Bowel habits
Diarrhoea and constipation are common symptoms that can often be managed with self-care treatment. But it is key to know the underlying cause and get the right care if needed.
What is diarrhoea and constipation?
Anyone of any age can get a change in bowel habits, which includes having diarrhoea or constipation. Everyone has their own bowel habit routine. A change in this routine can indicate an illness.
In adults, diarrhoea can be short-lived and will often resolve on its own as it is usually caused by a stomach bug or another infection. Constipation is another common change in bowel habits that can be managed by dietary changes or over the counter medication. If you get a change in bowel habits which does not resolve within a few days of self-care treatment, speak to a doctor.
At the London Liver Group, we are experts in diagnosing, monitoring and treating a range of conditions that may cause changes to your bowel habits.
You will experience exceptional personalised care from your first consultation, during treatment and throughout your recovery.
Causes
Diarrhoea can be caused by:
• Food poisoning
• Gastroenteritis
• Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS)
• An intolerance to a particular food
• Coeliac disease
• A side effect of some medications
Constipation can be caused by:
• Not drinking enough water
• Lack of fibre in your diet
• Not being active or exercising enough
• Medication side effects, such as from opioids
• Anxiety or depression
• Thyroid disorders
Symptoms
Diarrhoea and constipation are symptoms of other conditions. Diarrhoea happens when your poo is very loose or watery, or if you need to go to the toilet more often than usual.
Vomiting can occur with diarrhoea, especially if you have food poisoning or a stomach bug, but this does not always happen. If diarrhoea is persistent it can cause dehydration which can make you feel thirsty, tired or dizzy.
Constipation happens when your stools become hard and dry, making it difficult to go to the toilet.
Constipation can be painful, especially if you strain to pass stools, which may lead to another condition called piles (haemorrhoids).
Speak to a doctor if you see blood in your stools or if your bowel symptoms are not getting better after a few days of taking over the counter treatment.
Diagnosis
To diagnose the cause of your change in bowel habits, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and symptoms.
If needed, your doctor might do some blood tests, ask for a stool sample, or order some scans for you such as an endoscopy or colonoscopy.
Our Endoscopy Unit in The London Clinic offers a comprehensive capsule endoscopy service, a more comfortable method of endoscopy than traditional procedures.
In most cases, the cause of diarrhoea or constipation will be temporary and can be managed with over the counter treatment from a pharmacy.
Treatments
Loperamide (also known as Imodium) can be bought over the counter to treat diarrhoea. Loperamide slows down the movement of your digestive tract which can reduce frequent bowel movements.
Take small sips of water if you feel dehydrated due to persistent diarrhoea; you can also take oral rehydration sachets (ORS). There are many different laxatives you can try to treat constipation, including:
• Senokot tablets
• Laxido sachets
• Lactulose
• Fybogel sachets
• Docusate capsules
• Glycerin suppositories
Speak to a pharmacist to find out which laxative is best for you. These treatments are not intended to be used in the long term.
If your diarrhoea or constipation symptoms do not get better after a few days of treatment, speak to a doctor.