Megacolon: When constipation becomes something more serious

Article excerpt

The colon, a meter-and-a-half tube responsible for moving waste through the body, can in rare cases become so stretched it loses its ability to function, a condition called megacolon. Like an overstretched elastic band, the organ loses its elasticity and effectiveness. The article explains how constipation, usually manageable, can occasionally progress to this serious complication where the colon's muscle contractions fail and waste accumulates dangerously.