Bowel Movements | BM | MedlinePlus

Also called: BM, Feces, Poop, Stool

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A bowel movement is the last stop in the movement of food through your digestive tract. Your stool passes out of your body through the rectum and anus. Another name for stool is feces. It is made of what is left after your digestive system (stomach, small intestine, and colon) absorbs nutrients and fluids from what you eat and drink.

Sometimes a bowel movement isn’t normal. Diarrhea happens when stool passes through the large intestine too quickly. Constipation occurs when stool passes through the large intestine too slowly. Bowel incontinence is a problem controlling your bowel movements. Other abnormalities with bowel movements may be a sign of a digestive problem.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• Bowel Retraining: Strategies for Establishing Bowel Control

  (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)

• Elimination Problems or Constipation

  (American Academy of Family Physicians)

  Also in Spanish

• Normal Function of the Colon

  (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)

• Bacteria Culture Test

  (National Library of Medicine)

  Also in Spanish

• Magnetic Resonance (MR) Defecography

  (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America)

  Also in Spanish

• Stool Color: When to Worry

  (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

  Also in Spanish

• Biofeedback and Bowel Disorders: Teaching Yourself to Live without the Problem

  (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)

• Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence)

  (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

  Also in Spanish

• Frequent Bowel Movements

  (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

  Also in Spanish

• Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Expanded Version

  (American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons)

• Prevalence of Bowel Incontinence

  (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)

• ClinicalTrials. gov: Defecation

  (National Institutes of Health)

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Feces

  (National Institutes of Health)

• Article: Circulation and colonisation of Blastocystis subtypes in schoolchildren of various ethnicities. ..

• Article: Defecation enhances cerebral perfusion and delays fatigue in elite triathletes.

• Article: Open defaecation by proxy: Tackling the increase of disposable diapers in. ..

• Bowel Movement — see more articles

• American College of Gastroenterology

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• Constipation and Fecal Soiling

  (North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition)

  – PDF

• Elimination Problems or Constipation in Infants and Children

  (American Academy of Family Physicians)

  Also in Spanish

Causes and when to see a doctor

Bowel habits vary from person to person. However, sudden changes can indicate an underlying health condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

For some people, having one bowel movement a day is normal. For others, having several bowel movements a day or one every 2 days is normal. There is no set healthy pattern.

However, significant changes in the frequency or the appearance can indicate a problem, particularly when these changes occur with other issues, such as diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pain.

This article investigates what can cause changes in bowel movements and when to see a healthcare professional. It also describes how doctors reach a diagnosis and the treatments.

This long-term health condition affects the digestive system. The medical community is still unsure of the exact causes, but digestive problems and increased sensitivity within the gut may be involved.

People with IBS experience a range of digestive symptoms, including:

• abdominal cramps and pain
• diarrhea
• constipation
• bloating
• gas

Learn more about IBS.

Crohn’s disease is a type of IBD. It can cause inflammation in any part of the digestive tract, but it most commonly affects the small intestine and the start of the large intestine, or colon.

Crohn’s is generally a lifelong condition, and its symptoms can include:

• diarrhea
• abdominal cramps and pain
• bloody stools
• fatigue
• sudden urges to have a bowel movement
• constipation
• weight loss

Learn more about Crohn’s disease.

Ulcerative colitis is another type of IBD, and it also tends to last a lifetime. It causes inflammation and ulcers to develop along the lining of the colon and rectum.

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis can include:

• diarrhea
• stools that contain blood or mucus
• abdominal cramps or pain
• strong, frequent urges to have a bowel movement
• fatigue
• weight loss
• anemia

Learn more about ulcerative colitis.

The thyroid gland releases hormones to control a range of processes in the body, including growth and metabolism.

Hypothyroidism involves the thyroid not producing enough hormones, or being “underactive.”

In addition to constipation, hypothyroidism can cause:

• fatigue
• sensitivity to temperature
• lethargy
• weight gain
• dry skin

Learn more about hypothyroidism.

Celiac disease is also a lifelong condition. It occurs when gluten in the diet causes digestive problems. Gluten is a type of protein in wheat, rye, and barley.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, around 2 million people in the United States have celiac disease, and many are unaware of it.

Doctors are unsure what causes this condition, but they believe that it stems from a problem with the immune system. It can sometimes run in families.

Symptoms of celiac disease can include:

• diarrhea
• abdominal cramps and pain
• bloating
• upset stomach
• constipation
• gas

Learn more about celiac disease.

Colon, rectal, and colorectal cancer are types of bowel cancer. The name describes where the cancer first develops.

Symptoms of bowel cancer can include:

• blood in stools
• persistent changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation
• abdominal pain or cramps
• rectal bleeding
• the urge to have a bowel movement, even after having one
• bloating
• fatigue and weakness
• weight loss

It is important to note that many less severe health conditions can cause these symptoms. In most cases, the cause is something other than cancer.

Learn more about bowel cancer.

Seek professional guidance if any change in bowel movements has persisted for more than a few days. Even minor changes, such as constipation or diarrhea, can indicate a health issue.

If more severe symptoms occur, consult a healthcare professional immediately. These can include:

• blood, mucus, or pus in stool
• severe abdominal cramps or pain
• severe diarrhea that lasts more than a day
• dizziness or confusion
• persistent nausea or vomiting

First, a healthcare professional reviews a person’s symptoms and medical history. This also involves asking about the frequency and consistency of bowel movements.

They may need a blood or stool sample. For example, a blood test can indicate inflammation or help rule out certain diagnoses.

The healthcare professional may also request:

• Imaging tests: These might include X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds. They can help show irregularities and signs of damage in the internal organs.
• Fecal immunochemical testing: This is a noninvasive screening for colon disease. A healthcare professional collects and tests a sample of stool.
• An endoscopy: This involves inserting a thin tube with a light and camera attached down the throat and into the digestive tract to look for signs of a health problem.
• A colonoscopy: This involves inserting a thin tube with a light and camera attached into the rectum to check for problems along the colon.
• A sigmoidoscopy: This involves inserting a thin tube with a light and camera attached into the rectum to check for problems with the sigmoid colon, the section closest to the rectum.

Everyone’s bowel habits are different, and temporary changes are usually nothing to worry about.

However, persistent or severe changes can indicate an underlying health problem, especially when additional symptoms occur. IBS, IBD, thyroid problems, celiac disease, and cancer can all cause persistent bowel issues.

If bowel-related changes last for more than a few days, contact a healthcare professional. Seek immediate medical attention for severe symptoms, such as blood or mucus in stools, intense pain or cramping, or persistent nausea or vomiting.

signs, causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention

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3. Gastroenterologist

Not only elderly people complain about the lack of normal regular stools, but also young patients. This problem also occurs in children. This violation of regular bowel movements is called constipation. Unfortunately, not always the victims themselves attach serious importance to constipation. Many try to correct the situation with the help of folk methods, which only help for a short time, and then everything repeats again.

There are many reasons for stool retention, but only an experienced gastroenterologist can understand this issue. Clinic “Edkar” in Kaliningrad is a modern multidisciplinary medical facility, equipped with the latest technology. A friendly team of the best specialists daily provides assistance to dozens of residents of the region.

General information

Constipation can be considered the absence of a bowel movement for two days. Also, incomplete bowel movement refers to this type of disorder. Constipation can be situational (episodic) and chronic.

• The first type of disorder is observed in people with an unstable psycho-emotional background. They elementarily restrain the urge to empty the intestines in an inappropriate environment: for example, while traveling. When the situation changes, there is a productive transit of feces. Situational constipation affects people who drink little and eat solid foods. This type of constipation is not considered a pathology.
• The chronic lack of normal bowel movements causes real suffering to patients. Firstly, the accumulation of feces causes intoxication of the body, therefore, the general condition of a person worsens. The second negative quality of systematic constipation is that over time they steadily lead to serious complications.

Good to know: chronic constipation accelerates the aging process.

Signs of constipation

Not all stool retention is constipation. The diagnosis takes into account the nature and frequency of emptying. The main signs of constipation:

• Fecal mass less than 0.3 kg in 3 days.
• Delayed normal emptying over two days.
• Difficulty defecation.
• Feeling of incomplete emptying after going to the toilet.
• Dry feces in the form of hard lumps.

People prone to constipation usually have a combination of all of the above. But even the presence of one of them may indicate a serious problem.

Causes of irregular stools

The main cause of constipation is functional disorders of the intestines. In this part of the gastrointestinal tract, the process of converting food debris into feces occurs. If the intestines work normally, nothing prevents the act of defecation. With weak motor skills, which is often observed in older patients, emptying is difficult. In addition, over the years, the sensitivity of receptors in the rectum decreases. For this reason, more pressure is required to form the urge. The following reasons can also provoke constipation:

• false shame when a person is in unusual conditions;
• lack of daily bowel habit;
• suppression of the urge to defecate, which occurs with anal fissures and hemorrhoids;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• eating dry protein foods;
• endocrine pathologies;
• tumor formation;
• taking certain medicines;
• atherosclerosis of intestinal vessels;
• stressful situations;
• weakening of the pelvic floor muscles.

Shift work and frequent use of laxatives contribute to the development of chronic constipation. Stool retention is one of the main clinical signs of irritable bowel syndrome.

Symptoms of constipation

Clinical manifestations of systemic constipation are very diverse. But the most common scenarios can be given:

• The frequency of stools is 2-3 per week.
• Stool hard in the form of lumps or balls.
• Flatulence almost always accompanies constipation.
• Sometimes there is a so-called “constipation diarrhea” when the feces are mixed with a lot of mucus.
• Decreased appetite or complete refusal to eat.
• Belching with bad taste.
• Abdominal heaviness and pain.
• Deterioration of the skin: it becomes pale and flabby, pimples appear.

In people suffering from systematic constipation, sleep worsens, they become apathetic or, on the contrary, get irritated over trifles.

With a sharp deterioration in the patient’s well-being and the appearance of blood in the stool, there is reason to suspect the presence of complications.

Complications

Systemic constipation is a very serious problem that requires the intervention of a gastroenterologist in Kaliningrad. Sometimes the patient’s condition requires surgical intervention due to the development of intestinal obstruction. Intestinal volvulus is another common complication of constipation.

Permanent constipation significantly impairs the quality of life and adversely affects a person’s professional activities.

Diagnosis

Prolonged absence of normal bowel movements requires careful diagnosis. At the first stage, the gastroenterologist collects an anamnesis, examines the patient. Taking into account his complaints and clinical manifestations, instrumental types of examination are prescribed:

• Radiography of the large intestine gives a visual picture that allows the doctor to assess the width of the lumen and identify tumors.
• Colonoscopy is a modern method of endoscopic examination, and if necessary, the doctor can take material for histology.
• Anorectal Manometry is another advanced method for measuring rectal and pelvic floor muscle tone.
• Defecography is performed to assess evacuation function.

In addition to instrumental procedures, a number of laboratory tests are performed: coprogram, fecal occult blood test.

Treatment of constipation

Depending on the identified cause of constipation, the doctor prescribes treatment. But the basis of any treatment regimen is proper nutrition. No less important is the way of life. If the patient spends most of his time sitting at his desk, wakes up late, and then runs to work, swallowing a sandwich on the go, no medication will help him. Of course, one cannot do without medications for chronic constipation, but they are used to relieve unpleasant symptoms.

Prevention

In principle, in case of systemic bowel problems, prevention consists in lifestyle modification.

1. First of all, you need to fix the power supply. Supplement your diet with fiber-rich foods. These are fruits and vegetables, bread, cereals.
2. Water balance should also be changed, as lack of fluid provokes constipation.
3. Physical activity. Moderate exercise is beneficial even for the elderly. Working on the site or a regular half-hour walk improves blood circulation and increases muscle tone.
4. Massage will help the intestines to clear regularly. The procedure is best performed after waking up before breakfast. It is necessary to massage the stomach in a clockwise direction.
5. Don’t eat too much at night, because the intestines also need rest. Dinner should be light and well absorbed by the digestive tract.

The gastroenterologist will give more detailed recommendations to the patient after the examination. This event at the Edkar clinic will not take much time. There are no queues and the atmosphere is always friendly. Therefore, not only those who live in Kaliningrad, but also patients from other regions of the country and even foreign citizens often turn to us for help.

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Constipation | Blog “Health Plus”

Constipation is a problem that most Russians bashfully keep silent about, but, meanwhile, it happens to almost every person. There are tools that allow you to get rid of this problem once and for all, or at least make it easier to solve it.

Constipation can have a variety of causes. Let’s name the main ones:

• use of certain medications;
• pregnancy;
• injury or disease of the spine;
• hormonal changes;
• malnutrition, combined with a lack of fiber in it;
• pelvic floor dysfunction.

Constipation is also experienced by patients with the following conditions:

• hypothyroidism;
• anal fissure;
• bowel cancer;
• hemorrhoids;
• diverticulitis;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• depression, stress;
• Hirschsprung’s disease, etc.

Before talking about treatment, it is worth finding out under which bowel habits a person can be diagnosed with constipation. Many people empty their bowels daily – this is the norm. Others seriously “communicate” with the toilet only 3-4 times a week. Is it constipation? According to doctors, you can talk about constipation if you have bowel movements less than three times a week.

The main sign of constipation is difficulty in emptying the bowels. It is difficult for a person to go to the toilet, he has to make some efforts. Also, experts point to another symptom of constipation – a feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestines, when a person seems to have gone to the toilet, but it seems to him that the stomach is “full”. These signs indicate the presence of atonic constipation. There is also spastic constipation, in which a spasm occurs in any of the sections of the intestine. The person also complains of flatulence, abdominal pain, bloating.

Chronic constipation may cause heartburn, insomnia and poor appetite. Chronic constipation exhausts a person, and as a result, most patients suffering from problems with bowel movements constantly experience irritation, depression, anxiety. In some cases, a person, exhausted by constipation, has tantrums, obsessions.

The older the person, the more often he has constipation, which is explained by a decrease in physical activity. In older people, there is often a lack of fluid in the body, which also provokes constipation. However, young people are also susceptible to this condition. So, almost always pregnancy is accompanied by constipation, while the woman’s stomach rumbles. By the way, to solve the problem of constipation during pregnancy is quite simple.