Because constipation is a common symptom with different severity, most people often don't pay special attention to it, thinking that constipation is not a disease and doesn't need treatment, but it is actually very harmful. First of all, constipation affects the physical and mental health of the elderly. Habitual constipation and persistent constipation bring pain to the elderly, such as loss of appetite, fatigue, dizziness, headache, listlessness, restlessness and insomnia. Some elderly people take irritating laxatives for a long time, which makes it difficult to take them again in the later stage, and they have to rely on enema to defecate, which is more painful and anxious. Second, constipation aggravates the condition of the elderly. Elderly patients with emphysema and cor pulmonale often cough worse because of constipation; Elderly people suffering from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as hypertension, arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease often suffer from acute cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral hemorrhage due to excessive defecation, abdominal pressure or constipation, and sudden increase in blood pressure. Third, constipation can induce malignant lesions of colon. Constipation can obviously prolong the time of feces passing through the intestine, increase the concentration of various malignant substances in the intestine and prolong the contact time with colon mucosa. Long-term contact between malignant substances and colonic mucosa is easy to make colon malignant. Therefore, long-term constipation may increase the potential risk of colon cancer in the elderly. Fourth, constipation is easy to induce diverticulosis, and the tension of gastrointestinal smooth muscle in the elderly is weakened. Excessive defecation increases the pressure between the intestinal cavity and the abdominal wall, and the weak part of the intestinal wall bulges out, which can lead to diverticulum. Fifth, constipation is prone to intestinal obstruction caused by fecal obstruction. Intestinal motor function in the elderly is weakened. When constipation occurs, feces stay in the intestine for a long time, which leads to the formation of fecal stones. If fecal stones accumulate too much, it will lead to obstructive intestinal obstruction. Sixth, constipation can cause proctoptosis and hemorrhoids. The elderly are weak and the pelvic muscles are slack. Constipation in the elderly can easily lead to rectal prolapse, that is, proctoptosis, which can also cause the attack and aggravation of hemorrhoids. Seventh, constipation can lead to arrhythmia or myocardial infarction. Constipated elderly people, sudden exertion during defecation can also cause negative pressure increase, mental tension and stress reaction, cause temporary myocardial ischemia, lead to arrhythmia or myocardial infarction or even sudden death. Constipation brings a lot of harm to the elderly. Therefore, constipation in the elderly should be treated as soon as possible, and safe and effective drugs should be selected to avoid serious consequences caused by constipation.