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Mucus in Stool

Mucus in Stool

Mucus is a slimy substance, secreted by our mucus membranes for lubrication purposes inside our body. It helps the food to move easily through our digestive organs. A very little amount of it is generally secreted along with the stool as it aids proper bowel movements. But if the amount is not negligible, it is a sign of our digestive system, that something is wrong with it. We can understand the cause of distress in our digestive system by examining and understanding the various other symptoms that come along with the extra discharge of mucus in stool.

Causes of Mucus in Stool

  1. Constipation :- Chances of mucus in the stool of a person suffering from constipation is huge. Constipation generally means less than three normal bowel movements per week. These may be caused due to lack of activity, poor eating habits, less than adequate water, intake of certain drugs, misuse of some laxatives and even some medications can cause it. A person suffering from constipation may face fewer stool movements or pain during the movements as the stool becomes hard. These may cause anal fissures or rectal prolapsed. This causes an increase in the amount of mucus in stool.
  1. Infections :- The body has its own system in the digestion process. A large variety of bacteria is present in the body to break down the food and extracts minerals from it. Sometimes these bacteria may become overwhelmed, and are unable to digest the food properly. Because of this some types of virus and bacteria may form in our digestive system and cause a major infection called gastroenteritis or stomach flu. It causes inflammation in the intestines resulting in diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, nausea and fever. It increases mucus in the stool.
  1. Ulcerative Colitis :- Ulcerative Colitis or Colitis Ulcerosa is a chronic disease, which causes inflammation in the bowel tracts. It generally occurs in the innermost lining of the colon and the rectum. It may be mild or severe. It can even put a patient in the danger of developing colon cancer. They cause bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, lesions and open sores, rectal bleeding etc. This increases mucus in stool.
  1. Crohn’s Disease :- Crohn’s disease or Ileitis is also an inflammatory bowel problem, also known as IBP, which affects the lining of the digestive tracts. This disease causes anal fissure, anaemia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and tiredness. This cannot be cured but may be treated. The people suffering from this experience blood and mucus in stool. They suffer from pain, watery stool or low appetite problems. This can become a life-threatening disease if not detected and treated properly on time.
  1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome :- Some minor gastrointestinal infections lead to an irritable bowel syndrome and its symptoms increases with extra stress, though the doctors are still unsure of what causes them in the first place. In this case, the patient may have constipation issues or diarrhea issues. Some may even have them alternatively. These symptoms cause, bloating, cramps, abdominal pain or changes in bowel movement. Those who are diarrhoea-predominant, gets mucus in stool when the symptoms increase.
  1. Bowel Obstruction :- There are many types of obstruction in bowel movements. They may be due to gall bladder stone, tumor in the stomach, impacted stool, and adhesion, abnormally twisting of intestines, hernia or intussusceptions. This obstruction creates irregular water disposal from the body. These may cause abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, nausea, distension, constipation, constipation, or inability to pass gas. This is a medical emergency and medical professionals should be consulted right away.
  1. Diverticulitis :- Diverticulitis means a sac-like structure in the large intestine, which is formed because of stool becoming hard. This pouch-like a structure of hardened waste puts pressure on the walls of the colon. The condition does not have specific symptoms but is causes blood and mucus in stool. They sometimes also cause constipation, bloating, flatulence and abdominal pain. If these pouches become inflamed it causes fever, sharp pain in the abdomen, vomiting and nausea, or a distended stomach.

Natural Remedies for Mucus in Stool

If someone is facing more than the normal amount of mucus in stool problem, they should not ignore the condition and take these necessary steps to avoid worsening your condition and to know the underlying cause of it.

  • Consumption of psyllium husk with a glass of warm water twice a day or a spoon of blackstrap molasses with hot water can help with this problem
  • Proper eating habits can help you greatly. Thus making your diet a fiber-rich diets necessary for abdominal issues. Taking stress during this period should also be avoided. Foods such as raspberries, bran cereals, and black beans are good options.
  • Digesting spicy and junk foods put a stress on the digestive system. Thus it should be avoided. Drinking alcohol of caffeine intake is also not a good option. They may worsen the condition.

When to See a Doctor

When the above steps are taken and still that feeling of abnormality and uneasiness exists, it is highly suggested to consult a doctor to ensure a proper detection of the underlying cause.

  • When during stool passage you see more than normal mucus or blood, one should not delay a doctor’s visit, because it may be symptoms of some serious disease
  • If any of the above natural treatments doesn’t relieve you of your abdominal issues, they can only be resolved by a medical practitioner.
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Loose Bowels

Loose Bowels

You can easily say that Loose Bowels refer to when a person’s stool is thin and watery. This very normally occurs when something has irritated your gastrointestinal system and your body is working fervently to get rid of it causing you to get rid of food without properly absorbing the nutrients first. It is quite common for you to notice food that has been undigested in the bowels that you have at this point of time. Apart from regular irritation there are other conditions that instigate the gastro intestinal system causing people to become prone to this condition quite often.

Loose Bowels Causes

  1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Loose Bowels are very frequently caused by triggering mechanisms in the colon causing hyperactivity and other issues. It is quite well known that food such as chocolate caffeine and even dairy products have this effect on the colon and are at the forefront of causing IBS. There are many symptoms to IBS which include Bloating of the bowel, abdominal cramping, pain and irritation and so on. These symptoms can be relieved by passing stool or gas, a feeling that your bowels are not completely empty after using the washroom and so on.

Treatment. There is a very easy way of avoiding IBS symptoms and that is to avoid instigating trigger attacks which may include eating dairy products which instigate gas and so on. There are a number of medications that the patient can use which include pain relievers, increased fibre intake, antispasmodic fluids, constipation medication and so on to help fight loose bowels.

  1. loose bowels caused by Crohn’s Disease

This is a chronic issue that causes the digestive tract, particularly the small intestine to become inflamed very particularly due to an acute immune response. The various causes of this issue may include chronic rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, arthritis, loose bowels and so on.

Treatment. One thing to know about Crohn’s Disease that it is difficult to treat it because no specific drug has been created to help fight off this issue but rest assured your doctor will normally prescribe drugs such as immunosuppressant’s, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-diarrhoeas and so on that work well to help treat the problem.

  1. Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is a very chronic issue that may make you have loose stool or thin stool and is one of the foremost causes of loose Bowels. Diarrhoea causes a sense of urgency in your body to pass a bowel movement and may have side effects such as vomiting and nausea as well. Diarrhoea also causes undigested food, blood and mucus to be present in your stool.

Treatment. One of the main ways of getting rid of Diarrhoea is letting it run its course in your body till the issue that is irritating your bowels are gone getting rid of loose bowels but even then there are a few medications that can be used to help treat diarrhoea which include Kaopectate and Bisomol which can be used quite effectively in the fight against Diarrhoea. One of the most important points a this time is to drink plenty of fluids because your body at this time is getting rid of fluids at an alarming rate. It is seen that haemorrhoid cream applied on the rectal area helps to treat the location quite effectively reducing irritation.

  1. Ulcerative Colitis causing loose bowels

This likely occurs from an auto-immune response where the rectum and colon become inflamed. It is quite commonly known that Chronic ulcers are formed in these places after an auto-immune response causing pain and distress which subsides and builds up again and again causing issues such as blood in your stool, pain and irritation and loose bowels.

Treatment. There are many means of managing ulcerative colitis but the primary means of treating this issue is by implementing anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressants. it is also better that you follow a low protein and low fibre diet during this time so as to allow yourself to have close to this condition which will not irritate the ulcerations at this time.

  1. loose bowels in Early Pregnancy

Prenatal vitamins, Dietary changes and even hormone fluctuations may cause pregnant women to face loose bowels especially during the early period of their pregnancy but not to worry it will pass over after your body gets used to the increase in supplement intake.

Treatment. It is always better to avoid spicy foods or dairy products at this time along with increasing the amount of starchy food that you eat including bananas, potatoes and even lean meat to help fight loose bowels effectively. It is also better to keep in taking fluid so that your body is well hydrated.

  1. Pancreatic Insufficiency causing loose bowels

Many people can suffer at times with a pancreatic deficiency that causes people to have a less amount of enzymes necessary to break food down in your stomach in a proper manner causing loose bowels. This occurs because the bowels are still rich in fat and starch which would normally be broken down by enzymes for the body’s energy.

Treatment. Before you treat any issue that is causing loose bowels you must catch the issue at the root and then segregate the best treatment for the issue at hand.

  1. loose bowels caused by lactose problem

There are many people who are lactose intolerant and suffer from a wide range of issues including this medical condition when consuming dairy products. Other symptoms may include gurgling of the stomach, pain, gas, throwing up, cramps and much more. It is a known fact that these symptoms start to manifest themselves in your body specifically 30 minutes to 2 hours after the intake of any kind of dairy product.

Treatment. Lactose intolerance is not something that can be cured because it is a genetic issue but the symptoms can be avoided by not eating or drinking dairy-rich products but instead having dairy free soy-rich foods that are good for the body. When facing loose stools due to lactose intolerance it is better to let the issue blow over by not eating any dairy products and loading up on starch.

  1. loose bowels caused by celiac disease

This is a very well known disease known primarily as Celiac that causes people to suffer from a range of issues including loose bowels, Constipation, pain in the abdomen and much more when a person consumes gluten. They may also notice issues such as epilepsy and rash and even depression and anaemia forming from this issue.

Treatment. People that suffer from this issue must stay away from gluten at most times so as to avoid the build up of a multiple number of issues. If the pressure is too strong causing issues such as loose bowels then an IV of nutritional supplements may be provided.

  1. Gallbladder Problem causing loose bowels

A gallbladder issue is a very annoying issue which has early symptoms of burping, belching, heartburns, loose bowels and so on. Digesting food at this time becoming very strenuous and you may go through symptoms that are very similar to that of the stomach flu which is the primary cause of loose bowels.

Treatment. It is very common at most times that the gall bladder needs to be removed in order to get rid of the problems. It is always better to stick to a healthy diet at this time with plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated in order to fight against loose bowels.

  1. Other Causes for loose bowels

Food poisoning is a very strong cause of loose bowels which is adversely caused from bacteria or viruses in the food that you eat. Caffeine drinks are also a very strong cause. Spicy or greasy food is well known to cause irritation as well which directly causes this condition.

Some other symptoms indicate that you are maybe not eating right or suffering from a urinary tract infection that is adversely effecting your colon as well because the irritation is in your entire abdominal area.

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Constant Burping

Constant Burping

The other word for burping is belching which is simple the passing of gas from your stomach to your mouth. It is from the mouth that you release the gas thereafter. Usually the characteristic for this may be a foul smell or an unpleasant noise that follows the burping. This is quite a natural phenomenon and can or may happen to anyone at any point of time. However, if the burping persistently keeps coming back, it may indicate a problem regarding the gastrointestinal duct. Even though it is important that you go to the root of this problem, simple home cures can actually help you fix the issue of constant burping.

Constant Burping Causes

Now the causes for cancer can either be simple like simply swallowing air. However, it can also be grave in nature such as a life threatening disease boiling inside of you, say like gastric cancer. Enlisted here are some of the common causes that may cause persistent belching:

  1. Aerophagia :- Aerophagia is the medical name where the constant burping scenario is caused by swallowing of air. This condition usually occurs when someone drinks aerated drinks too fast or eats quickly. Even if you choose to drink your liquid with a straw, the condition has a high risk of occurring.
  1. Unpleasant dietary habits :- A person’s poor dietary habits can be blamed for his constant case of belching. If your lifestyle includes too many fast foods in a day or as a matter of fact, too many fatty foods, gas production in your stomach increase thereby crowding up the digestive duct. Processed or canned food has the same effect. The same can also be said for food that is acidic in nature or chocolates. There are some particular veggies too that cause the same effect like cabbage, beans, onions and such. Bowel system blockage or the gastric outlet obstruction too would cause such a symptom. Materials that usually don’t get digested too can stir up the same trouble. It can be hair, certain food items or objects that were accidently swallowed which lead to excess of gas formation in the system.
  1. Digestion problems :- Disorders regarding the digestive system can definitely stir up some trouble with your system causing excess gas to form. The after effects of this are persistent burping. A few of the most common digestion disorders include GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernia, gastritis, gastric ulcer or irritable bowel syndrome. Belching or flatulence can also be blamed on excessive amounts of fatty foods.
    • IBS- If you feel symptoms such as constant diarrhea, gas, bloating or pain in the abdominal area, chances are that you are experiencing Irritable Bowel Syndrome. There is no basic cure for this condition but there are some tips to suppress this condition. Remaining stress less is essential as well as reducing some particular food habits to suppress this matter.
    • Gastroparesis- Gastroparesis also known as partial paralysis of the stomach is a condition where the stomach muscles weaken thereby facing difficulty in passing the food from the stomach region to the intestines. This is why the food in the stomach hangs around in the stomach for a much longer while leading to excess gas formation in the stomach. This causes excessive belching or nausea even.
    • Gastric cancer: if you have contracted gastric cancer, chances are that constant burping is occurring due to this very matter. Some of the symptoms for it are nausea, bleeding, abdominal pain and vomiting. In such a case, treat the condition immediately to avoid risking expansion of the cancer cells.
  1. Pregnancy :- Constant burping during pregnancy is actually noted to be quite a common issue. During the pregnancy term, the woman contains within herself higher levels of the hormone progesterone which in turn relaxes the muscles. This slows down the digestion process. The results for it may be flatulence, belching and bloating. Inactivity during pregnancy would only encourage the situation.

Constant Burping- Remedies And Cure 

  1. Constant burping through the pregnancy term: As mentioned prior to this, burping is a natural symptom that a pregnant woman may experience. Therefore, you cannot completely prevent it from occurring. However, try to get yourself adjusted to the routine activities or simple softly exercising such as walking or yoga may help contain the situation at hand. Exercising is not only limited to pregnant women as normal people too can use this method to relieve belching. Not only does exercising keeps indigestion at bay, but it also enhances the digestion process and keeps flatulence away.
  1. A few change in the daily routine: Aerophagia is usually caused by fast eating or drinking and therefore one must always eat or drink at a relaxed pace. This would prevent gulping of extra air that would go on to cause burping. Also, stress eating is not good and one must always eat with a relaxed calm self. Always opt for lose comfortable clothes. Too tight clothing would cause tightness in the waist area and promote flatulence and even abdominal discomfort.
  1. Refrain from eating certain food items:
    • There’s a reason why they say eating with your mouth open is a bad habit. Breathing with your mouth or eating with it open allows more air to pass thereby causing belching to appear.
    • Anxiety and nervousness usually causes extra air to pass into your mouth and to your system eventually. Therefore always try to control and contain your anxiety or nervousness.
    • Carbonated or aerated drinks usually enhance the process of belching.
    • Chewing gums or smoking too may affect you.
    • Caffeine, tea and alcohol consumption too should be kept at minimum.
    • Some of the food items that cause excessive gas in your system are- beans, onions, chocolates, cauliflower, lentils, apples, sugar, broccoli and peaches. Try to limit their consumption.
  1. OTC medications and certain foods: There would be some herbs present that would reduce flatulence. These are anti flatulence in nature and would reduce belching or flatulence. Some of these herbs can be recognized as mint, chamomile, ginger, fennel and burdock.  Yogurt or fenugreek seeds too aid in improving your digestion process as it tries to relieve constipation symbols. Over the counter medicines such as antacids can help you recover from gastroesophageal reflux as it reduces your gas and burping.
  1. Underlying conditions: If you discover any underlying condition as to why the repetitive burping is occurring, diagnosis and treatment of the condition will be the best way to deal with this situation.

If you want some more information regarding it, here’s a video for you:

 

When does constant burping require a doctor’s visit?

Home remedies usually do their magic but if the remedies and home cures have not improved your condition and the OTC medicines too haven’t shown any signs of help, it is best if you get a professional healthcare provider to diagnose the underlying problems and get to the root of it. as already discussed prior to this, the underlying problem may be hinting its presence through the constant burping condition. Some of these disorders may be say gastric cancer, gastritis or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Quick diagnosis and instant treatment can help you relief this condition.

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Hard Stomach

Hard Stomach

Often at times you may feel your stomach getting bloated, hardened to the touch or simply swollen. If we think of a simple reason for this, the blame can be put on certain food drinks or food types or rather their side effects. However, if the hardening of the stomach rolls into days and weeks, this may signify a graver underlying problem. Even though a hard stomach condition goes away on its own, sometimes they may hang onto you a bit longer, possibly with a little pain along side. In such a scenario, a doctor’s visit should be scheduled duly. Here in this article we have enlisted the probable causes for this condition along with treatment procedures for each.

Hard Stomach – Causes and Treatments

Causes for a hard stomach are many as there are equal measurements of respective treatments that can help us control these situations. The most cases noted have assured that the hardening or bloating of the stomach will pass away on its own but if this persistent problem doesn’t or rather keeps coming back, here are some of the diagnosis and treatment measures that you should abide to:

  1. Gas and bloating:

As your body breaks down the food to make essential nutrients, the process of food break down may cause a little gas to form inside the stomach. This build up of gas would then go on to cause bloating in the stomach and abdominal region. Apart from discomfort, the swelling or the bloating in the stomach may also cause the stomach to feel hard possibly with a little pain too. This can usually be caused by certain kind of food and beverages, swallowing of air through mouth or due to some medical conditions like interaction with certain medications or constipation.

Cure: Avoid certain food and beverages and at all times eat slowly and at a relaxed pace. Over eating or excessive smoking too causes hardening of stomach owing to the accumulation of gas. Certain medicines, especially over the counter ones too may cause trouble in your system.

When to worry:  Usually a case of hard stomach should go away on its own. However, if the symptoms don’t clear up within a few hours or possibly over night, you may need to see a healthcare professional regarding this situation.

  1. Constipation

Constricted bowel movements or inadequacy of emptying out your bowels may cause a situation called constipation. The symptoms for these usually include- a filled stomach feeling, difficulty in bowel movements such as irregularity or larger sized stools that becomes difficult to pass, pain, bloating and hardening of the stomach. The main causes for this are listed as- lack of proper physical activity, unpleasant or unhealthy dietary charts, drinking less water during the day or delaying your bathroom trips even if you have to go real bad. Some of the other reasons for this may be physical disorder, pregnancy, interaction with certain medications and bowel syndromes.

Cure:  Getting a good work out for yourself helps a lot as you put some activity into your lifestyle system. Eating healthy high fiber foods and drinking ample of water to wash them down properly would help you contain constipation. In this scenario, you may also resort to over the counter medications that aid you in getting your bowel movements back on track. Also, these medications can help you add fiber to your diet. Laxatives or stool softeners may help too.

When to worry:  You should consult a doctor in case either of these following problems show up- feeling pain and discomfort whilst trying to pass the bowel, bleeding or finding blood in your bowels or the fact that you have not had any bowel movement for the past whole week. In serious cases, the constipation system may be caused by something more serious, say a bowel block or a colon cancer.

  1. Irritable Bowel syndrome

IBS is a common disorder with the symptoms for it usually being either diarrhea or constipation. Some other symptoms can be recognized as abdominal pain, bloating, gas formation or cramps and other such discomforts. Usually these symptoms are mild or mediocre in nature but in many rare cases, the symptoms might show being quite serious. Even though the exact cause for irritable bowel syndrome to appear is not clear, it is usually believed that some trigger points like hormones, stress or certain food items may encourage it.

Cure:  Medicines to contain the spasms or cramps can help, such as certain antibiotics. Taking supplements to control the situation help too by settling your intestinal functions. Stick to a high fiber diet which is essential at this time. The usual foods that may result in irritation of the bowel should be controlled too. However, your doctor might suggest a few tests before actually venturing out on the treatment path. 

  1. Stomach cancer:

It is quite a rare case when a stomach cancer causes gas bloating or hard stomach but we cannot entirely rule the possibility out of the equation. A cancerous tumor building up inside your stomach at this time can be blamed for the feeling of uneasiness, bloating, gas and discomfort. However, the cancer in its advanced stage may cause other side effects too. Some of those symptoms are- weight loss and appetite lessening or finding blood in your stools.

Cure:  cancer treatments are always aggressive in nature since the stubborn illness takes a lot of effort to combat it to recovery. The first treatment procedure may include surgically removing a part or the entire of the stomach to reduce expansion. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy continues after this. To reduce the possibilities of contracting stomach cancer, include more fruits and vegetables in your diet.

  1. Pregnancy

If you are serving a pregnancy term be rest assured a hard stomach condition may appear. This is because the uterus gains weight as it grows thereby applying pressure to the abdomen area. This is usually known to occur during the first trimester when the uterus just starts expanding. As we roll on to the second trimester, the water volume in the uterus increases as the uterus now grows a bit more too. This may cause the hard stomach condition to appear. By the third trimester, you can even feel your baby inside you move or shuffle around. This time the stomach becomes harder than ever. If you suffer from intestinal issues or consume a low fiber diet with lots of carbonated beverages, this situation may become more pronounced.

Cure:  to get this situation into control, start exercising regularly and watch your diet. Refrain from drinking alcohol or too many carbonated drinks. Add more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. To avoid stress or anxiety, learn up some relaxation techniques. You will see the problem fading away post delivery of your baby.

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White stool in adults

White stool in adults

Stools are usually in a shade of brown to green in color and hence white stool in adults is definitely not a common scenario. So since you are wondering what made your bowel color change, here are some of the common reasons we suspect that can be blamed for white colored stools – inadequate proportion of bile or blockage of the bile ducts, inability to absorb fats by the digestive organs may be some of the many reasons. Stools that lack the proper amount of bile are usually named “bile acholic” and usually is a condition in adults that produce light or white colored bowels. For extra concerns, always consult a doctor for more definitive and detailed information.

 Reasons for White Stool in Adults

  1. Digestion issues: the digestive system starts from the mouth down the esophagus and into the stomach along with the intestines below and then passed out through the rectum. Any disorder in the whole of the system such as whipple diseases, dysentery, fecal inconsistency or esophageal achalasia can be blamed for paling of the stool color.
  2. Medicine interactions: barium sulfate containing aluminum hydroxide is used for X-rays and other such medication purposes and this can be one of the reasons why you are experiencing whiteness in your stool color. Isoniazid is a drug that is used for treating tuberculosis which spikes the bilirubin level causing the stool color to change. Gastrointestinal drugs such as kaolin or bismuth have the same effect on your stools.
  3. Liver problems: hepatitis or cirrhosis are liver disorders that are inflammatory in nature. If left untreated not only does it change the color of your bowels but also can lead to serious conditions like liver cancer. The issue in the liver functioning may be one of the symptoms as to why your stool is pale in color. Immediate doctor’s consultancy is advised to be sought at this time.
  4. Obtrusive bile duct: the bile is recognized as a fluid that digests fats being released to the liver and passes it onto the gall bladder through the bile ducts. Once you eat, the bile gets passed on into the small intestine and the digestion process occurs. Responsible for normal coloring in the stools, a blockage in this very duct may cause the color for the stool to be changed. Infections too have the same effect the symptoms for them being itching and abdominal pain, tiredness and of course change in stool color.
  5. Gall stones: White stool in adults can also be the cause of gallstones where excess bilirubin or cholesterol may affect the gall bladder where the gall bladder fails to pass on the entire stool to the small intestine. This blockage may force out symptoms like fever, vomiting and nausea, persistent pain and cause imminent change in the color of the stool.
  6. Diseases that cause inflammation: Celiac or Crohn’s are both defined as inflammatory diseases where the former one is mainly caused by gluten sensitivity like from consuming rye, wheat or barley. Crohn’s is the same type of inflammatory disease caused by the inflammation of the digestive system, the intestines to be precise. Both these diseases may partake in changing the color of the bowel.
  7. Cancer: usually cancer in the liver or pancreas can be related to the formation of white colored stools in adults. The same can be said for intestinal cancer or cancer in the rectum. The other symptoms gathered along with it are abdominal pain, weight loss, back pain, jaundice, irritability, diarrhea and so on. Often the cancerous tumors in the respective places may result in obstruction of the bile duct resulting in pale or light colored bowels.

White Stool in Adults Treatment and Cure

The treatment for this condition of white stool in adults is usually based on the cause or the reason that has forced the stool to change its hue. For instance-

  • If the unabsorbed fats in the digestive system are deemed to be the reason for the change in the color, you may be prescribed fat- soluble tablets of vitamin varieties and may also be advised to up your diet quotient, i.e. to modify the diet pattern.
  • If hepatitis is causing the change in the color for your stool, proper medication, drug and treatment relating hepatitis should be taken into account.
  • Much like that, diseases such as Crohn’s or Celiac or any other kind may be blamed for the situation in which case respective individual diagnosis and treatment would help you.

When does White Stool in Adults require a Doctor Supervision?

Whitening of the stool may be caused by the recent X-Ray examination you just took that has barium sulfate or maybe just an exposure to  a persistent large dose of antacid that you’ve been taking, white stools in adults may be linked to a much grave or serious kind of illness and for that we advise you to seek medical attention at the speediest possible rate. This is simply not a normal situation.

  • Consult a doctor as soon as you realize the sudden change in your stool color and watch out for accompanied symptoms like fever or weight loss. These symptoms branched together requires proper diagnosis and treatment.
  • In occasions when the rise in body temperature is too much or the illness is taking a toll on the mental status along with convulsions and abdominal pain is noticed, it is for the best if you seek immediate medical attention at that time.
  • Signs such as lowering frequency of your urination, fatigue and light-headedness and even increase in thirst are all signs of dehydration which is yet another symptom along with whitening of the stool you should keep an eye out for. If you experience anything as such, immediately rush to the doctor.
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Hard stools

hard stool

Hard stools are a pretty common condition caused by constipation. It can either be mild, which can be solved by home remedies, or it can be serious, in which case you should definitely visit the doctor. To deal with them, you need to first know what causes the condition.

What causes Hard Stools ?

Constipation related hard stools are generally caused when the stools remain in the gastro-intestinal tract for more than 48 hours. When it stays there for such a long time, the moisture of the stool gets absorbed by the body again, causing it to become hard and leading to pain and bleeding while discharging the stools.

The larger intestines are responsible for discharging waste liquid and fibers from the food that is absorbed by the smaller intestines, thus creating the stool. It then slowly makes its way towards the lower end of the larger intestines to finally be discharged from the body. However, if the person doesn’t expel it within 2 days, the moisture from the stools get soaked in the lower part of the digestive tract, hence making them hard.

In some cases, lesser intake of water can also lead to the formation of hard stools. Insufficient fiber content in the food can also be a cause, along with other problems such as pregnancy, different medications, and medical conditions such as digestive disorders, Crohn’s disease and hypothyroidism.

Ways to soften hard stools

HOME REMEDIES

Hard stools can be softened by utilizing home remedies as well as by having allopathic medicines. Let’s look at some of the home remedies we can utilize to get rid of hard stools.

Food consisting of high fibers

Having high fiber food on a daily basis can soften our bowels. Include food items like bread, vegetables, legumes and fruits in your daily diet. You should also eat lots of cereals and grains of all kinds. Nuts and dried fruits are also a great source of high fibers, along with peanut butter, sunflower seed kernels, apple sauce and tomato paste. In fruits, vegetables and breads, you don’t have to focus on any particular kind as all kinds of fruits, vegetables and breads contain high amounts of fiber which can help us form bulky and soft stools. Bananas and papayas in particular help a lot when it comes to consuming high fibers.

Regular exercise and high intake of water

Drinking lots of water is the simplest way to combat constipation and deal with hard stools. Intestinal activity can be stimulated with regular exercise. The more you make your body go through varied physical activities, the bulkier your stools will be, resulting in much softer bowel movement. Apart from regular exercise, drinking high amounts of water is also very useful for making the stool soft. Even if you are constipated, drinking sufficient amount of water can keep your stools relatively soft.

Regular bowel movements

It is very important to discharge waste materials from the body on a regular basis. To ensure that you do not get inflicted by constpation, practice the habit of regular bowel movements. Do not hesitate to visit the bathroom whenever you feel the urge. Suppressing bowel movements is one of the leading causes of the formation of hard stools. Keeping stool inside the larger intestines for a long time can lead to the loss of moisture, leading to pain during discharge.

MEDICAL TREATMENTS

Now that we have seen some of the home remedies to treat and soften hard stools, let us have a look at the medical treatments available for the condition.

Laxatives

Laxatives are one of the most popular medicines available for treating hard stools and constipation. The chemicals present in laxatives can help in the easy movement of the stool in the intestinal tract and out of the body, increasing its bulk. However, depending too much on the use of laxatives can have adverse effects on the body. Chronic constipation is the most common side effect of laxatives. It is a condition where the body becomes completely dependent on the use of laxatives and forgets natural bowel movements.

Other medications like lubiprostone or Amitiza can also help in the softening of bowel. Their basic function is to increase the moisture content in the stool, making it easier to pass. These are prescriptions drugs which need to be administered in controlled amounts, and overuse can lead to dangerous results, which is why these medicines are banned in many countries.

Surgeries

Surgery is the ultimate solution to this problem. If the constipation is too severe, then the only thing that can be done is extracting the stool out of the body through surgical methods. However, you should try to not let your constipation reach such an ultimate stage.

 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

There are other alternative methods to try out as well, most of which can be tried at home without any supervision.

Massage therapies

Massaging the lower region of the back and the muscular joints can help relieve the pressure by compressing and manipulating the skin. Acupunctures and shiatsu can be used as ideal massage therapies. Massaging the abdominal area can help relieve bladder and intestines, promoting smooth movement of bowel.

Homeopathic medicines

Homeopathic medicines take their time to do their work, but are generally the safer option compared to allopathic medicines. Their nontoxic and holistic approach to the whole problem solves the condition in no time. However, there are obviously more dangerous homeopathic remedies as well, which is why it is best to consult the doctor once before resorting to these remedies.

 

Whether to see the doctor or not?

To deal with hard stools, you also need to know whether you need to see the doctor or not. Constipation generally doesn’t require doctor’s attention, however in some extreme cases, you should definitely pay them a visit. For example, if your constipation problem lasts for more than 3 weeks, it is time for you to go to the doctor. Also if you experience abdominal pains and thin, pencil like, or bloody stools, do make note.

Unexpected weight loss can also have something to do with your constipation problem. Another weird phenomenon which requires immediate doctor’s attention is diarrhea alternating with constipated periods, and pain in the rectal region. Don’t forget to see the doctor if even one of these symptoms appear in you.