Managing common digestive changes

Your digestive system usually runs quietly in the background. You eat food and digest it without much thought. But when bowel function speeds up (diarrhea) or slows down (constipation), it can be uncomfortable, inconvenient or even worrisome.

Normal bowel function is the regular passage of soft, formed stools. Proper bowel function is necessary to remove toxins from the body. There is no ideal number of bowel movements per day or week. The number of bowel movements that people experience depends on the individual, but it’s helpful to understand common bowel changes and how to manage them.

Constipation symptoms and treatments

The symptoms of constipation include having fewer than three bowel movements per week, feeling like you have to strain during bowel movements, and having small, hard stool.

What causes constipation? Common causes include:

• Eating at irregular times
• Eating irregular quantities
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not eating enough fiber (less than 25 grams per day)
• Taking certain medications (including some herbs or ayurvedics)

When you need constipation relief quickly, you can try these options:

• Laxatives: These medications help poop move more quickly through your system. Different types of laxatives work in different ways. Stool softeners, for example, add moisture to bowel movements so it’s softer and easier to pass. Stimulants like bisacodyl and sennosides make the intestinal walls tighten, forcing stool to move through the body.
• Suppository: This is a laxative medication that comes in a small tube-shaped object and is placed in the rectum.
• Enemas: This method helps you pass stool by gently irrigating the rectum with a fluid (such as water or mineral oil) via a small tube or catheter.

Diarrhea symptoms and treatments

Watery stool and frequent bowel movements are signs of diarrhea. Common causes of diarrhea include:

• Being lactose intolerant
• Eating excessively rich and/or spicy foods
• Excessive stress
• Having an infection, especially during or after travel
• Taking certain medications (including some herbs, ayurvedics and antibiotics)

So, how do you stop diarrhea? Diarrhea usually goes away on its own without treatment. The bigger risk is dehydration, because diarrhea saps the body of fluids. Be sure you’re drinking plenty of liquids to replace what you’ve lost. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, dairy, fatty foods, high-fiber foods and spicy foods for a few days. As you start eating foods, keep it bland with soda crackers, toast, rice or chicken.

When to see a doctor

Most constipation and diarrhea can be managed at home with time and over-the-counter products. If symptoms persist or you have any of the following additional symptoms, contact your doctor:

• Bloody poop
• Fever, chills and/or night sweats
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Reduced appetite
• Stomach pain
• Unexpected weight loss

Maintaining normal bowel function

Constipation and diarrhea are common conditions. To prevent them, it’s helpful to understand your body and avoid foods or behaviors that increase your risk of these conditions. In general, to maintain healthy bowel function:

• Drink plenty of water (at least eight glasses per day)
• Eat a high-fiber diet (at least 30 grams of fiber per day)
• Eat at about the same times each day
• Exercise daily, preferably at the same time
• Limit caffeine intake
• Try to poop around the same time each day

If the above strategies don’t work, your doctor may recommend other treatments for constipation or diarrhea. Pelvic muscle training can help you learn how to relax and coordinate the muscles in your pelvis to make bowel movements easier. Surgery may be recommended if there are problems in the colon or rectum causing your symptoms, but that’s uncommon.