Bowel Incontinence - How To Prevent This?

By Author: Vijay Koragappa Shetty
Total Articles: 2541
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When there is no bowel control you may end up passing stool involuntarily. This may be due to lack of control over your anus, rectum, pelvic muscles or there is no signal sent to your brain that you need to pass stool and hence does not realise that you have to go to the loo. You will not know that you will be expelling the faecal matter soon. There is no urge to defecate either. You get to know this only when there is proper co-ordination between rectum, pelvic muscles, anus and your brain. If not, there is more such incontinence that occurs and makes situation worse. With such symptoms, you will not be able to carry out your normal activity such as going to office or school. It is definitely embarrassing as you have no control over the bowel movement and the subsequent expulsion of faecal matter.

This could be due to continuous use of laxative when you did not have any bowel movement. Bowel surgery, chronic constipation and stool leakage. There could be severe diarrhea, emotional problems, nerve damage due to radiation. Some times child birth also leads to the damage of anal muscles.

Bring about certain changes ...
... in your diet and life style. You can avoid constipation and diarrhea by reducing caffeine intake. Stop consuming alcohol, tea and chocolates too. Consult your doctor on fibre diet and you can add them in your diet if it suits you.

Do not forget the electrolytes in order to replenish the exhaustion of water due to dehydration. Some may be suggested vitamin supplements too. Do not eat 3 big meals, instead you can break it up to 5 small meals a day. Do not forget the pelvic floor muscle exercise in order to strengthen your anal and pelvic muscles!

Food with caffeine tends to relax the anal sphincter muscle. Some people find that a high fiber diet helps while on the other hand some people that a low fiber diet helps. Try out pelvic floor exercises so that it helps you strengthen your pelvic muscles, rectum and anus. This will further help you to have better control over your pelvic muscles.

. Vitamin supplements for chronic diarrhea.
. Smaller meals consumed more frequently will help.
. Bowel training - try to have a regular bowel movement every day. This can be extremely helpful.
. Medications - do not use any over the counter drugs.
The stronger the muscles - pelvic, rectum and anus gets, greater is your control over the ejection of faecal matter. You will know when you have an urge to defecate. Thus, helping you to allay your bowel incontinence!

Vijay Koragappa Shetty, Platinum Author.
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