Magnesium and potassium, along with sodium and calcium, are examples of electrolytes that are present in the blood. Electrolytes help trigger and regulate electrical impulses in the heart and low levels of magnesium and potassium can lead to an electrolyte imbalance, which can contribute to arrhythmia.
Passing hard stools is usually as a result of constipation or the infrequent movement of the bowels. Most healthy people have at least three bowel movements per week, according to MedlinePlus. If you are unable to have a bowel movement or are having difficulty passing stool, contact your doctor.
One of the most common causes of fecal incontinence, constipation occurs when a stool becomes hard and gets lodged in the rectum. When this occurs, watery stool can leak out around the hard stool. Also, the constipation can cause the rectum walls to weaken, making it harder to control bowel movements. Finally, chronic constipation can cause the nerves of the rectum to become less responsive to the presence of feces, which allows it to leak out.