The importance of regular bowel movements

It may not be a pleasant topic to talk about, but bowel regularity plays a crucial role in your overall health.

How often people have bowel movements varies widely, but doctors consider anything between three bowel movements per day and three per week.

be normal. This means that one person’s “normal” might mean another’s constipation.

Regardless of how often you normally have bowel movements, it is important to have them regularly. If you don’t have one for several days, digestive waste can back up into your intestines and possibly damage your organs.

On the other hand, prolonged diarrhea can cause

dehydration. This can be serious for children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

Intestinal mechanics

Stools are the end product of

digestionthe process by which your body breaks down food into nutrients it can use and gets rid of waste it can’t.

Your small intestine (or

small intestine) breaks down partially digested food that comes from your stomach into liquid and absorbs most of its nutrients. This leaves liquid waste that moves through your large intestine (or

large intestine), which breaks it down, absorbs the water, turns it into stool and moves it into your rectum.

Your intestines keep your digestive process moving by contracting. How often they contract determines how often you have a bowel movement.

• When your intestines contract too frequently, your large intestine does not have enough time to absorb water from the liquid waste it receives from your small intestine. He also doesn’t have time to shape waste. The result is loose, watery stools associated with

diarrhea.

• When your intestines don’t contract frequently enough, liquid waste from your small intestine moves too slowly through your large intestine. This causes your large intestine to absorb more water from waste than normal. When this happens, you pass the

hard, dry stools

associated to

constipation.

Causes of irregularity

Conditions that may cause

constipation

include:

• Intestinal blockage
• Neurological problems, such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis
• Pelvic floor dysfunction

Dietary causes

Constipation problems include not eating enough fiber or drinking enough water, as well as eating too much sugar and animal fat. Constipation can also be caused by certain medications, including laxatives, if you use them too often. Not getting enough exercise and not relieving yourself when you need to can also lead to constipation.

Common causes of diarrhea

include:

• Digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease.
• Viruses and bacteria
• Parasites
• Food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance
• Drugs
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Specific sugars, such as fructose
• Too much coffee

Constipation and diarrhea can sometimes be the result of a serious medical problem. If you have prolonged or recurring attacks, you should consult a healthcare professional.