.
Whilst there is no obvious cause for a redundant colon, it can lead to serious complications and gastrointestinal problems, including constipation.
Other common symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, nausea and recurrent hemorrhoids.
The case was described by US doctors who said the patient suffered constipation for so long that the stool had become hardened, resembling ‘dense, moist clay’—a problem known medically as faecal impaction.
Constipation often makes it more difficult to maintain regular bowel movements, causing sufferers to strain and feel like they have not fully emptied their bowels
A CT scan revealed a huge build up of stool in the colon
Laxatives like MiraLax are a type of medicine that can treat constipation, and are often prescribed by doctors when lifestyle changes do not work
The patient opted for manual disimpaction—a procedure in which backed-up stool is manually removed by a doctor from the rectum.
She was also restricted to a liquid diet for the duration of her stay, which saw her drop nearly 10lbs and pass 21 stools.
Faecal impaction can be caused by long term use of laxatives, a low-fibre diet and a lack of exercise over a long period of time.
This can lead to hardened masses forming and then blocking the digestive tract.
The faeces initially backs-up in the rectum, but then gradually accumulates inside the colon or large intestine.
One of the main symptoms of the condition is overflow diarrhoea, where the bowel begins to leak watery stool around the blockage and out of the rectum.
In this case, experts warn against taking anti-diarrhoea medication.
The warning comes amid a worrying trend of younger adults being diagnosed with bowel cancer, after putting their symptoms down to stress, indigestion and food intolerances.
Constipation—a significant reduction in the number, or an increased difficulty carrying out, bowel movements—affects one in seven adults.
While the frequency of bowel movement varies per individual, the NHS states not passing stool at least three times a week is a sign of constipation.
Chronic constipation is estimated to affect up to 15 per cent of the world’s population.
Whilst constipation is normally a mild ailment, revolved by lifestyle changes, experts have tirelessly warned that chronic constipation significantly increases the risk of bowel cancer.
This is because regular bowel movements minimises the amount of time potential toxins can spend in contact with the bowel wall.
Mr Haney Yousef, a colorectal surgeon, previously told the Daily Mail: ‘This is crucial because prolonged contact with harmful substances can damage the delicate lining of our colon and rectum.’
Those who also suffer bloating, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain and extreme fatigue should contact their GP as this could be a sign of something more serious.
While the disease is known to be linked to obesity, experts have noted the disease is increasingly affecting otherwise fit and healthy patients.
Some experts believe the explanation must lie in environmental factors young people have been exposed to more than previous generations.
While no ‘smoking gun’ has been found, there are multiple theories including modern chemicals in diets, microplastics, and pollution.
Around 44,000 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK, claiming the lives of almost 17,000 patients each year.
Overall, just over half of bowel cancer patients are expected to be alive 10 years after their diagnosis.
Cancer Research UK estimates that more than half—54 per cent—of bowel cancer cases are preventable.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .