Diet changes are often the culprit, but prolonged constipation may signal deeper health issues. A shocking case involved a woman who went two weeks without a bowel movement. Her colon expanded so much it pressed against her chest and heart, shocking doctors.

Over time, chronic constipation can damage the colon. It may lose its ability to push waste through, and its structural folds may disappear. Toxins may leak into the bloodstream, weakening immunity and causing fatigue, bad breath, and skin issues like acne.

Other painful complications include hemorrhoids—swollen rectal veins—and anal fissures, which cause severe pain during bowel movements. The pressure can also lead to a dangerous bowel obstruction, which may require emergency surgery.

Worse still, long-term constipation is linked to an increased risk of colon cancer. When the body retains waste too long, the risk of harmful cell