Unexpected cause of appendicitis: dehydration

Water is an important element in the human body. Therefore, it is very important to drink water and get adequate fluid intake every day. Then, what is the danger if the body is not getting enough fluid intake? It turns out that dehydration can also be one of the causes of appendicitis. Here's the full explanation.

What are the causes of appendicitis

Appendicitis is not the name of a disease. The intestine in the human body itself varies, starting from the small intestine, appendix, and large intestine. The appendix is a small part of the initial tract of the large intestine, which looks like a small bulge at the lower right end of the stomach. The length of the appendix itself only ranges from 8-13 cm.

Inflammation of the appendix is what will then cause symptoms and is known as appendicitis or appendicitis. However, because many people mistakenly refer to "appendicitis" as a disease, not as a member of the body itself, the term is more often used to describe appendicitis.

Appendicitis occurs due to blockage of the appendix tract

One of the causes of appendicitis is a blockage that occurs in the appendix tract. As previously explained, the appendix is just a tube leading to a small protrusion with a clogged end. If the duct leading to the appendix becomes blocked, of course there will be no way out.

On the other hand, the intestine, including the appendix, also continues to secrete fluids or mucus needed by the digestive tract. You can imagine that with a blockage without a way out and the mucus that continues to be excreted from the lining of the intestine, over time it will cause increased pressure in the appendix and can eventually lead to inflammation. When it is severe, the appendix can rupture and cause death.

Why is dehydration a cause of appendicitis?

The most common cause of blockage in the appendix tract is feces. However, the feces in question are those that have hardened in the digestive tract. This kind of stool is called fecalith . Fecalith small in the intestine can get trapped and eventually clog into the appendix.

Fecalith itself can occur due to constipation (constipation) which has been going on for a long time. Constipation is a condition in which the stool hardens due to insufficient fluid content making it difficult to pass and eventually gets trapped in the digestive tract. Formation fecalith can be prevented by avoiding constipation. The trick is to increase fiber consumption and consume lots of fluids, especially water.

The fiber content and the consumption of fluids will make the stool soft enough so that it will not harden and become trapped in the appendix. A diet high in fiber is able to speed up the passage of feces so that prolonged constipation does not occur. Meanwhile, consuming lots of water will certainly make the stool rich in liquid content, so that it becomes soft and easy to pass. This is why not drinking enough water can be one of the causes of appendicitis.

However, keep in mind that not all fecalith which forms as a result of dehydration can be a cause of appendicitis. Vice versa. Not all causes of appendicitis are fecalith because of dehydration. If you feel the symptoms of appendicitis, see a doctor immediately.