The most common cause of anal fissures is constipation. Constipation is a condition of having difficulty passing stools. As the feces stay inside the body, it becomes dehydrated, hard, and large. By the time the body is ready and willing to release the stool, the anus cannot expand enough to accommodate it, causing lesions to form in the lining of the anus. With these lesions, passing stools becomes a more difficult experience. If not solved immediately, the fecal waste may release toxins back to the body, causing more serious medical problems.
But one cannot blame it on constipation alone because diarrhea can also be the cause. With diarrhea, the strain comes from the continuous bowl movements. This environment is not suitable for the anus because it disrupts the blood flow around its lining, leading to less recovery from overstretching caused by the frequent passing of watery, bacteria-filled stools. If the process continues and the anus cannot recover from being expanded too much, lesions may start to form around the anal area.
Childbirth is also another cause the medical condition. Hemorrhoids, or varicose veins that surround the rectal area, are common in pregnant women. This is a result of the additional pressure and lesser blood flow in the lower part of their body brought by carrying a growing child in their wombs.
Hemorrhoids at their fruition are the small pea-sized sac of blood vessels found around the anus. Because of the additional obstruction, the passing of stools become more painful. If this persists, constipation is inevitable. Because of the obstruction brought by hemorrhoids, the anus can overstretch less, and if pushed too far, could cause lesions around its lining.
25% of women after pregnancy develop hemorrhoids, and this increases the risk of them contracting anal fissures.
Lastly, this medical condition may also be a cause or a symptom of a more aggravating medical condition, like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or inflammatory bowel disease. Constipation and diarrhea may cause these three serious medical conditions. If left untreated, constipation may lead to anal fissures. These conditions may also cause inflammation around the anal area due to the disruption of blood flow and the lesions themselves.
Anal fissures are not considered as a life-threatening condition. The condition will only result in discomfort and pain, specifically during bowel movements. Being not fatal does not mean that one should dismiss this condition, because if left untreated, the condition could lead to more serious ailments. Also, it might lead to more expensive treatment. Hence, it is important that the condition is treated at its onset.
But then again, prevention is still better than cure. To avoid anal fissures and the medical conditions related to it, one should change their eating habits. Having a diet rich in fiber and increased water intake will help in regulating bowel movements.
More importantly, avoid putting foreign objects inside the anus that would cause it to overstretch more than they could, and strive to make the solid waste soft so that it can easily pass out of the system.
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