What to do if anal sphincter relaxation occurs? Treatment is the key

The anal sphincter is the muscle at the end of the human rectum. It closes the anus, isolates the human body from the external environment, and helps the body defecate. When it contracts, it can prevent the outflow of gas and liquid. However, patients with relaxed anal sphincter often suffer from incontinence. How to solve this problem?

The physiological function of the internal anal sphincter is mainly to close the anus and assist defecation. It is usually in a contracted state, closing the anus to prevent feces, liquid, and gas in the rectum from flowing out, and maintaining a certain tension in the rectum. This contracted state allows it to work continuously except during defecation and is not prone to fatigue. It opens automatically when the rectum is filled with stool, assisting in the passage of stool. The internal anal sphincter is prone to spasm, which is a state of sustained contraction. If stimulated by inflammation, the anus will be in a spasmodic state, causing narrowing of the anus, difficulty in defecation, and anal pain. Dry stools may cause rupture of the anal canal skin. If not treated in time, anal fissures may form. The clinical treatment of anal fissures and some anal stenosis is accomplished by relieving spasm of the internal anal sphincter.

Anal sphincter relaxation is more common in the elderly and infirm and in surgical injuries to the anorectal ring after anorectal surgery. It is rare in young people. Most of the young people suffer from anal sphincter injuries due to primary spinal cord lesions or spinal nerve injuries, or due to anal surgery or trauma. Birth trauma, severe hemorrhoids, long-term constipation, rectal inflammation, rectal prolapse, and various rectal surgeries can lead to a decrease in rectal capacity; long-term diarrhea, tumors, radiotherapy, Crohn's disease, etc. can destroy the sphincter function; perianal scars, anal canal malformations, mucosal eversion, etc. can all cause relaxation of the anal sphincter. Patients with spontaneous incontinence have no history of sphincter injury and present with poor internal and external sphincter function and abnormal perineal nerve conduction. Anal incontinence is also seen in patients with diabetes, cerebrovascular accident, and systemic sclerosis.

Kegel exercises are a good way to prevent and treat anal diseases, and to promote the recovery of wounds and anal function in patients after anal surgery. During Kegel exercises, the indirect contraction of the muscles acts as a "pump", improving pelvic blood circulation, relieving the anal sphincter, and enhancing its contraction ability. Patients with anal fissures mainly suffer from severe pain caused by anal sphincter spasms, which makes the fissure difficult to heal. On the contrary, if the anal sphincter is too relaxed and the support for hemorrhoids and rectal mucosa is insufficient, it will cause hemorrhoid prolapse and rectal prolapse. For people who have undergone anal disease surgery, the anal sphincter muscles are often damaged to varying degrees. At this time, effective anal function exercises can improve local blood circulation, reduce congestion and dilation of hemorrhoidal veins, enhance local disease resistance of the anorectum, promote wound healing, and avoid and reduce the recurrence of anal diseases.

Perhaps many elderly people will suffer from such diseases, so we should guard against the occurrence of this disease as early as possible, maintain a good attitude, and do some common physical exercises in our spare time. Don’t wait until you are old to lament why you didn’t think about these when you were young. I hope that this can be taken seriously by everyone.