What Is Chronic Constipation Alternating With Diarrhea?

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]hronic constipation alternating with diarrhea is an intestinal motility disorder, or irregularity, characterized by alteration in stool formation, consistency, and evacuation which results in a bowel movement that consists of some hard or balled stool along with some loose stool that can cause leakage.

Q: How do irregular movement patterns develop in the colon?

A: The colon produces irregular movements as a result of problems that originate in  the colon (large intestine) itself and/or the small intestine which then affects function of the colon.

Here are listed the many types of problems or diseases that cause these abnormal bowel movements:

• Disorders that adversely affect the colon, an organ which must propel stool, remove excess water, absorb electrolytes, ferment undigested food material that passes into it, and produce nutrients from the fermentation process:

• Poor diet that does not contain adequate nutrition, fiber, probiotics, prebiotics, and water to form normal stool.
• Diet that contains irritating, toxic or allergenic food that cause spasms.
• Diseases that inflame the mucosa lining such as collagenous colitis, altering the proper absorption of water and electrolytes.
• Diseases that damage and swell the colon walls, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulitis.
• Diseases that obstruct the lumen or passageway so that stool passes with difficulty.
• Diseases that hamper normal peristalsis (muscle action), such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diabetes and thyroid disease.

• Disorders that adversely affect the small intestine, an organ which must digest and absorb nutrients needed by the body while passing unabsorbed food material to the colon:  

• Diet that conatins too much fat, sugar or artifical sweeteners, causing diarrhea.
• Disorders that result in malabsorption, such as gluten enteropathy, milk enteropathy, steatorrhea (fat malabsorption), lactose intolerance, sucrose intolerance, maltose intolerance, and bacterial overgrowth, passing abnormal amounts of undigested food material to the colon where it is fermented producing excessive gas, diarrhea and spasm.
• Disorders that impair peristalsis, such as active celiac disease, diabetes, scleroderma, and thyroid disease.
• Tumors like cancer and lymphoma impair regular passage of material to colon.
• Drugs that impair peristalsis, such as iron supplements, aluminum containing antacids, narcotics, some anti-depressants, some anti-seizure, and some diuretics.

What Is Chronic Constipation Alternating With Diarrhea In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?