In most people, constipation occurs occasionally and has no lasting complications. However, chronic or severe constipation can potentially cause a variety of complications, including:

• Hemorrhoids and/or anal fissures. Hemorrhoids can be caused by straining to have a bowel movement, which is often associated with constipation. Anal fissures may develop when hard food product waste (stool) stretches the anal sphincter. Blood may appear in the stool as a result of hemorrhoids or anal fissures, appearing as bright red streaks on the surface of the stool.
  

  

• Rectal prolapse. Straining during a bowel movement can cause some of the intestinal lining to be pushed through the rectal opening.
  
  
• Fecal impaction. Stool is considered impacted when it is packed tightly in the bowel and normal pushing is not enough to spontaneously expel the stool. Impaction can mimic diarrhea, with liquid stool flowing around the hard impaction. Fecal impaction tends to occur in very young children and in older adults.