Most people describe three kinds of bowel activity: regular, diarrhea and constipation. Being regular is normal, everything else is not. That is true, except what is normal, every day, just like clockwork? Actually, it can vary in healthy individuals from three times a day to three times a week. The important thing is whether your bowel habits are consistent. To maintain normal bowel habits, remember the following: diet should be high in fiber (oat and wheat bran, beans, fruits and vegetables); get some sort of exercise; avoid routine use of laxatives and enemas; drink eight glasses of water a day and do not strain on the toilet.

     Diarrhea is loose; watery stools more than three times a day. It usually lasts one or two days and goes away. If it persists longer than that, dehydration can develop. Diarrhea can develop for a variety of reasons. Among those are: bacterial or viral infections (including food poisoning), food intolerance, reaction to medications, parasites and intestinal diseases. If a bout of diarrhea lasts longer than a couple of days, your health care professional should be consulted. If the person is elderly or a child, dehydration can develop rapidly and treatment is essential. If there is no improvement in one day, for this group, take them to their doctor. Foods to avoid during a bout of diarrhea are milk products: greasy, high-fiber and very sweet foods. Foods you can ease into your diet are soft-bland food like bananas, plain rice, boiled potatoes, toast, crackers, cooked carrots and baked chicken with no skin or fat. For children, remember BRAT, no offense intended. It stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast.

     On the other end of the continuum of bowel activity is constipation. The most common causes of constipation are poor diet and lack of exercise. A poor diet would be one that is too low in fiber, whole grains, bran, fruits and vegetables. Other causes can be not enough liquids, medications, laxative abuse, ignoring bowel movement urges, bowel and rectal conditions. As a person ages they may be less likely to choose the correct foods, perhaps opting for softer, low fiber foods due to dental problems or diminished appetite and taste. In addition, they may not drink enough water because they “don’t feel thirsty.”

     There are also several diseases that cause constipation: multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, stroke, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, thyroid, lupus and scleroderma, to name a few. Pregnant women have problems with constipation due to hormonal changes and the pressure of a growing uterus in the intestinal area.
As with most health problems, there can many reasons why they occur. Consequently, the best thing you can do is being aware of when you have a problem, be able to give a good history of how it started and its course. Tell your physician about the frequency of stools, consistency, color, blood, your dietary habits, medicines (including supplements) and physical activity. Tell her or him whether you experienced pain, where it was, how long it lasted and the intensity. Describe the intensity on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst. Remember, diarrhea or constipation is a symptom. The diagnosis names the condition that caused the symptom. Once that is determined, the two of you can develop your wellness plan. Do not forget there are other healthcare professionals that can give you further help you with your wellness plan. 

     Since diet is so important to maintain proper bowel function, consult with a Registered Dietitian about developing a good diet and making the best food choices for you and your family. The signs of bad diet and life style are showing up in young children, like plaque in the arteries and obesity. It is never too soon to make and teach the correct choices. 

© 2001 Joy B. Burch, RN All rights reserved

This is the last in a series of five articles about ignored health problems.