Five reasons why you are not pooping as often as you should

Once in a while, an individual experiences constipation which is characterized by less frequent bowel movement, hard stool, pain while passing, bloating among other uncomfortable experiences. While to some people constipation is a once in a while non-major, to other it can be persistent to unbearable level. Research shows that these severe cases of constipation happen to 16% of adults. It also shows that women are more likely to experience constipation than men.

Although our bodies function differently in different situations, there are some key contributors to having hard, lumpy and hard to pass poop. These include;

Dehydration

While discussing constipation and bloating, one factor always go mentioned-water. Our bodies require water for almost every process. To hydrate is to simply keep the body functioning properly. When you do not take enough water, all factors considered, your body systems, including the digestive malfunction. Instead of processing food, absorbing nutrients and disposing waste as it should be, the body of a dehydrated person keeps the food in the stomach where it turns into hard to pass poop. Taking water, and not carbonated or caffeine drinks keeps the system operational.

Diet

There are two ways in which diet affects and contributes to constipation. One, a diet that lacks enough fiber enables easy passing of stool while on that lacks does the vice versa. Fiber rich foods increase the weight and size of your stool and softens it. This eliminates chances of the hard uncomfortable feeling. Another way where diet contributes to constipation is change in eating pattern and food eaten. Most people experience this when they change their feeding time or diet as the system takes time to adjust to new processes.

Stress

Going through a stressful time is known to cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in some people. This is because when you’re stressed, you experience spams in your gut. It these spams occur repeatedly in one part of your colon, it leads to retaining waste and eventually hard lumpy poop.

Inactivity

Our bodies are meant to function in a certain way, which usually include a large part of moving. When you keep still and avoid involving tasks, your body feels immobile and most processes, including the complex digestion slow down or malfunction. People who exercise suffer less constipation cases than those who keep to the limited movement programs. Research shows that a good number of patients suffering from hard bowel movement solve it just by getting active in body exercise.

Diet supplements and medication

Supplements and medication taken for different reasons are made of different compounds that may not sit right with everyone’s gut. Most people experience inability to pass stool right after they start dose on some drugs. Antacids and some vitamins supplements are common culprits in causing hard and painful bowel movement. This is because of the amounts of calcium, minerals and iron components in them.

Although these are common causes of constipation that can be taken care of at home, it is always wise to seek medical advice to detect any underlying problems.