How often should adults have stool?

The intestine is one of the main human organs. It performs vital functions: digests food, absorbs water and nutrients, forms and removes feces, provides protection against infectious agents and food allergens. Any malfunctions in its work affect a person’s well-being and negatively affect the general condition. An important indicator of organ health is regular cleansing.

The norm for bowel movements for adults is 1-2 times daily or every other day. These are averages. Some people feel great and do not experience digestive problems with a bowel movement frequency of once every three days. Others experience discomfort when stool is retained for only a few hours. Each organism is unique, so it is important to listen to yourself and not ignore signs of failure.

What is normal stool?

Normally, bowel movements occur regularly and without long straining. After excretion of feces, the urge completely disappears, there is no discomfort. Other indicators of normal digestion:

• daily amount of feces - 150-400 g,
• easy painless bowel movement,
• decorated cylindrical chair, 70% water,
• no strong unpleasant odor,
• stool acidity 6.8-7.6 pH.

If stool is delayed for 3 days or more, the urge to go to the toilet becomes frequent and painful, gas formation has increased and abdominal pain appears, measures must be taken to restore the normal frequency of bowel movements. To do this you need:

• adhere to the principles of proper nutrition - enrich your daily diet with fiber and drink at least 1.5-2 liters of liquid;
• take laxatives.

For chronic constipation, consultation with a gastroenterologist is necessary. The specialist will conduct a diagnosis, determine the cause of prolonged stool retention and prescribe effective treatment to bring bowel function back to normal.

How to get rid of constipation

Knowing these causes of constipation, you can create a personal program for yourself on how to deal with them. Well, what if it doesn’t give results? In this case, it is permissible to resort to laxatives with a suitable mechanism of action:

Being constipated during pregnancy

Constipation during pregnancy can have several causes. Hormonal changes are mainly responsible. During pregnancy, hormones are produced and can relax certain muscles, including those that remove stool from the digestive tract. Iron overload, very common in pregnant women, can be a common cause of constipation.

If we compare our health to a knitted chair, we must definitely find out which legs depend on its stability. The human body is a perfect machine, built from individual interconnected components. For this machine to work, we must cooperate. Like everything created by nature, the human body is a well-compressed mechanism that works on certain principles. Any deviation from the principles leads to a distortion of the balance and, therefore, to a certain response - a response from our body.

• causing chemical irritation of intestinal receptors: bisacodyl; Castor oil; anthraglycosides of rhubarb root, buckthorn bark, joster fruit, senna leaves, sabur;
• increasing the volume of feces: lactulose; saline laxatives; flax-seed; agar-agar; kelp;
• softening stool: Vaseline, almond, olive and other vegetable oils help with constipation.

Treatment and prevention of postoperative constipation is carried out mainly by ensuring plenty of fluids and prescribing laxatives that stimulate bowel function. Treatment of constipation that occurs immediately after surgery should be consulted with the attending surgeon.

First foot: alkaline acid balance or nothing new under the sun

This is to show that if you want a healthy body and an unshakable jersey chair, you need to maintain its foundation

What remains, however, somewhat misunderstood is that achieving an optimal balance is not difficult, but a task of paramount importance.

Acidity is measured on a scale from 0 to. Not to be outdone, we will find that the pH of urine fluctuates between 0 and 5, and that of saliva - 8. In today's hectic daily life, tension, lack of a balanced diet and sugar temptations on all sides, there is a general increase in acidity. High acidity is associated with low oxygen content. For our cells, the presence of oxygen is extremely important. Unlike pathogenic microorganisms and cancer cells, which live perfectly well without oxygen.

The effect of laxatives depends on the drug, its dose and individual sensitivity. For spastic constipation, antispasmodics are used.

When there is no bowel movement for 2-3 days, and diet and laxative medications for constipation do not help, you can give a cleansing enema. To prevent feces from damaging the intestinal mucosa, 2-3 tablespoons should be added to the water used for the enema. Water for enemas does not have to be boiled; it can be ordinary tap water. Its temperature should be room temperature or 20-36 degrees Celsius. Enema volume is from 0.5 to 1 liter.

In fact, you may have heard lately that unless cancer is caused by something external like a bullet, it is not a disease, but a lifestyle choice. In other words, cancer cells infect organisms that are highly acidic or where the pH is not on the other hand, acidity reduces oxygen in the blood and tissues, which leads to metabolic problems, logically problems with blood pressure and a weakened immune system.

Let's also look at another aspect on the same side of the coin. High acidity = low alkalinity

During work, metabolism, etc. our body produces heartburn. To get rid of our body, we need alkaline elements that bind to acids and neutralize them. When there is a deficiency of alkaline elements, natural acidity increases. As we have already said, the acidity of the blood must remain constant, and in order to maintain this value within certain limits, our body begins to “take” alkaline elements from tissues, organs and bones.

and is more dangerous not only due to intoxication, but also due to the formation of fecal plugs. They tightly clog the intestinal passage and feces stop coming out even partially. The complete absence of stool during such a long period of stagnation is fraught with serious consequences.

Restoring defecation correctly

According to statistics, bowel movements are disrupted in 30-50% of people. Deviation from the norm leads to constipation and deterioration of well-being. To restore normal bowel function and speed up the excretion of feces, experts advise using pharmaceutical drugs.

Laxatives for older people, pregnant and lactating women should be chosen especially carefully. A high-quality product does not contain senna and other dangerous ingredients, does not cause side effects and is suitable for long-term use. Fitomucil norm meets these criteria.

The biocomplex with the shell of plantain seeds and the pulp of plum fruits is effective, but gentle. The active substances in the composition stimulate peristalsis and promote easy bowel movements. If you follow the rules of administration, the laxative relieves constipation within 12-48 hours.

How to take the product correctly, read the attached instructions. Before use, consult a gastroenterologist.

When talking about diarrhea

It is important to differentiate between normal stool and diarrhea at any age. In adults, this usually does not cause difficulties, while in children of the first year of life, diarrhea is not always recognized on time due to the physiological characteristics of the stool.

With diarrhea, there is a change in the frequency, quantity and quality of stool. If a person has bowel movements several times a day, you should find out whether this is an individual feature, or whether the nature of bowel movements has changed recently. With certain dietary habits and normal stool in an adult, stool may be semi-formed and repeated. This will not lead to a deterioration in a person’s general well-being or a deficiency of nutrients, vitamins, water and minerals. Only when there is a pathological disturbance of the usual character of stool do we speak of diarrhea.

When diagnosing diarrhea syndrome, the WHO (World Health Organization) recommendations are taken into account, according to which it is necessary to focus on the number of bowel movements per day, the quantity and consistency of stool. All other characteristics are optional. These additional characteristics vary depending on the etiological (causal) factor and mechanism of development of diarrhea.

Determination of various stool parameters often allows for differential diagnosis of diseases with diarrheal syndrome even before obtaining laboratory test data.

Stool disorders and their causes

In medicine, cases have been recorded when the intestinal mucosa was damaged under the influence of its contents. The person was diagnosed with peritonitis, which was fatal.

Many disorders are the result of serious pathologies. Any disease requires the attention of an experienced doctor. After a medical examination and based on test results, he will make an accurate diagnosis.

Provoking factors:

• diseases of a gastroenterological and proctological nature;
• the development of inflammatory and ulcerative processes affecting the stomach, intestines, liver and bile ducts;
• intestinal infection, helminths;
• hemorrhoids or anal fissures;
• paraproctitis;
• colon prolapse;
• chronic pathological processes in the stomach and intestines.

The development of malignant cells can cause pain and difficulty in excreting feces. Persistent constipation, when a person cannot go to the toilet for a long time, is caused by diseases of a psychoneurological or vertebroneurological nature.

Against the background of developing pathological processes, muscle tone and intestinal motility are disrupted. Problems in the functioning of the neural conduction system are diagnosed.

Causes of diarrhea

In most cases, problems with bowel movements occur due to poor nutrition. But the constant nature of the disturbances indicates the development of a serious pathology. The main causes of diarrhea are:

1. Infection in the intestines. Food poisoning or salmonellosis, cholera.
2. Autoimmune pathologies of the digestive system.
3. Cancerous tumors in the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Pancreatitis in the chronic stage. The pathology is accompanied by insufficient production of enzymes that are necessary for the proper digestive process.

Irritable bowel syndrome may be the cause of abnormal bowel movements. The nervous regulation of the digestive organs is disrupted.

Causes of constipation

Rare bowel movements are observed after eating foods with large amounts of fats and refined sugar.

The diet should contain vegetables and fruits with fiber of plant origin. They facilitate the movement of food through the stomach and intestines. Thanks to them, feces are formed.

Other causes of infrequent bowel movements:

1. Low fluid consumption.
2. Irritable bowel syndrome. During spasms of its walls, the movement of feces slows down. This is how a person develops constipation.
3. Rarely visiting the toilet. Many people ignore the urge to defecate when they are busy at work or avoid going to the public toilet. After a while they become constipated.
4. Laxatives in large quantities. When the intestines become accustomed to medications, their walls stop contracting, leading to constipation.
5. Disturbed hormonal levels. For example, problems with the thyroid gland. A decrease in the production of its hormones leads to the development of hypothyroidism. When hormonal imbalances occur, people diagnosed with diabetes and pregnant women suffer from constipation.
6. Pathologies associated with the functioning of the nervous system. This also applies to the spinal cord and its damage. Patients with multiple sclerosis, malignant neoplasms, and after stroke attacks complain of constipation.
7. Diseases that disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. We are talking about stomach and duodenal ulcers, chronic pancreatitis.
8. Vascular atherosclerosis. Pathological processes disrupt the functioning of the circulatory system in the intestinal area. Its peristalsis and movement of contents slows down.
9. Hemorrhoids, anal fissures. Defecation is disrupted and spasm of the rectal sphincter occurs.

Problems with bowel movements occur due to mechanical obstructions. There may be tumors, adhesions or scars in the lumen of the colon.

Treatment of loose stools with folk remedies

Oak bark infusion:

1. Buy oak bark at any pharmacy.
2. Take 2 teaspoons of the medicine for a glass of boiling water.
3. Leave for 1 hour, strain.

Take a tablespoon throughout the day. The entire prepared broth should be finished within this day; there is no need to prepare it additionally.

Rice water:

1. Boil 4 cups of water and add tbsp. l. regular rice.
2. Cook the decoction over moderate heat for 40 minutes.
3. Cool and strain.

Take half a glass every 2-3 hours.

Pomegranate peels:

1. Grind the pre-dried pomegranate peels using a coffee grinder and add boiled water.
2. For 200 ml of boiling water you will need 1 dessert spoon of dry plant material.
3. Place the container in a water bath and cook for twenty minutes. After this, leave for another 35 minutes.

Take one large spoon 4-5 times/day.

Dill seeds:

1. Take 2 dessert spoons of the previously indicated raw material and brew it in 400 ml of boiling water.
2. Let it brew for an hour, strain.

Take 100 ml three times a day. It is advisable to do this before starting a meal.

Potato starch:

1. Brew tsp. semicircular cooled water (it must first be boiled).
2. Mix the composition thoroughly. Drink in one go.

This solution works great for diarrhea.

Why is “normal” constipation dangerous?

Stool retention is not so harmless. Constipation is the cause of many health problems:

1. Hemorrhoids worsen, anal fissures appear, and the risk of rectal prolapse is increased - in 7 out of every 10 patients.
2. A dysfunction appears - irritable bowel syndrome.
3. There are predisposing factors to the development of colitis and allergies.
4. The body does not receive the necessary vitamins and minerals.
5. The patient becomes irritable, suffers from depression and neurosis.
6. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a common concern.

• diverticulosis of the colon (protrusion and thinning of the intestinal wall) and its complications, up to intestinal perforation and peritonitis - in every fifth
• Intestinal polyps are found in every tenth person
• Colon and rectal cancer affects every 20th person.

Do not take it to extremes - treat constipation in a timely manner.

If you want to get rid of constipation, you shouldn’t overeat, eat fast food and drink it with soda, sit in the office for days, be nervous and not sleep all night long. The intestines “love” proper food, regularity in its intake - 3-4 times a day, and a calm environment, without extremes.

At the “output” you receive the consequences of what you received at the “input”. There are foods that make the stool softer and make the intestines work more actively. Include in your diet: vegetable oils, freshly squeezed vegetable juices, fermented milk products - fresh kefir, crumbly porridge with dried fruits, soups, fruits, raw and processed vegetables, healthy fiber. Fried, fatty, smoked foods, preservatives and other “chemicals” in products are prohibited.

You, of course, have heard that “you need to drink a lot.” But how much is enough? Scientists have established the norm - 30 ml per 1 kg of ideal body weight (you can find a body weight calculator online and, by substituting your data, calculate it). The liquid should be warm to quickly enter the intestines, and honey can be added to the water.

If you spend your days in the office and your evenings watching TV or surfing the Internet, your intestines may well go on strike. To ensure regular bowel movements, physical activity for at least an hour 3 times a week is the optimal solution. Can’t devote so much time, don’t have the opportunity to visit the gym? Walk, climb stairs, use every minute to keep fit.

When kefir, prunes on an empty stomach and warm water with honey do not help, it’s time to see a doctor:

• you notice blood in your stool
• the appearance of stool has changed - thin or ribbon-like
• bowel dysfunction appeared suddenly, especially after 50 years
• you suffer from constipation, have lost a lot of weight, but your diet remains the same
• you have abdominal pain or discomfort before or after bowel movements
• constipation replaces diarrhea
• there was pain in the rectum
• appetite worsened, aversion to certain foods appeared
• you get tired faster
• It’s unclear why your temperature is rising
• you suffer from constipation, and there is a family history of colon and rectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.

Volume and quality of stool in one-month-old infants

Particular attention should be paid to how much a baby should poop in one month in terms of volume. Deviation from established norms may indicate a violation of the drinking or feeding regime, or a hidden course of disease.

• In a child undergoing breastfeeding, this figure is initially 15 g, gradually increasing to 40-50 g. The stool itself looks like a yellowish pulp of uniform texture with the smell of sour milk. The presence of small lumps and slight discoloration is acceptable.
• The volume of feces in a newborn on adapted formulas should be slightly larger, about 40 g. Its smell is quite pungent, the color is yellowish or brown. The presence of mucus or white lumps is allowed (these are undigested milk fats).

Monitoring the quality and quantity of feces in the second month of a baby’s life allows you to make sure that his digestive system is functioning properly. Any serious abnormalities should be reported to your pediatrician.

What and how can we help you?

1. Consult with a competent specialist - our gastroenterologist will examine you in detail, if necessary, prescribe additional consultations with related specialists and monitor the treatment process, from the first visit to the result.
2. To identify the cause of constipation - we have all the necessary expert-class equipment and highly qualified diagnostic specialists to conduct a detailed examination - tests, ultrasound, endoscopic examinations.
3. Save you time and money - to find out why your intestines are refusing to work regularly, we have created a free conversation with a gastroenterologist to schedule an examination. If you are concerned about your symptoms, but you don’t know where to start, during the conversation you will be prescribed the necessary range of tests.

Constipation is the cause and consequence of many diseases. A competent doctor will help you understand them. You shouldn’t prescribe laxatives to yourself, get carried away with enemas, or delay visiting a gastroenterologist. You may miss something important and waste valuable time. Don't take risks - contact a specialist.

Why is bowel regularity important, or what problems may arise?

In everyday life, if everything goes more or less well, you are unlikely to pay attention to how and when you have to go to the restroom. Morning, afternoon, evening, a lot or a little, freely or with effort - all these are parameters of the regularity and “normality” of bowel movements, which in turn can help determine whether you have certain problems in this area or not. The first thing you should pay attention to is the time spent in the restroom. In a normal state, the intestines eliminate excess fluid within 3-5 minutes, no more. With minor deviations, little water consumption on a particular day, you can spend about 8-10 minutes doing this big task, but if this indicator becomes regular and even exceeds the specified time, then we can already talk about specific disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and the body as a whole.

The main signals of disruption of defecation processes and their regularity:

• pass too often;
• appear once every 3-4 days or less;
• the stool is loose, watery, causing severe irritation;
• the stool is very dense, hard, creating a risk of injury to sensitive mucous tissues;
• long period of defecation (emptying in several stages at a time);
• severe discomfort (increased blood pressure, pulsation in the temples, redness of the skin, increased sweating), etc.

Causes of stool irregularity:

• insufficient water intake;
• poor nutrition, in particular abuse of processed foods, light carbohydrates, heavy fatty foods or meat proteins;
• taking any medications;
• diet (especially monocomponent);
• development of inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract;
• development of diseases of the liver, kidneys, stomach and intestines directly;
• diseases of the nervous system affecting the functionality of the central nervous system
• temporary nervous disorders and experiences, including constraint (consciously holding back stool);
• alcohol and tobacco abuse;
• uncomfortable clothes - jeans, belts, tight tights that squeeze the stomach can disrupt the blood supply to the intestines, its activity, and displace the organ from its natural position to the side, which will lead to its improper functioning;
• weak muscle tone in the intestinal area (abdominal, oblique muscles of the abdomen, lower back, etc.);
• insufficient physical activity during the day;
• literally, a sedentary lifestyle.

Mechanism of defecation

The first occurs in the womb.
The born child produces it unconsciously. Meconium (the so-called original feces) is a black, tar-like substance. It is excreted from the mother's body naturally. Until 2–3 years of age, children do not control this process and defecate at the first urge. After this age, a person can suppress desire. To understand how the act of defecation occurs, let's turn to physiology. Let's look at the whole process step by step:

• crushed food enters the stomach and, under the influence of hydrochloric acid and enzymes, begins to break down;
• after a certain time, the gruel (chyme) enters the small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed by its villi;
• chyme descends into the large intestine, where moisture is absorbed;
• the formed feces create pressure on the rectum, the sphincters relax, and the person feels the desire to defecate.

Stool color

The normal color of stool in an adult can be light brown or brown. Coloring it in other colors occurs as a result of eating certain foods, as a result of taking certain medications, or with the development of pathological changes in the body.

Human stool can change color during treatment with antibiotics and taking vitamin complexes and activated carbon.

The color of stool also changes when food colorings (natural or artificially synthesized) enter the body. For example, when eating black currants, it is likely that the stool the next day will be black, and beets will be red, carrots and citrus fruits will be yellow, and greens will be green. But, if the change in stool color was not preceded by taking the indicated products, then you need to consult a doctor, since these can be very serious symptoms, even indicating a critical condition of the person.

Red stool can occur when there is bleeding in the lower intestine, while black stool indicates internal bleeding in the stomach or intestines and requires immediate medical attention.

The rapid movement of feces sometimes does not allow the bile to go through all the altered states and turn brown, then the discharge is colored green. It also appears when taking antibiotics. But a particular danger lies in Crohn's disease and celiac disease, which are characterized by green coloration of stool.

Yellow stool most often indicates an infection in the body or problems with the gallbladder, in which there is a lack of bile and a large amount of fat accumulates, which ends up in the stool.

White feces appear when the body experiences a lack of bile, so this color indicates pathology of the bile ducts. It occurs when stones form in them, hepatitis, bacterial infections, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, as well as cancerous tumors.

But it should be understood that it is impossible to make a diagnosis only by the color of the stool; this requires more in-depth examinations, but changes in their color should alert you and become a reason to check your health.