Treatment then diarrhea or constipation causes treatment

Often, with the current rhythm of life, we are always in a hurry and forget about our health, but the body gives signals. One of the reasons to think and get examined is when going to the toilet, either constipation or diarrhea and vice versa. There are several reasons for this condition, from harmless ones, which can be eliminated by adjusting your diet, to very serious ones, even death. In this article we will talk in detail about all possible causes and ways to resolve them.

Norm and pathology

A healthy person should ideally empty their bowels 1-2 times a day, but do not panic; bowel movements occur every other day, this is also considered the norm. A one-time retention of stool for up to 3 days, while having the correct consistency, can occur due to heavy consolidating food or taking medications aimed at eliminating diarrhea.

Reasons for this condition

Constipation and diarrhea occur for certain reasons; they are not considered a disease in themselves, but can only be symptoms of certain diseases. Diarrhea can occur from one to four times a day; during this period, feces become very rare. With constipation, on the contrary, bowel cleansing slows down greatly, and bowel movements can occur once every few days. The norm is considered to be a delay in bowel movements of up to a day; if bowel movements occur less frequently, this indicates digestive disorders.

Defecation from three times a day to three times a week, with an almost equal time interval, indicates good functioning of the digestive tract.

Experts say that conditions when constipation and diarrhea at the same time can signal the development of serious pathologies in the body. The main diseases that manifest themselves with similar symptoms look like this:

• Oncological diseases of the intestines and stomach.
• Dysbacteriosis.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Chronic inflammatory processes that occur in the small or large intestine.
• Chronic constipation with simultaneous use of laxatives.
• Worm infestation.

It should be remembered that conditions such as constipation and diarrhea are only a special reaction of the body to certain factors. Food poisoning may well be such predisposing factors. The body tries to independently get rid of the microbes that have entered it, which is manifested by diarrhea . But if dehydration begins due to lack of fluid, then constipation occurs.

The main physiological factors that play a major role in the alternation of constipation and diarrhea can be described as follows:

1. Impaired intestinal patency due to mechanical blockage of the lumen by a foreign body or neoplasm.
2. Impaired patency as a result of a malfunction of intestinal motility.

All these conditions require the help of a doctor, so without delay, you need to go to the hospital.

It should be remembered that diarrhea can threaten a person with dehydration, and with constipation, toxic substances poison the entire body. Such conditions are extremely dangerous.

What are constipation and diarrhea, their differences

Constipation	Diarrhea
Frequency	rarely, once every three days or less	3-10 times a day
Consistency	hard, spherical	thin, watery
Color	dark brown, brown, black, discolored for liver problems	yellow, light brown, green
Impurities	blood, pus, mucus, worms	blood, pus, mucus, worms
Smell	normal, less often foul-smelling	fetid
Additional criteria	there may be an urge to defecate that does not end in success, blood and pain in the stool with constipation due to cracks in the anus	constant feeling of need to empty your bowels

Enterocolitis

When a person first has constipation and then diarrhea begins, this indicates chronic enterocolitis.
This disease is characterized by a violation of the secretory function of the intestine, when motility is impaired and the absorption of nutrients worsens. Dangerous consequences of enterocolitis can be dystrophy or complete atrophy of the organ membranes. The disease can last for many years. The root cause of the disease is poorly treated acute enterocolitis. But it must be borne in mind that the longer the disease continues, the deeper the intestinal mucosa is affected. Clinical signs of enterocolitis include irregular bowel movements, as well as alternating constipation and diarrhea. Diarrhea is a consequence of increased intestinal perilstatics; in this condition, absorption of liquid and microelements is not possible. Diarrhea can develop due to severe liquefaction of stool. In this condition, the more the intestinal walls are affected, the more often bowel movements occur.

When inflammation affects only the small intestine, bowel movements occur up to 4 times a day. There is no pain syndrome with this disease, and the urge to go down appears immediately after eating.

If the inflammatory process has affected all parts of the intestine, then the urge to go down can occur up to 10 times a day. There is mucus in the stool, and the number of bowel movements gradually decreases. After painful diarrhea, persistent constipation occurs, when a person cannot go to the toilet for several days.

Irritable bowel syndrome is often diagnosed in older people. It is no secret that old people love to eat a lot and tasty, but at the same time lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Treatment

For prolonged, intense disorders, consultation with a doctor is necessary.

To decide on treatment, it is necessary to find the cause of stool disorders. To make a diagnosis, examinations are carried out:

1. General tests of urine, feces and blood;
2. X-ray of internal abdominal organs;
3. Biochemical research;
4. Bacteriological studies of feces;
5. Palpation of the rectum;
6. Test for occult blood in stool.
7. Ultrasound;
8. Colonoscopy;
9. Irrigoscopy;
10. Endoscopy.

When pathologies are identified, a set of medications and a treatment regimen are prescribed:

• normalization of nutrition and water regime;
• eliminating stress;
• physical activity;
• enemas;
• in some cases, it is necessary to take antibiotics, drugs for diarrhea or diarrhea, sorbents, enzymes, antispasmodics;
• in case of obstruction, gastric lavage is prescribed, or, in extreme cases, surgical removal of the damaged area.
• For oncological diseases, surgery and chemotherapy and other things are also indicated.

Rectal tumor

The rectum is the final section of the digestive system from where feces are expelled. The main factors for the development of rectal cancer are:

• Heredity, when someone in the family suffered from the same illness.
• History of chronic colitis.
• Proctitis.
• Polypous growths on the walls.

Some doctors argue that the main factor that contributes to the development of cancer is poor nutrition. If your daily menu contains fried foods, but few vegetables and fruits, this leads to persistent constipation. Predisposing factors are considered to be overweight and a sedentary lifestyle.

The clinical manifestations of rectal cancer are quite specific and allow you to quickly suspect something is wrong in the body. Symptoms include:

• alternating constipation and diarrhea;
• constant urge to go down;
• severe pain during defecation;
• sensation of a foreign body in the anal passage;
• abnormal inclusions in the stool - inclusions of blood, mucus, greenish pus and even tumor particles.

If the tumor is localized in the upper part of the intestine, then diarrhea is observed, and the color of the stool is black, which indicates a bloody impurity. Quite often, oncological diseases of the rectum are mistaken by patients for hemorrhoids, which are treated for a long time and unsuccessfully at home. There is a noticeable difference here: with hemorrhoids, blood is observed on the surface of the stool and often comes out before or after defecation; with cancer, blood is mixed with feces. Moreover, constipation is becoming commonplace.

A tumor of the rectum is the most dangerous cause of constant alternation of diarrhea and constipation!

Nutrition

Be sure to watch your diet in the future.

Some rules, following which the problem will no longer arise:

1. Not to starve.
2. Eat often, but in small portions. At least 6 times a day, every 2 hours.
3. Completely eliminate junk food. Fried, fatty, canned, smoked, sweet, salty, spicy, alcohol, carbonated drinks, processed foods, fast food, mushrooms are prohibited.
4. Products that cause fermentation and irritate the walls of the gastrointestinal tract are also prohibited.
5. Drink at least 2 liters of water per day.
6. Eat balanced. The correct daily ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Your doctor will help you choose an individual diet depending on your diagnosis.

Hard and loose stools during pregnancy

During pregnancy, constipation is many times more common than diarrhea. Throughout the entire period, due to an increase in the concentration of progesterone, the tone of the intestinal muscle fibers decreases, the passage of food slows down, and more liquid is absorbed. An enlarged uterus also prevents the free movement of stool.

Loose stools during pregnancy are a possible symptom of intestinal infection or poisoning. A tendency to diarrhea that developed before pregnancy may be a manifestation of an enzyme deficiency or food allergy.

It happens that normal stool is virtually absent. Popularly, this condition has received an apt name – “liquid constipation”: the sick person has diarrhea and constipation at the same time.

There are two reasons that are to blame for everything that is happening, which pose a serious threat to life:

• the intestine is impassable: transit of normally formed feces is not possible. The ability to transport only liquid contents has been preserved;
• paralysis of the intestines leads to the fact that there is no way to simply evacuate not only solid masses of feces, but even loose stools.

Simultaneous cases of diarrhea and constipation with typical obstruction, enterocolitis and IBS are explained by the presence of spasms of the intestinal muscles. Under their influence, food debris moving through the intestines becomes very dense and hard, which makes it impossible to defecate.

Irritable bowel produces an excess of mucus that enters the final intestine. This causes false bowel movements and diarrhea. This type of diarrhea is characterized by an abundance of mucus and a small volume of compressed spherical stool.

Alternating constipation and diarrhea are a common complication in patients undergoing gastric resection. The main cause of symptoms is the reflux of unprocessed stomach contents into the intestinal tract. For preventive purposes, patients are prescribed a diet, split meals in small portions. At the end of your meal, it is recommended to lie down at least for a while.

Constipation in combination with diarrhea is characteristic of an overdose of laxatives. When the outlet of the colon and the final section of the digestive tract are blocked by hardened masses, and a large volume of fluid flows from the small intestine, this is dangerous due to damage to the mucous membrane due to increased pressure.

Prevention

Don't ignore your body's signals. If any symptoms appear, it is better to immediately begin treatment by seeking medical help.

Prevention of any disease is a healthy lifestyle. This includes giving up bad habits, sports, a normal daily routine, healthy sleep, walks in the fresh air, proper nutrition, and lack of stress.

Features of symptoms in pregnant women

Diarrhea and constipation that occur during pregnancy indicate hormonal changes in the body and the woman’s nervous instability. During pregnancy, progesterone levels increase. This is a hormone that protects pregnancy. It relaxes the muscles of the uterus, reduces its tone, thereby preventing abortion. But at the same time, relaxation of the intestinal muscles occurs, which leads to constipation. At the same time, the absorption of water from the intestines increases, which only worsens the situation.

The occurrence of diarrhea in a pregnant woman is also influenced by a number of reasons:

• Allergic reactions to a number of products.
• Infectious diseases.
• Hereditary fermentopathy.
• Inflammatory bowel diseases.
• Dysbacteriosis.

Hormonal disruptions associated with pregnancy complicate bowel function and can also cause frequent diarrhea.

Diarrhea after constipation: symptoms, causes, treatment

After diarrhea, constipation is a very unpleasant condition in itself. And if such symptoms are intense, persistent or systematic, you need to consult a gastroenterologist.

The following should also be of concern:

• A pronounced pain syndrome of a protracted nature without strict localization, accompanied by vomiting, delayed bowel movements and bloating indicates possible inflammation, obstruction, colic;
• Feeling of thirst, loss of strength, dry mouth - possible intoxication, laxative overdose, infectious intestinal diseases;
• A headache, not enough air, a lump in the throat and fatigue are characteristic of IBS;
• Cold sweat, vomiting, and the presence of blood in the stool indicate intestinal obstruction.

If you observe the described signs (one or more) in yourself, immediately consult a specialist!

Constipation after diarrhea: what to do during pregnancy? Contact a medical facility without delay! Any medications should only be taken with the consent and under the supervision of a gynecologist leading the pregnancy.

Diarrhea can be triggered by various factors, even eating foods that cause fermentation or nervous shock. At the same time, diarrhea and constipation occur much less frequently. There may be several reasons for the appearance of the malaise.

Enterocolitis

Frequent enterocolitis can also cause digestive disorders. With simultaneous inflammation of the mucous membranes of the large and small intestines, the processes of absorption of nutrients are disrupted, and the digestibility of food deteriorates. The main symptom of the disease is pain in the abdomen during diarrhea. The patient's feces are watery, mixed with mucus, pieces of undigested food, and sometimes blood.

Other symptoms of this disease are also noted:

• Rumbling and twisting in the stomach.
• Severe bloating, flatulence.
• Dyspepsia. It is difficult for feces to pass through the large intestine, which causes fermentation.
• Violation of bowel movements, constipation and diarrhea replace each other.

The disease is divided into infectious and non-infectious according to the type of origin, acute and chronic - according to the nature of its course. Acute enterocolitis is characterized by a pronounced course, severe pain, and sometimes vomiting with diarrhea. Chronic enterocolitis provokes increased fatigue and a feeling of apathy.

If the small intestine is affected, the disease causes dull pain in the navel area, usually in the late afternoon. Patients suffering from constipation and diarrhea and chronic enterocolitis often lose weight, especially if the inflammation has affected the small intestine.

Even a newborn baby can suffer from loose stools followed by hard stools due to enterocolitis. The cause of the development of a disease in an infant with alternating constipation and diarrhea is intolerance to any food or intestinal infection.

Gastroenterologists note that constipation after diarrhea can occur in patients suffering from colon cancer. Indirect causes of the growth of tumors in the rectum are heredity, frequent untreated enterocolitis, diet, and old age (over 60 years).

The first thing that indicates possible problems with the rectum is blood in the stool, stool turning crimson. This symptom appears both in the early stages of the disease and later. There are other symptoms that may indicate digestive problems:

• Gas incontinence.
• Difficulty holding in stool.
• Rumbling and bloating in the abdomen after constipation, quickly developing into diarrhea.
• False urge to defecate.

Pain is another sign. Based on the location of the pain and its intensity, it is determined which part of the colon is affected. Severe pain during bowel movements appears in patients with rectal cancer; if the colon is affected, aching pain can even be in the upper abdomen.

Other reasons

There are other factors that cause constipation followed by diarrhea. Diarrhea alternates with constipation for the following reasons:

• Use of medications. Taking too many laxatives for constipation can lead to severe diarrhea that is difficult to treat.
• Formation of fecal impaction. Gastroenterologists note that sometimes watery diarrhea with constipation is a sign of the formation of a fecal blockage. People who are accustomed to achieving normal bowel movements with the help of laxatives often suffer from alternating diarrhea and constipation. The problem also sometimes occurs in patients suffering from helminthiasis.
• Immaturity of the digestive system. Children under one year old should recover at least once a day. Eating unusual foods, changing the daily routine, and stress lead to disruption of the digestion process: after constipation, the child begins to have diarrhea. The malaise may have characteristic signs: first, hard feces are passed, then profusely watery. Acute diarrhea after constipation in an infant may appear periodically until fresh vegetables and fruits are introduced into the child's diet.
• Dysbacteriosis. When an imbalance of intestinal microflora occurs, food digestion processes deteriorate. Factors that negatively affect the composition of the saprophytic flora of the gastrointestinal tract and cause constipation during diarrhea: taking medications, eating heavy foods, alcohol. If a patient develops chronic constipation, this is also reason to suspect that the cause of the malaise is dysbacteriosis.
• Intestinal obstruction. The normal movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract can be disrupted by a decrease in the tone of the smooth muscles of the intestinal walls, mechanical damage to the intestine, or a foreign body stuck in the intestine. With intestinal obstruction, not only loose stools replace hard stools, but also severe abdominal pain and loss of appetite.
• Consequences of operations, starvation. Constipation after diarrhea occurs in people who have refused food for a long period. Also, pregnant women and young mothers after childbirth may complain about stool consolidation that occurs after diarrhea.

Important! If a person is tormented by a frequent urge to defecate, but feces come out a little at a time, there remains a feeling of fullness in the intestines, this is also a sign of indigestion.

Diagnostics

It is possible to determine exactly what caused the development of indigestion only after consulting a doctor. Patients must undergo the following examinations (in combination or those recommended by a specialist):

• Take blood tests (biochemical and general) and urine tests.
• Make a coprogram.
• Perform esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
• Get a CT scan (computed tomogram) of the abdominal cavity.
• Do a colonoscopy (including a computer one).
• Perform endoscopy.

Patients are advised to visit not only a gastroenterologist, but also a proctologist, who should determine whether rectal pathologies are causing constipation and diarrhea in an adult at the same time.

Features of treatment

People who often suffer from unstable stools should definitely consult a doctor. In the early stages of gastrointestinal diseases, some patients only need one course of treatment for complete recovery. If you delay contacting a specialist and do not treat the disease, a chronic form of illness may develop, requiring complex therapy.

When a patient has constipation alternating with diarrhea, the first thing doctors recommend is following a diet. Spicy and fatty foods, alcohol, marinades and fast food are excluded from food. The patient is prescribed a diet in which liquids occupy the first place: water, teas, jelly and compotes, soups and broths.

Be sure to exclude all medications that can provoke recurrent digestive upset. The diet is stabilized: the patient needs to eat often, but in small portions. People suffering from unstable stools need to walk more and do daily exercise.

Patients are also recommended symptomatic treatment:

• Taking antidiarrheal medications, in which the diarrhea goes away gradually. Lost fluid must be replaced.
• Use laxatives for constipation in moderate doses. Rectal glycerin suppositories and microenemas may be required.
• To stabilize the intestinal microflora, in some cases it is necessary to take probiotic medications. They are selected individually, taking into account the course of the disease.

Patients should always choose safe medications, both for diarrhea and for excessive stool consolidation.

After all, it is often the uncontrolled use of fixative or laxative medications that becomes the cause of the development of malaise.

Treatment should be prescribed by a doctor, because only a specialist can accurately determine the cause of indigestion and select effective medications.

Irritable bowel syndrome

In an adult or child, both diarrhea and constipation may occur due to irritable bowel syndrome. This is a pathological condition in which motor function is impaired. The large intestine is most affected. This disease is based on dystrophic and inflammatory changes in the intestinal tissues.

This pathology is widespread and widespread. There is evidence that in Russia 1 million people suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. The majority are adults. Not all of them go to the doctor. Intestinal irritation most often does not occur due to endogenous causes. Possible predisposing factors include:

• stressful conditions;
• frequent flights or travel;
• dysbacteriosis;
• unhealthy diet (lack of pectin and dietary fiber, excess of fatty and canned foods);
• drinking alcohol;
• drinking carbonated drinks;
• non-compliance with diet and overeating.

In women, there is a direct relationship between intestinal dysfunction and changes in hormonal levels. The clinical picture of irritable bowel syndrome includes frequent or infrequent bowel movements, pain in the lower abdomen, muscles, bloating, a feeling that the intestines have not completely emptied, frequent urge to go to the toilet, weakness, malaise, and headache.

Quite often, the main cause of simultaneous constipation and diarrhea in adult and pediatric patients is irritable bowel disease. This pathological condition can affect people of any age. It is characterized by impaired intestinal motility and pathological changes in the large intestine.

Diarrhea appears after constipation. The reasons for this pathology are of interest to many.

The primary source of this condition is considered to be dystrophic changes that affect the walls of the organ. The main risk group is adults.

When you can't put off visiting a doctor

For any pathological condition of the body, a person needs qualified medical care.

Constipation or diarrhea is a serious problem that, in rare cases, can be solved at home using improvised means.

Irritable bowel syndrome is not a very serious disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, but other conditions require medical intervention.

The main reasons that require an immediate visit to a treatment facility:

• dehydration of the body;
• main symptoms of body intoxication;
• diarrhea with blood clots after prolonged constipation;
• severe pain after diarrhea or constipation;
• sudden weight loss.

If weakness, nausea and vomiting, or fever appear, it is necessary to call emergency medical help as quickly as possible, otherwise it may be too late.

Helminthiasis (worms)

Helminthiasis (worms) is a parasitic disease caused by parasitic worms. This is a very broad group of diseases that have similar symptoms and treatment methods. For some reasons, larvae and eggs enter the body:

• dirty hands;
• unwashed vegetables and fruits;
• meat that has been poorly cooked (half-raw).

The main manifestations of helminthic infestation include:

• increased body temperature;
• profuse drooling;
• nausea, sometimes vomiting;
• bloating;
• unstable stool: either diarrhea or constipation;
• weight loss with good appetite;
• general weakness, drowsiness, fatigue;
• allergic reaction in the form of skin rashes;
• itching in the anal area, mainly at night.

It is most likely to find parasitic worms in a child’s body, since children usually neglect the rules of hygiene and washing food. Also, helminthiasis in a child can be disguised as various infectious diseases, which makes it difficult to diagnose the true disease.