Constipation and Parkinson's

In neurological diseases there are four major causes of constipation:1.) Immobility. During the course of normal everyday motion, food is moved along the small intestine by smooth muscle movements (peristalsis) and gravity. Long periods of sitting or lying down make this process more difficult. Being reliant on others to use the toilet may also be a factor, as the longer food sits in the gut, the more water is removed from it, leading to a harder, dryer stool. 2.) Food/water intake: It is important to note that neurological disease do not affect the intestinal muscle itself, they can impair swallowing. This may mean that patients do not drink enough fluids, which can lead to hardening of the stools. Furthermore patients may avoid drinking too much water to avoid having to urinate frequently. 3.) Drug side effects. Several drugs including opiate pain killers slow down gut motility. These pain killers are usually used in later stages of the disease and combine with the other factors described above to worsen the situation. 4.) Autonomic nervous system: Some conditions, notably Parkinson's disease, do slow down the normal operation of the gut, meaning that people with this condition are more likely to suffer from constipation.