Consistent bowel movements indicate that your health is in its prime and all’s well on the inside. While some people poop multiple times a day, some others poop once in a couple of days. With so much discourse online about the safety and ideal frequency of passing bowels, we decided to get to the end of it!
In conversation with Dr Jatin Yegurla, consultant gastroenterologist, hepatologist, and advanced therapeutic endoscopist at Apollo Clinic Manikonda, found out the ideal number.
“It’s normal for some people to do this every day, others every other day, and still others once a week. People engage in this behavior at a wide range of frequencies. What’s considered normal for one is not so for another,” said Yegurla.
“If you pass three bowel movements a day, then that is alright so long as it is an established routine and all stools are well-formed. However, where all this happens out of the blue with discomfort, pain, or hardened mushy feces, then seeking the intervention of a healthcare professional may be necessary,” he explained.
In order to make sure you have in place, Dr Yegurla recommended these 5 lifestyle tweaks:
“Ingest a diet with lots of fiber that includes fruit, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains,” said Dr Yegurla, adding that people must drink plenty of water during the day so that stools can be soft and make the process of passing them easier. “One of the options is to think about the consumption of probiotics, chief examples of which are found in yogurt, sauerkraut, and kefir to name a few,” he added.
Consistent physical activity can keep your digestive system working well and increase your likelihood of going to the bathroom regularly.
“Make an effort to go to the bathroom at the same time each day. It will help if you train your body to pass stools consistently,” advised the doctor.
He shared that a person’s body reacts individually when exposed to various types of food, and adjustments should be made as appropriate, as some foods may also cause constipation or diarrhea.
“If you are under too much stress or anxiety, even your digestive system suffers. It is possible to reduce these symptoms when you learn meditation and find out how to relax through yoga. When you , go immediately rather than postponing it since delaying may cause constipation,” shared Dr Yegurla.
Dr Vikas Jindal, consultant, dept of gastroenterology, CK Birla Hospital, pointed out that if you happen to experience irregular bowel movements despite making these lifestyle changes, it may be indicative of underlying issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hypothyroidism, or a dietary imbalance.
“Seek medical advice if symptoms are accompanied by severe pain, blood in stools, or unexplained weight loss, as these could signal more serious conditions,” he advised.
Dr Rahul Dubbaka, Consultant, gastroenterology, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, , further mentioned that over-the-counter laxatives, bulk-forming agents, and stimulants are popular solutions to this problem nowadays. But while they can help relieve the condition, one should always use them with caution and only under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
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