Is my bowel habit healthy?

Overview 

This week's newsletter will cover

• what a healthy bowel function looks like
• what symptoms can occur 
• when we should seek medical help for red flag symptoms 

We will finish with key points where physiotherapy can help. 

So grab a quiet spot and your favourite drink and read on…

 Healthy bowel: did you know…

• Healthy is NOT 1 x day for all. Healthy is a range…  
• It is healthy to go to the toilet for a bowel movement anything between 3 x day to every 3 days
• A healthy habit is more to do with the quality of the bowel movement and what is normal for you.
• Healthy is sitting fully on the toilet and passing a good quality bowel motion with minimal effort, full control and having a pleasant feeling of satisfaction afterwards, (indicating emptying of your rectum).
• Straining / effort to pass bowel motions IS NOT normal and can lead to hemorrhoids, prolapse and changes to the inner walls of your bowel. 

 

You can book a FEMALE PELVIC HEALTH appointment with JODIE HERE

Further interesting facts:

From plate to porcelain:

from eating your food to passing it as stool takes between 16-59 hours,

• Oesophagus 3 seconds​ 
• Stomach 1-3 hours​,
• Small intestine 3-8 hours​
• Colon (large intestine) 12-48 hours

 

Length of the digestive tract

The digestive system is like a long sausage making machine with various processes along the way.

Small bowel - more than 6 metres

Large bowel - more than 1 metre

Rectum - 12-5cm

 

What are the common symptoms that can occur if we do NOTHING…

  

Anal Incontinence:

Anal incontinence is leakage from the back passage without control. It includes leakage of wind and / or liquid or solid stool.

11-12% of the population suffer with leakage of solid stool

50% of nursing home residents suffer the same

Main risk factors include: Age, menopause, lifestyle, childbirth, surgery, trauma, neurological conditions. 

 

Constipation:

Possible signs include: fewer than 3 bowel movements per week, passing hard, dry, lumpy motions, experiencing pain or difficulty during bowel movements, or feeling like the bowel hasn't been fully emptied. 

Approx. 33% of adults suffer with constipation.

Women are twice as likely as men, and 1 in 3 children will be affected by it.

 Main risk factors include: Age, lifestyle, activity level, diet, fluids, medications, mental health, neurological conditions. 

 

Irritable Bowel Symptoms:

Possible signs include: loose, runny stools with urgency and frequent toilet trips, or firm hard stools with straining, difficulty passing or emptying motions. Some will have a combination of both. Bloating and discomfort are also common, along with fatigue, nausea, back ache and excess wind. 

>18%% of the population lives with IBS and it can be one of 3 categories:

IBS - C Constipation predominant 

IBS - D Diarrhoea predominant

IBS - M Mixed presentation

Risk factors include: age (20-40), poor sleep, stress, family history, psychological factors, infection, inactivity, poor gut microbiome. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer with IBS. 

 

Runners Trots:

You may have heard of runners trots, but this can apply during any type of repetitive exercise. It present with needing to go to the toilet for a bowel movement when exercising and can be very frustrating!

 Up to 30-50% of runners will experience symptoms of gastric distress during a run

 Risk factors include: diet, fluids, dehydration, overhydration, anxiety, medication, underlying conditions. 

 

How can Physiotherapy help me?

• Optimise pelvic floor: release / relaxation / strengthening / functional training / control and awareness
• Pelvic floor additional treatment (e.g. biofeedback or stimulation)
• Bowel retraining and toilet techniques
• Diet (type of food, timing and fibre)
• Fluids (hydration levels, irritants and stimulants)
• Lifestyle
• Stress and anxiety management
• Activity: functional specific advice or training
• Devices (to help control or empty the bowel)

 

 

"It is health that is real wealth & not pieces of gold and silver"

Mahatma Ghandi

 

 

Here at Blizard Physiotherapy we want to empower you with the education and knowledge specific to you and your symptoms. We will tailor a program of education and treatment to help keep your body and mind active, confident and engaged to allow you to GET active, STAY active and AGE active. 

We encourage you to spread the word to your families, your friends, your daughters and your sisters. The time to invest in our health and our body is NOW. Join us in our mission to live our best life. 

 

 

When should I be worried about my bowel and see a doctor?

We cannot talk about bowels without mentioning cancer and what to look out for.

54% of bowel cancer cases are preventable. A FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) is a bowel cancer screening test offered to all adults from 50 via the NHS. 

There are 120 new cases of bowel cancer per day in the UK

Bowel cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in women and men

Some of the following symptoms can be explained by examination and tests to rule out sinister cause, but it is always best to seek advise if you do suffer with:

• Blood in your stools
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unexplained change to your bowel habit for > 3 weeks
• Extreme fatigue / tiredness
• Abdominal pain or lump  

 

Jodie our new clinical lead in Pelvic Health brings 18 years of experience of improving the lives of women living with sensitive issues such as pain, prolapse, urinary leakage, bowel leakage and sexual dysfunction. Her experience comes from working as a Clinical Specialist in Female Pelvic Health in the NHS and as clinical educator to Midwives, GP’s, Physiotherapists, Consultants and Registrars in all aspects of pelvic health.

 

Need help right now?

Book a FEMALE PELVIC HEALTH appointment with JODIE HERE