Elderly people with constipation may be at risk of colorectal cancer

Constipation in the elderly due to various physical reasons not only affects their normal life, but also poses a great threat to their health, because constipation is a major risk factor for colon cancer in the elderly.

There are many carcinogens in feces, and the decomposition products of bile acid have strong permeability and carcinogenicity. Constipation prolongs the time it takes for feces to pass through the intestines, causing the concentration of synergistic carcinogens in feces to increase. Long-term contact with the intestinal mucosa is prone to cancer.

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the causes of constipation in the elderly include qi deficiency, blood deficiency, and yin deficiency.

1. Qi deficiency: mainly spleen and lung Qi deficiency, which leads to weak propulsion and decreased digestive system conduction function: poor intestinal peristalsis; weak constitution, weak abdominal muscles, and weak intestinal smooth muscles in the elderly; low pelvic floor muscle tension and relaxation causing perineum descent syndrome, etc.

2. Blood deficiency: mainly intestinal blood deficiency, insufficient blood supply to the intestine, unable to nourish the intestine, leading to the decline of large intestine function. Qi deficiency and blood deficiency are what we usually call intestinal motility deficiency, lack of the primary condition for normal defecation: lack of motility. Constipation caused by Qi deficiency and blood deficiency is particularly common in middle-aged and elderly people.

3. Yin deficiency: mainly kidney yin deficiency, leading to excessive fire, lack of body fluid and blood, dry intestines, and difficulty in defecation. It is also what we call lack of sufficient "water" causing dry intestines and constipation.

Tips: Characteristics of constipation in the elderly

1. Most of them cannot heal themselves and must be relieved by taking medicine.

2. The disease course is long and recurrent.

3. Repeated use of laxatives will aggravate constipation symptoms and eventually lead to habitual constipation or stubborn constipation.