Either diarrhea or constipation: what to do

People often experience disorders of the digestive system, at this time, diarrhea or constipation may appear, and the causes of the condition are very different.

In any situation, such a patient will need assistance. Such a state of the body does not belong to an independent disease, but may indicate a disease.

Reasons for alternating stools

The reasons why diarrhea and constipation appear at the same time most often indicate serious and sometimes dangerous illnesses. The following pathologies lead to such a state of the body:

1. Malignant intestinal tumors.
2. Violation of the intestinal microflora.
3. Irritable bowel cider.
4. Inflammation of the intestines.
5. Chronic defecation disorder, when an adult develops constipation and at the same time laxative tablets are used.
6. Parasites in the digestive system.

It should be understood that constipation and diarrhea are a kind of response of the human body to various factors and diseases.

A similar condition can be caused by improper diet, as well as food poisoning or general intoxication of the body.

In this case, the body begins to cleanse the intestines in order to get rid of the harmful flora.

If an adult does not have enough fluid in the body, then this leads to constipation. It is the pathophysiological process that affects the development of constipation and diarrhea at the same time:

1. Violation of intestinal permeability due to foreign objects that can enter the body or as a result of tumors.
2. Violation of intestinal patency of paralytic etiology.

Any reasons for which constipation and loose stools appear should be identified by a doctor, after a thorough examination.

Irritable bowel syndrome

If diarrhea and constipation alternate, then irritable bowel syndrome is a possible cause.

The problem can appear at any age, even in children, and the pathology is typical for both women and men. In this case, the problem appears as a result of interruptions in intestinal activity.

The causes of this pathology are inflammation of the intestinal walls or its dystrophy. A similar disease in medical practice occurs quite often, especially in the elderly.

The main reasons for this condition are as follows:

1. Frequent stressful situations at home, work or elsewhere for various reasons.
2. Dysbacteriosis.
3. Improper, unbalanced nutrition, when the body lacks nutrients in foods.
4. Excessive use of junk food.
5. Frequent use of alcohol or soda.
6. Wrong daily routine and frequent overeating.

In women, the reasons why constipation changes to diarrhea can be caused by hormonal disruptions, which also lead to the syndrome.

The main symptoms of the described problem include:

1. Constipation or diarrhea, which appears quite often.
2. Pain in the lower abdomen as well as muscles.
3. Great flatulence.
4. Feeling overcrowded.
5. Increased urge to defecate.
6. Weakness in the body, malaise and pain in the head.

In some people, the disease manifests itself in the form of depression and severe anxiety, due to this, sleep is disturbed, craving for food disappears, sexual function decreases, and nausea is possible.

After a bowel movement, many symptoms begin to subside.

Enterocolitis

The alternation of constipation and diarrhea can signal a disease called enterocolitis, which is chronic.

With such a pathology, the intestinal mucosa becomes inflamed and a failure of secretory and motor functions begins, and this leads to insufficient absorption of nutrients.

If enterocolitis appears, then serious consequences can occur, namely, dystrophy and atrophy of the intestinal mucosa. Pathology can be in an adult and proceed without obvious signs for many years.

A problem appears in cases where the treatment of acute enterocolitis was carried out incorrectly or not completely. The longer the mucous membrane is inflamed, the deeper the pathology penetrates into the membrane.

The main symptoms of enterocolitis are intermittent stools, which alternate with constipation and then diarrhea.

Loose stools appear due to increased intestinal activity, while the mucous membrane does not receive enough fluid and electrolytes.

In some cases, diarrhea appears as a result of softening of the stool and the more neglected the pathology, the more often the diarrhea will be.

If the disease has affected exclusively the small intestine, then diarrhea appears about 4 times a day. Enterocolitis during bowel movements does not cause pain, and the urge appears after eating.

The stool may contain mucus. Diarrhea can quickly change to constipation, in which case bowel movements from 4-10 times a day change to 2 times a week.

Rectal cancer

This pathology is one of the most terrible among the rest and with it there will be an alternation of diarrhea and constipation. The following factors can cause cancer:

1. Genetic predisposition in humans.
2. Chronic colitis.
3. Proctitis.
4. One of the important factors that influences the development of rectal cancer is the wrong diet.

If there are a lot of fried foods on the menu, with a lot of fat, while the diet includes few plant foods, then constipation appears.

An equally important factor in the development of cancer is overweight patients.

The main symptoms include:

1. The nature of the feces changes.
2. There is an alternation of constipation and diarrhea.
3. Frequent urge to defecate is possible, while the act of defecation is painful.
4. There is a feeling of a foreign object in the rectum.
5. There may be various impurities in the feces.

If a tumor appears in the upper part of the intestine, then the stool becomes liquid, and its color changes to black, with blood particles. A similar condition in patients is often mistaken for hemorrhoids.

But with hemorrhoids in a person, the blood in the stool is on top and appears before or after defecation. In cancer, blood and feces mix, and constipation lasts a very long time.

Who to contact for help

First, when diarrhea and constipation appear, you need to pay attention to the duration of the problem and the appearance of such a symptom.

With a sharp exacerbation of the process with a short duration, you can not worry and do not go to the doctors. This condition is caused by food or stress.

If the symptoms continue for a long time, while the intensity increases, then this is a sign of diseases that need to be diagnosed.

To establish the cause and diagnosis, you need to contact a gastroenterologist. In addition, you need to be wary if diarrhea and constipation are characterized by additional symptoms:

1. There is pain on the right - appendicitis or cholecystitis may develop.
2. With severe and prolonged pain - the development of colic, obstruction.
3. Constant, unquenchable thirst and weakness in the body indicate a high intake of laxatives, an infectious bowel disease, or poisoning.
4. Headache, a lump in the throat and lack of air is irritable bowel syndrome.
5. Vomiting, blood impurities in stool masses, and cold sweats indicate intestinal obstruction.
6. When infected with parasites, an unpleasant odor or taste may appear in the mouth, there is a change in constipation and diarrhea, and a person begins to tire quickly.

Similar symptoms can occur in women during pregnancy, which means that a visit to the doctor is required, even if constipation and diarrhea are not simultaneous.

Treatment is prescribed exclusively by a doctor; it is forbidden to stop the problem on your own.

To diagnose constipation and diarrhea, blood, feces and urine tests are collected, ultrasound and colonoscopy are done. If required, an endoscopic diagnostic method is possible.

Treating problematic stools

To carry out treatment, and to do procedures to normalize the stool, you will need to know the exact diagnosis of constipation and diarrhea.

To quickly eliminate the cause, you will need to adhere to the correct diet, as well as protect yourself from frequent stress and use medications, which may be:

1. Antibacterial.
2. Antidiarrheal.
3. Antispasmodic.

If the stool retention lasts a long time, then the doctor may prescribe an enema treatment initially. In this case, it is possible to use an enema if no tumors are detected, otherwise surgical intervention will be required.

In the presence of diarrhea and constipation, which change each other, treatment is often carried out independently, without medical assistance.

But in severe cases, you cannot cope with the problem on your own. Doctors prohibit the use of laxatives at once for such manifestations.

To normalize stool, you will need to eat more foods with plant fiber, as well as drink plenty of water.

It is recommended to put stress on the body by exercising, as well as to stop using drugs for diarrhea. In the diet, you will need to reduce the amount of sugar, you can use probiotics.

Some people initially develop diarrhea, after which stool retention begins, and not vice versa. In this case, treatment should be carried out only with the help of doctors and it is not recommended to do the procedure yourself.

If stool retention appears as a result of fecal impaction, then an enema or special suppositories must be used. In some cases, surgery may be required.

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