Your Friendly Proctologist

Constipation KILLS: How Backed Up Poop Damages Your Health

• Dr. Albert Chung

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SPEAKER_00

Court. When people when people mention what people usually talk about constipation, it's usually in a very funny context, right? Oh, I had a when people talk about cons when people talk about constipation, it's usually in a really funny when people when people usually when people talk about constipation, usually it's in a very funny context, right? All the jokes are about how you had a big holiday dinner and then you strained until your eyeballs popped out of your head for like six hours and you had this giant torpedo land in the toilet and it clogged all of your plumbing. Well, I'll have you know that constipation may not be that funny at all, especially when it has big impacts on your health. And did you know that constipation can even get to the point of killing someone? And that is more common than you think. But for some people, it can be something that infects not infects, affects when people you when people usually talk about constipation, it's usually in that funny context, right? You had something like a big holiday dinner. When people usually talk about constipation, usually it's in the context of a very funny situation. Maybe you went out for a Super Bowl party, you had too many steaks and beers, and the next day, oh, you definitely paid for it. You were straight until your eyeballs popped out of your head, and you dropped a huge submarine which clogged your plumbing in your house. And it can have systemic effects through your body and even get to the point of killing someone. So today, as your expert friendly proctologist, I want to give you those details right now. You strained on the toilet for about two hours or something, your eyeballs are popping out of your head, and you dropped a huge submarine which clogged up the pipes in your house. Yeah, that can be super funny at times and it's a minor annoyance, but did you know that constipation can actually get to the point of causing systemic illness, can even kill someone? Well, today I want to talk to you about those exact things that constipation shouldn't be ignored, and you should pay attention and get that fixed. Hi there, I'm Dr. Albert Chung, and I'm a double board certified colon and rectal surgeon here in Orange County, California. And today's video is sponsored by Vessel, the very best in hemorrhoid oral supplements, and I use this guy every day to help me with my hemorrhoid symptoms, but more on this later. All of these types of factors can give the person these constipation issues. You see, constipation is you see, constipation in the medical dictionary means a you see, constipation in our medical textbooks is actually a very large definition. Essentially, the poop or the contents of your digestive food can't seem to get out in efficient timing. And the symptoms can vary, the process that the constipation, you see, constipation, you see the definition of constipation in our medical textbooks is quite big. In essence, it's really about the digested food unable to get out of our body through our anus into the toilet bowl, but it can be in our intestines. Are we digesting efficiently? Is the food moving through these tubes of intestine? Is the poop getting too big and that's why it won't come out? Is the anus and the pelvic floor musculature not allowing the poop to move through and therefore have us not feel bloated, sick, pain, all these types of things fit into the definition? So to so to relay the point of how severe constipation can get for some people, there is a news article. So I wanted to So I wanted to So I wanted to share a very sad news article to get things started from the news media independent. And unfortunately, this type of story is very common with severe cases of constipation. You see, there's a disabled gentleman with Down syndrome Down syndrome. Now I want to share a story that happens a little bit too often all around the world and showcases what can really happen in severe cases of constipation. There's a news story in The Independent, and this was published in November 2025. But there was a 20-year-old gentleman who was living in an assisted living center and he has developmental delays. Essentially, what happens, it seems like the nursing staff there or the care staff ignored his distention, ignored his pain, and hadn't really done anything about him not pooping for not just several days. We're talking about weeks to even up to a month. Okay. And this ultimately led to his demise. Apparently, they found that he had 20 pounds of bowel obstruction, which I'm guessing they're saying 20 pounds of stool in his belly. My guess is that once he was found, it was emergent, so they had to take him to the hospital, probably had an attempt for a life-saving surgery, but unfortunately, it sounds like it was too late. And I know what you're thinking. And I know what you're thinking. Ah, that's not me. Come on. I mean, I can verbalize things, but I'm trying to tell you that constipation has other systemic effects, and we should be paying attention because constipation can be linked with other conditions, like, for example, cardiovascular conditions. And they found an association between coronary artery disease and constipation. And what they found is that there's a 12% higher risk of death from all causes if you had constipation and coronary artery disease. And there was a study done on three million veterans, which found that there was an 11% to 9%. And there was a study done on veterans, which showed that up to 20% of 3 million veterans involved. There was a study, and there was a study done on 3 million, and there was a study done on 3 million veterans, which found that up to 20% of these people that were constipated also had. Now the studies are just showing in association, and with these two conditions together, you may be at higher risk for your blood. Now the study is just showing in association. Now the study is just showing. Now the study isn't saying that. The next huge the next huge the next huge consequence of constipation is the inflammation that can come about from it. The chronic exposure of the waist and the lack of movement and probably the lack of and contipation and constipation can also lead to other big issues like another way another way that constipation can contribute to systemic illness is through the gut barrier. You know, our intestines are very well adapted to handling bacteria. We have a symbiotic relationship with the bacteria in our gut. But when we're backed up with all this waste product, the inflammation that can arise because the defenses of our intestines can't seem to stand up and separate ourselves from the stool. That can lead to leaky gut issues and lead to atherosclerosis, lead to heart disease, and lead to many other conditions which are still under hot research and debate currently. We're talking about autoimmune conditions, illness, fevers. Fuck. Our intestines have been evolved over many millennia to have a separation between our intestines and our body, which is not supposed to have stool contaminant. Another way that another way that constipation can affect our systemic health is through our gut. And we know that the gut has evolved very directly with the bacteria in our system. Another way that constipation can affect our overall health is through, of course, our gut. And our gut intestine has these defense mechanisms set up which have been developed over years of natural selection evolution, right? We have a symbiotic with the bacteria and organisms that live in our intestine. But what if there's an imbalance, right? And constipation can, if it's delayed and prolonged, can create an inflammatory response because then the barriers of our intestines, which are supposed to keep the bacteria in our stool not coming into our bodies, can start to break down. And in fact, through the research, we actually find these proteins in our blood and in our stool that are not supposed to be there. They're actually supposed to be forming barriers, making things caulked sealed tight, like in a bathroom, right? You don't want the water to get out and soak your floors and drywall. You need the water to stay in and go down the drain, like down our anus. But clear. But what happens, but what happens is if those barriers are broken down, protein, but what happens is if the inflammation starts to set in because of the stool not moving through, bacteria can start to break down the but what can happen is if the constipation gets to a certain point, the inflammation creates gaps and can create the loss. But what can happen is the int but what can happen is the barrier between the int but what can happen is the barrier that's inside of our intestines that's supposed to keep the nutrients coming in with digestion and keep the bacteria out can get but what can happen, but what can happen is the barrier between the but what can happen is that prolonged constipation can make the connections between the cells which are water sealed keep the bacteria. But what can happen is what but what can happen is the but what can happen is the but what can happen as a result of that prolonged constipation, but what can happen, but what we don't want to have happen is the immune system response coming in through the inflammation. All the inflammation cells and all the chemicals being produced start to break down these barriers. Now the tight seals between our intestinal cells that are only supposed to bring in nutrients now can have bacteria come into our bloodstream and start to create a huge mess because now the inflammation is all over our body. We also know with the and in speaking of the symbiotic relationship with our microbiome, we know that there is a delicate balance of these bacteria, and so that's why things are and we also and we also know that the and we also know that and we also know that that and we also know that the and we also know that the intestinal microbiome with the and we also and we also know very well that the intestinal microbiome are full and we also know that our gut bike and we also know that a gut microbiome that there is a very delicate balance between all the bacteria there. Any imbalance can definitely shift and create inflammation in itself, and that's why back and we also know that and we also know that the gut flora composing our microbiome is a very delicate balance, and anything causing it, and we also and we also know that the gut microbiome, which we call our flora, has a very important balance in keeping our system sane because if there is an imbalance there, if the bad bacteria that decide and we also know that the microbiome plays a very important role with our inflammation status, and we also know that the microbiome provides a very protective balance for us, right? We're talking about and we also know that the microbiome protects us and provides, and we also know that the gut microbiome is a very important in our oh, and we also know the gut microbiome performs a very protective function as well. In fact, it is meant to keep us in balance, and when we have an imbalance of this bacteria, and we also know that this microbiome, and we also know that the bacteria that live in our intestines serves a very protective function, right? The bacteria are not all bad guys, but it needs to stay in a very delicate balance. If any of those bacteria which were beneficial before become overpopulated or underpopulated, things can get out of whack again, and therefore you can have inflammation. You know, that biome balance is also important to protect us from making sure other bacteria don't come in and compete and therefore grab a foothold. That's the whole thing about antibiotics. We don't want to be using that unnecessarily. However, it may be for cold symptoms and the flu season, we don't want to be unnecessarily taking these medications because it can create inflammation in our gut biome. So it goes without question that these types of products are in high demand and are definitely so it goes without question with all the research with the microbiome that using prebiotics, pre-probiotics, all these fiber products play a role in our gut microbiome. And so it goes without question that these microbiome, and so it goes without question that these probiotics and pre-probiotic types of products can be beneficial for us for reducing the inflammation and restoring our balance despite us having constipation. And so of course it goes without saying that using probiotics and prebiotics are very popular these days. And so, of course, it goes without question that prebiotics, and so of course it goes without question that prebiotics and pro and so and so of course it goes without saying that prebiotics and probiotics are very popular these days, but they do provide a very beneficial service. They provide that protection that we need to prevent these types. And so, of course, it goes without saying that using probiotics and prebiotics can be very beneficial, and I highly recommend that everybody use and so of course it goes without saying that prebiotics and probiotics can be very helpful for restoring and maintaining balance of our microbiome. Now when you have somebody now when you have somebody. Now finally, poop can be extremely now poop, now finally, we know that poop is toxic, but have you ever seen a poop that was like mummified like a stone? No one knew now finally poop can now finally now finally poop can actually be so dangerous that it can cre now finally poop now finally now finally won't now finally now finally going back to that news now now finally going back to that news article that I read before about the gentleman dying because he was so backed up, right? How does something like that ever happen in our bodies? Well, I'm telling you, I've seen poop that has been in somebody's body for so long, it was like fossilized. It was literally like hard stones. And no, this isn't just somebody who had a hard poop. This is something that's been just baking or just festering in the intestines for that long, okay? The patient was actually a nursing home patient, a woman who had just been ignored. I mean, this types of really sad situations I had to see over and over again. And we get called to help these people because there is no way to communicate with them and their bellies are just bloated and they're just wincing and wailing in pain. Super sad. And you do a CT scan in these people, and there is intestines that is so stressed out. Because if you try to examine these patients with your hands, right, they don't really tell you, oh, that hurts really bad. To give you that indication to go to help them in surgery faster. Sometimes you're really not sure what the solution is, and you don't want to unnecessarily do surgery on somebody like that. So what do you so you open? So let's so this particular woman, when I took her to surgery, so this particular woman, when I put took, so this particular poor woman, when I took her to surgery and I had to open up her belly, what did I find? Well, this level of constipation was so severe her large intestine or her colon was actually starting to become green and black and dying. Okay. This is obviously not normal. It was also stretched out huge. We're talking about 10 centimeters wide. That's how bad things had gotten backed up. And when the intestine starts to back up initially, the intestine starts to stretch out. But the problem here is the intestines can't, if it can't move things through, it's gonna keep stretching the muscle out. That means the muscle fibers are no longer apt to and so when I so when I took this unfortunate woman to surgery and I opened her abdomen. So when I took this unfortunate woman to surgery, what did I find? Well, I found that things were so severe and there was it was a path of no return, okay? Her colon or enlarged intestine was stretched out so far and so full of poop, okay, that it started to turn green and purple and essentially was trying to die. You see, the process in which this happens, the poop starts to back up. Nothing's coming out the anus. So what does the tube of intestine do? It starts to stretch out. And when that's happening, now the muscles cannot effectively contract and give the push to get the poop out. So the patient can't get the poop out themselves. They need assistance, but it's too late for this person. The other thing that happens is the blood supply, which is the true killer here, starts to become weaker and weaker. The blood vessels of the intestines are within the walls of that tube. So if you're stretching out those walls and you're thinning those walls out, those blood vessels get smooshed. And now all of a sudden you have no blood going in, and you have no blood going out with the venous return. Finally, finally, what's another thing that's happening? Well, the chronic inflammation from this process is bringing bacteria and the immune system to react to this leaky gut issue. So this person definitely was not feeling very well in her thirdly, what uh thirdly, what else is going on? Well, and thirdly, what else is going on? Well, as this process is happening, the chronic thirdly, and thirdly, what else is and thirdly, the inflammation and the leaky gut response to the chronic constipation, giving that inflammatory response. Bacteria is leaking through into her bloodstream, the immune system responding to the bacteria, and I'm sure you know, if she could talk, she probably would say that she was not feeling very well, probably feeling very flu-like, probably feeling fatigued, and all those symptoms happening all at the same time, contributing to her unwellness. Perforation is what it's called. This is a life-threatening situation and happens to about. Now my ticket. Now my tip. Now my particular patient in this example actually survived. I was able to remove. Now in that particular situation, I had to remove her entire colon and she actually survived. But there are some people that are getting to the last complication, which is steril perforation. What that means is the poop got so big the intestines couldn't hold on and it popped. That is very, very bad because that is an immediate life-threatening situation. Okay, the bacterial contamination now has free reign to be absorbed into the bloodstream, and the immune system goes haywire. People drop blood pressure, you get kidney failure, heart failure, all in a very quick ending demise. And if that happens, the mortality rate of people is 35 to 40 percent. That's how serious that infection is and in that life threat and not just and when that when that situ when that situation happens, you have to rush these people to treatment with antibiotics. Have to support them. You may have to support their airway. They may have to be sedated because oh, they are in for a very rough recovery. And so constipation isn't just about feeling a little bit backed up, it can lead to or be associated with other chronic conditions that can lead to some morbid or so. So constipation isn't just being about a little bit backed up. It can definitely trigger chronic issues that can have a domino effect when associated with other chronic conditions and lead to more morbidity and even mortality with death. This video, of course, is not to scare all of you, but it's just to give you some perspective that something so small that we think about constipation, well, maybe we should pay attention to it. Because yeah, hemorrhoids and anal fissures, when they're small, they're very manageable. But when the problem gets so far where they become chronic or recurrent fissures, or the hemorrhoids turn into grade three or four, then we wanted to wish that so chronic so constipation isn't just about feeling a little bit backed up, right? Based on the so chronic conscience, so constipation isn't just about feeling a little bit bad. So constipation isn't just about so constipation isn't just feeling like you're a little bit backed up. It can create so kind so constipation isn't just being about so constipation isn't just about feeling like you're a little bit backed up. It actually, when associated with other conditions, can create morbidity, even mortality, and can have a domino effect, you know, with the systemic inflammatory response with chronic constipation and more severe cases, it can lead to other conditions, which research is just pouring things out recently. You hear it all about it in the news and media these days. And I don't make this video to be clickbait or to scare you guys, but really to give you some perspective on how big this condition is. And also, maybe we should be paying attention to those episodes of constipation. Maybe I am a little bit more constipated more often than I should be. And maybe I want to take this opportunity to address some of that. Take us to a softener, change up my diet, drink more water, what have you? You know, when it comes to anal fissures and hemorrhoids, yeah, when they're super small and they bleed once or twice a year or something like that, okay, maybe it's not a big deal. But when they all of a sudden turn into grade three, grade four hemorrhoids, recurrent or chronic fissures with spasm, will we have wished that we paid attention to things? Will we have wished we just researched a little bit or heard something to be aware about it? Yeah, I I would agree so. I would want that personally for myself. And so and so I and so I hope this video was and so I hope that and so I hope the information and so I hope this info was helpful for you. If you like the content, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and I'll see you in the next one. Bye! And in all this talk about constipation, we should also be very mindful of our hemorrhoids, which is why I want to talk about the sponsor of this video today, which is Vessel. These guys have and when we talk about constipation, of course, we should be mindful of our hemorrhoids. And I am very thankful for this supplement here. These guys have concocted a formula. And when we're talking about constipation, we should be mindful of our hemorrhoids, of course. And that's why I'm thankful for the sponsor of today's video, which is Vessel. This is an all-natural ingredient, clinically based researched formula. There is nothing like this on the market because I actually had input in this formula, to be straight up and honest with you guys, and I find it to be extremely helpful for my own hemorrhoids. This is a supplement you take every single day, and I find it to really even me out. When I'm getting the flares, it lowers them. And then the days I don't have flares, I don't get that warm sensation. It actually has disappeared from me since I started taking this about maybe like nine months ago now. I've been taking it for a very long time since it came out, and I will never put this stuff down. Definitely check them out at vesselhealth.com. They have a subscription plan, and you can get discounts with that, and you can get it every single month so that you don't go without your vessel. Thank you so much.