Constipation is a very important stress factor for the cardiac patients as well as for elderly people, especially during summer. The strain one makes to pass motion can even precipitate cardiac dysfunction worsening as well as myocardial infarction at times. In diabetics due to autonomic neuropathy, cases have been reported of sudden death due to straining during stools in the lavatory in a closed door and sudden death occurred has been reported by me in JAPI long ago.
So, every doctor attending on cardiac and elderly patients should make it a point to ask about constipation and give appropriate advice and medication when needed to avoid a known emergency and mortality at times. In admitted patients also when doing rounds we will have to ask about the urination and defecation apart from other specific complaints related to improvement. This will prevent unwanted anxiety to the family…
