Bowel movements differ from person to person. People may poop a few times per calendar week or several times per mean solar day. A sudden change in bowel motion frequency can occur due to stress, a change in diet or exercise, or an underlying affliction.

If bowel movements render to normal inside a few days, this should not be a cause for concern. However, persistently pooping much more than normal could point an underlying medical condition that may require treatment.

This article outlines nine potential causes of needing to poop more oftentimes. It also provides information on treatment options and when to come across a doc for gastrointestinal discomfort.

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Dietary changes and booze consumption may bear upon a person'south bowel movement.

Beneath are some potential causes of pooping more oftentimes than normal.

Dietary changes

A modify in diet can lead to a change in bowel movements. For instance, consuming more than fiber helps food motion through the digestive organization. As such, a person who adds more fruit, vegetables, and whole grains to their diet may find they need to poop more often.

Alcohol consumption

Alcohol can have an immediate issue on the amount a person poops. Drinks with a higher alcohol content may slow down the digestive organization, and low-booze beverages may speed it up.

Drinks with a lower alcohol content include beer and wine. Later consuming these drinks, people may find they need to poop more than often or more urgently. This event should go away later the alcohol leaves their system.

Do

A 2017 review suggests depression-intensity exercise may decrease the time information technology takes for food to motility through the gut. This could result in more regular bowel movements.

Some people report a need to poop during or immediately after physical activity. Strenuous exercise has a greater touch on the body and may crusade the following symptoms:

  • diarrhea
  • stomach hurting
  • nausea

Stress

Stress can have a significant impact on gut office and health. It speeds up the movement of food through the big intestine, while persistent stress could trigger a need to empty the bowels more ofttimes.

People may as well written report a greater need to employ the bathroom if they experience astute stress or feet. This is due to the body's gut-brain axis — the network that connects the cardinal nervous system with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract fretfulness. The gut-encephalon centrality is responsible for the "butterflies" a person feels in their stomach when they are anxious.

Diarrhea

The definition of diarrhea is 3 or more than loose, watery stools per day. Other symptoms may include:

  • an urgent need to use the bathroom
  • loss of control of bowel movements
  • abdominal hurting
  • nausea

Diarrhea tin can occur as a consequence of a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection. The exact cause may non exist obvious in some cases.

Most cases of diarrhea should go abroad within 4 days. In the meantime, a person should rest and drinkable plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Menstruation

Co-ordinate to a 2014 study, people are more likely to feel abdominal hurting and diarrhea in the days leading upwards to a period.

People who written report emotional symptoms and fatigue before or during their menses were more likely to experience multiple GI symptoms. The researchers conclude this may be due to shared pathways between the brain, gut, and hormones.

These symptoms that people experience typically disappear once their period finishes.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic GI disorder that may cause the post-obit symptoms:

  • stomach cramps
  • bloating
  • diarrhea
  • constipation

The crusade of IBS is unclear, though some possible reasons include:

  • hypersensitivity of the nerves within the gut
  • food passing through the gut also rapidly or besides slowly
  • stress
  • genetic factors

Common food triggers for IBS include:

  • caffeine
  • dairy
  • carbonated drinks

Food intolerances

Food intolerances occur when a person is unable to digest certain foods properly. Symptoms include:

  • diarrhea
  • abdominal pain or discomfort
  • nausea
  • vomiting

Some examples of nutrient intolerances include:

  • lactose intolerance, where a person is unable to break down lactose in milk and dairy products
  • fructose intolerance, in which a person is unable to suspension down the fruit sugar fructose
  • non-celiac gluten sensitivity, where a person has symptoms after consuming gluten containing foods

Crohn'southward disease

Crohn's affliction is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation of the GI tract.

The symptoms vary from person to person, partially depending on the office of the GI tract affected. Some of the nearly common symptoms include:

  • an urgent demand to empty the bowels
  • a feeling of incomplete bowel emptying
  • persistent diarrhea
  • constipation
  • rectal haemorrhage
  • abdominal cramps and hurting

According to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, there is no clear cause of Crohn'south illness, though genetic and environmental factors are likely to play a role.

The handling for more frequent pooping depends on the underlying cause. If a person has an underlying medical status, a doctor volition demand to care for this to alleviate symptoms.

Nevertheless, people may likewise benefit from more general treatments.

For case, the post-obit options could help someone with acute diarrhea:

  • over-the-counter (OTC) anti-diarrheal medications
  • sports drinks, or rehydration solutions to assistance prevent aridity
  • avoiding booze, caffeine, and sweeteners
  • fugitive fatty, spicy, or dairy foods

A person who suspects their diet causes them to poop more often may wish to proceed a food diary. This can aid them recognize foods that may touch on their bowel habits. Once a person identifies their trigger foods, they should avoid or limit those foods.

A demand to poop more often than usual is not necessarily a cause for concern. However, a person should meet a doctor if they experience whatever of the post-obit symptoms:

  • intestinal hurting
  • diarrhea that lasts more than ii days
  • pooping 6 times or more in 24 hours
  • poop that is black or contains claret
  • nausea or airsickness
  • a fever of 102oF or higher
  • symptoms of aridity

These symptoms could bespeak a serious underlying medical problem.

It is not ever possible to stop the triggers of more than frequent bowel movements. Still, the following tips may aid reduce the hazard of digestive issues.

Increasing fiber intake

A person who consumes plenty of cobweb can promote more than regular bowel movements. People should consume more vegetables, whole grains, and pulses.

It is important to increase dietary cobweb intake gradually and drinkable plenty of h2o. This volition help prevent constipation.

Reducing stress

People who experience stress-induced bowel bug may benefit from the following activities:

  • exercise
  • meditation
  • relaxation therapy
  • talking therapy

Practicing good hygiene

The post-obit tips can reduce a person'due south risk of contracting bacteria and viruses that can cause gastric upset and diarrhea:

  • washing easily thoroughly after bathroom visits
  • washing easily thoroughly before preparing and eating food
  • cooking meats thoroughly
  • avoiding sharing personal items, such as:
    • eating utensils
    • toothbrushes
    • razors
    • towels

A change in nutrition, exercise, or stress levels can make people need to poop more often. This should non be of concern if they are otherwise healthy. Typically, a person's bowel habits should return to normal within a few days.

Withal, people should encounter a doctor if the need to poop more than oft accompanies other symptoms, such as abdominal hurting, diarrhea, or fever. These could signal an underlying medical condition that requires treatment.