Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentPreventionComplicationsWhen to Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Prevention
Complications
When to Get Help
Frequently Asked Questions
The frequency of bowel movements varies between people, so what may be normal for one person may not necessarily be normal for another. If you have more than three solid bowel movements in a day, though, this can be considered frequent. Having three or more watery stools per day is considered diarrhea.
This article explains several possible causes of frequent bowel movements. It also covers how these causes may be treated, and ways to prevent frequent bowel movements.
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Typically, having more than three bowel movements a day is considered frequent.
If you are having fewer than three bowel movements per week, and those bowel movements consist of hard, dry stool, then you could be dealing with constipation.
In some cases, frequent bowel movements may also be referred to asdiarrhea. This is when you have three or more watery or loose stools per day.
Related Symptoms
Possible symptoms include:
There are a number ofpotential causes for frequent bowel movements. These can range from lifestyle factors, infections, side effects of medications, allergies, and underlying health conditions.
Lifestyle Factors
There are certain lifestyle factors that may contribute to more frequent bowel movements or diarrhea, including:
Virus or Infection
Food Allergies
Allergies to certain foods can cause frequent bowel movements or chronic diarrhea. Common food allergies that may cause this include:
Food Intolerance
Intolerances to certain foods and ingredients may also cause diarrhea.
For example, fructose is a type of sugar found in fruit, honey, and fruit juices. Some people have fructose intolerance and may notice frequent or diarrhea-like stools after eating or drinking anything that contains this type of sugar.
Lactose is another type of sugar found in dairy and milk products. Those who arelactose intolerantcan’t properly digest lactose due to a lack of a digestive enzyme called lactase. People with lactose intolerance may experience diarrhea as well as other symptoms like gas or bloating if they ingest lactose.
Some sweeteners may also cause frequent bowel movements in some people. These sugar-alcohols can commonly be found in sugar-free candy or gum and include:
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Diarrhea is the most common symptom of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Diseases that fall within the IBD definition includeCrohn’s diseaseandulcerative colitis.
In a flare-up of IBD, the intestinal lining is inflamed and can’t properly absorb fluid. This causes loose, watery stools that move through the colon more quickly and result in frequent bowel movements.
Many medications can cause diarrhea as a possible side effect, but there are certain medications that are more likely to cause frequent bowel movements. These include:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Symptoms
Other Health Conditions
There are numerous health conditions that can cause more frequent bowel movements or persistent diarrhea, including:
In most cases, frequent bowel movements or diarrhea will resolve within a few days without need for treatment.
If a certain condition is identified as the cause of frequent bowel movements, treating the underlying cause will help resolve digestive symptoms.
For those with IBS or IBD, this may involve changes to diet or taking prescription medications. For people with Celiac disease, following a strict gluten-free diet is recommended to prevent frequent bowel movements.
If a specific bacteria is identified as a cause of diarrhea, antibiotics may be prescribed.
There are certain preventative measures that can be taken to avoid diarrhea as a result of viruses and bacteria. These include:
Tips for preventing frequent bowel movements include:
If you have been diagnosed with a medical condition that causes diarrhea, follow your healthcare provider’s directions carefully to monitor and manage your condition.
Frequent bowel movements are not usually cause for concern, unless you are also experiencing pain, diarrhea, or other problematic symptoms.
If you are experiencing pain in addition to frequent bowel movements, and you have tried these remedies to no avail, then you should see a healthcare provider.
If your frequent bowel movements are loose and watery, then you likely have diarrhea. The main complication with diarrhea is dehydration due to fluid loss from the body. If you are experiencing diarrhea, you will need to drink extra water to replace the fluid lost.
If diarrhea persists, it can be difficult for the body to properly absorb nutrients. In some cases, persistent diarrhea can cause some people to develop lactose intolerance.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
In most cases, diarrhea only lasts for a few days then resolves on its own or with the help of medication.
However, there are some instances in which it is best to get medical attention. Call your healthcare provider if you have:
Additionally, if you are taking medication for a medical condition and develop diarrhea for no other known cause, let your healthcare provider know.
Summary
Frequently Asked QuestionsEvery person is different and there is no set number of bowel movements that should happen each day. The normal range is no more than three bowel movements a day and no less than three bowel movements a week.It can take a long time for food to be digested once swallowed. This is known as bowel transit time.The average bowel transit time in a person who isn’t constipated is 30 to 40 hours. So if you haven’t eaten in the last few hours and have a bowel movement, that may be because your body is still digesting food you ate earlier.A healthy bowel movement is typically considered brown in color with a mainly solid consistency.Ideally, a healthy stool should be sausage-shaped and smooth.
Every person is different and there is no set number of bowel movements that should happen each day. The normal range is no more than three bowel movements a day and no less than three bowel movements a week.
It can take a long time for food to be digested once swallowed. This is known as bowel transit time.The average bowel transit time in a person who isn’t constipated is 30 to 40 hours. So if you haven’t eaten in the last few hours and have a bowel movement, that may be because your body is still digesting food you ate earlier.
It can take a long time for food to be digested once swallowed. This is known as bowel transit time.
The average bowel transit time in a person who isn’t constipated is 30 to 40 hours. So if you haven’t eaten in the last few hours and have a bowel movement, that may be because your body is still digesting food you ate earlier.
A healthy bowel movement is typically considered brown in color with a mainly solid consistency.Ideally, a healthy stool should be sausage-shaped and smooth.
30 Sources
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