It has not been shown to have a benefit on constipation, while potentially causing cardiac arrhythmias and deaths. Enemas
Enemas can be used to provide a form of mechanical stimulation. A large volume or high enema can be given to cleanse as much of the colon as possible of feces, and the solution administered commonly contains castile soap which irritates the colons lining resulting in increased urgency to defecate. However, a low enema is generally useful only for stool in the rectum, not in the intestinal tract. Physical intervention
Constipation that resists the above measures may require physical intervention such as manual disimpaction (the physical removal of impacted stool using the hands; see fecal impaction). Regular exercise
Regular exercise can help improve chronic constipation. Surgical intervention
In refractory cases, procedures can be performed to help relieve constipation. Sacral nerve stimulation has been demonstrated to be effective in a minority of cases. Colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis is another intervention performed only in patients known to have a slow colonic transit time and in whom a defecation disorder has either been treated or is not present. Because this is a major operation, side effects can include considerable abdominal pain, small bowel obstruction, and post-surgical infections. Furthermore, it has a very variable rate of success and is very case dependent. Prognosis
Complications that can arise from constipation include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, rectal prolapse, and fecal impaction. Straining to pass stool may lead to hemorrhoids. In later stages of constipation, the abdomen may become distended, hard and diffusely tender.
Many of those affected with the proximal limb weakness will eventually require assistive devices such as canes, braces or a wheelchair. As with all surgical procedures, they come with many risk factors. As the dysphagia becomes more severe, patients become malnourished, lose significant weight, become dehydrated and suffer from repeated incidents of aspiration pneumonia. These last two are often the cause of death. Epidemiology
The disease is found across 5 continents (30 countries) and is frequently seen in French Canadians, with a prevalence 1:1000. OPMD affects males and females equally, and affected individuals have been found in Europe (France), Jewish Ashkenazi, and Spanish Americans. See also
Muscular dystrophy
PABPN1

References
Further reading
Raz, Yotam; Raz, Vered (2014-01-01). "Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy as a paradigm for muscle aging". Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 6: 317. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2014.00317. PMC 4226162. PMID 25426070. Hill, M. E.; Creed, G. A.; McMullan, T. F. W.; Tyers, A. G.; Hilton-Jones, D.; Robinson, D. O.; Hammans, S. R. (1 March 2001). "Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy". Brain. 124 (3): 522–526. doi:10.1093/brain/124.3.522. ISSN 0006-8950. PMID 11222452. Gómez-Torres, Antonio; Abrante Jiménez, Antonio; Rivas Infante, Eloy; Menoyo Bueno, Alicia; Tirado Zamora, Isabel; Esteban Ortega, Francisco (November 2012). "Cricopharyngeal Myotomy in the Treatment of Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy". Acta Otorrinolaringologica (English Edition). 63 (6): 465–469. doi:10.1016/j.otoeng.2012.11.009. ISSN 2173-5735. PMID 22898142. Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy at NIHs Office of Rare Diseases


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