Your digestive system should be a one-way street when it is operating correctly. Food enters through your mouth, passes into your stomach through the esophagus, goes through your small and large intestines and eventually passes out as feces through the anus. Several physical problems can cause your colon, which is in your large intestine, to get obstructed. You may need medical attention and a special diet to resolve the issue.
Definition
Your colon is the last area of your large intestine, where food undergoes the final part of the digestive process before it moves into the rectum to await passage out of your body. Food goes into the small intestine in a semi-solid form, and the colon removes its moisture and forms it into stool. This waste products goes into the rectum then gets discharged through the anus in a bowel movement. The process usually goes smoothly, especially if you get enough fiber in your diet.
Obstruction
Your colon can get fully or partially obstructed from several causes. The Mayo Clinic cites diverticulitis, impacted feces, a narrowed or twisted colon, and colon cancer as the most common problems. A partial blockage causes difficulty passing stool, while a full blockage prevents your body from discharging any solid waste. You can develop other problems, like serious infections or intestinal tissue death, if an obstructed colon goes untreated.
Treatment
Colon obstructions require medical treatment. A complete obstruction must be removed surgically, and you may lose part of your intestine if it died due to the blockage, according to the Mayo Clinic. You will be stabilized at the hospital for a partial obstruction, and you will be given a low-fiber diet so your intestines and colon can process the food more easily. This diet might ease the obstruction, but you will need surgery if the problem does not resolve itself.
Considerations
Fecal impaction is not as severe as an obstructed colon, but it still involves a partial blockage. This condition involves dry, hard feces that gets stuck after it passes from the colon into the rectum. This condition is not as potentially dangerous as an obstruction, but it may cause cramps, bloating, pressure on your bladder and rectal bleeding. The usual cause is constipation, so a high-fiber diet helps prevent impaction.
Prevention
While you might be restricted to a low-fiber diet during treatment for an obstructed colon, you can keep your digestive system healthy and prevent problems like diverticulitis by eating a high-fiber diet. You get a good dose of fiber from legumes, vegetables, fruits and grains, pasta, seeds, and nuts.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Intestinal Obstruction Causes; September 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Intestinal Obstruction Treatment and Drugs; September 2010
- MedlinePlus; Fecal Impaction; January 2011
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Colonoscopy; January 2010
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis; July 2008
- Mayo Clinic; High Fiber Foods; November 2009
