Bowel habits can vary from person to person, day to day. However a sudden and noticeable change to your bowel habit can be suggestive of an underlying health issue.
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A change in your bowel habits can be any kind of change in your stool such as its colour, consistency, or frequency, or the amount of control you have over when you use the toilet.
While most sudden changes in bowel habits aren’t cause for concern, some can be signs of conditions that require medical diagnosis and treatment.
Bowel habits can vary from person to person, day to day. However, a sudden and noticeable change to your bowel habits can be suggestive of an underlying health issue – such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or bowel cancer.
Therefore, it is important to look out for a number of red flags, when it comes to your bowel movements. Red flags to consider include the following:
Deep red, black and tarry, clay-coloured or pale stools
Bloody stools
Abdominal cramps and pain
Diarrhoea or loose, watery stools
Bloating
Fatigue
There are many causes of changes in your bowel habits and stools, which range from minor to severe.
It’s important to never self-diagnose. If you have any of the red flags listed above, or are worried about your bowel habits, we recommend making an appointment to see one of our gastroenterology specialists as soon as possible
Causes of changes in bowel habits include:
Infections
Food intolerance
Colon polyps
Bowel obstruction
Diverticulitis
Endocrine conditions
Liver and gallbladder disorders
Pancreatitis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)
Both men and women are more likely to experience changes to bowel habits as they get older, constipation in particular.
The muscles that help you control bowel movements can also weaken as you age, and the risk of faecal incontinence or struggling to control your bowels increases after 65.
For women, going through perimenopause and menopause can also cause a sudden change in bowel habits. During this time of a woman’s life, hormone levels go through a huge shift, affecting various systems in your body, including your digestive system, causing changes in bowel habits.
While bowel changes are fairly common during menopause, you should still make an appointment to see a colorectal specialist just to be sure there’s nothing else going on that requires treatment.
Speaking to a OneWelbeck women’s health specialist may also help you manage any perimenopause or menopause symptoms you might be experiencing.
Changes in bowel habits, especially constipation, are common throughout pregnancy, during any trimester. They are usually down to natural changes in your hormones, but you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out for specialist advice is you’re worried or notice any changes you’re not sure about.
The main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in your stools, changes in bowel habits and abdominal pain. However, this does not mean that sudden changes in bowel habits will always lead to a bowel cancer diagnosis.
If you notice any of the red flags listed above or any symptoms of bowel cancer, make an appointment with one of our gastroenterology specialists as soon as you can. They will be able to provide a diagnosis and can also arrange for prompt treatment if it’s needed.
It’s not uncommon to experience back pain if you’ve been having constipation or diarrhoea. However, changes in bowel habits with back pain can also be a sign of health problems which require investigation and treatment.
At OneWelbeck, our gastroenterology specialists assess all your symptoms to make an accurate diagnosis and provide you with the best possible treatment.
A colonoscopy is a procedure used to take a detailed look inside the bowel. With the help of laxatives, the bowel is completely emptied before this procedure. It’s therefore normal not to have a bowel movement for a few days after, but you should be able to pass gas normally.
Your bowel movements should return to their normal frequency after a few days. Make an appointment to talk to your consultant if you’re having problems with your bowels after a colonoscopy.
A person who moves their bowels fewer than three times per week may have constipation.
Constipation can happen for many reasons, such as when stool passes through the colon too slowly. The slower the food moves through the digestive tract, the more water the colon will absorb and the harder the faeces will become.
Sometimes, constipation results from a blockage in the large intestine. In this case, a person will need urgent medical attention. At other times, it may simply be due to a lack of fibre or water.
The main symptoms of constipation are:
Difficulty passing stool
Straining when passing stool
Passing less stool than usual
Lumpy, dry, or hard stool
Other symptoms include:
Pain and cramping in the abdomen
Feeling bloated
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Diarrhoea is when you pass a loose, watery stool during a bowel movement.
The most common cause of diarrhoea is gastroenteritis, a virus that infects your gut, but diarrhoea has many causes.
Infections, food poisoning, certain medications, food intolerance, bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and bowel procedures can all cause diarrhoea.
The main symptoms of diarrhoea are:
Abdominal bloating or cramps
A strong and urgent need to move your bowels
Feeling nauseous
Symptoms of severe diarrhoea that require immediate medical attention include:
A temperature (fever)
Severe abdominal pain
Vomiting
Blood or mucus in your stool
Weight loss
At OneWelbeck, our gastroenterology specialists at our digestive health centre of excellence use physical examinations, blood tests, imaging scans and procedures, and other advanced tests to diagnose the cause of changes in bowel habits.
The treatment you will need depends on what’s causing the changes in your bowel habits. Your OneWelbeck specialist will talk you through all your options and recommend the best course of treatment.
At OneWelbeck we offer fast access to expert care at our London-based clinic.
Contact us today to make an appointment with one of our leading gastroenterology specialists.
You should seek medical advice if changes to your bowel habits have lasted four to six weeks or longer.
We all experience changes in bowel habits from time to time. However, if you’ve noticed any of the red flag symptoms listed on this page, or have had a change in your bowel habits for four to six weeks or more it’s important to talk to a specialist for a diagnosis.
The best time to empty your bowel is when you feel the urge to use the toilet. You should avoid straining to have a bowel movement as this puts pressure on the muscles supporting your pelvic area, which can prevent your bowel from emptying properly.
Between three times a week to three times a day is considered “normal” when it comes to how often you should open your bowels. However, everyone’s “normal” is different. The most important thing is that your bowel movements remain within your own “normal”. Any changes outside of this might need attention.
There are a few things that can help keep you regular and may help prevent unpleasant bowel changes. These include:
Drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
Exercising regularly to keep your bowels moving
Avoiding foods that trigger constipation, diarrhoea or cramping
Not straining to have a bowel movement
Eating a healthy, balanced diet which incorporates high-fibre foods
Not holding in a stool as this can lead to constipation
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We have brought together a group of leading colorectal and general surgeons and gastroenterologists to create our Digestive Health team. With over 300 years of combined experience, these expert clinicians are the best in their field and are all focused on delivering the very best patient care.