What causes bowel seepage?

Are you always running to the restroom? Do you have an uncontrollable urge to pass gas at the most inappropriate moments? You, my friend, might be suffering from bowel seepage. Don’t worry; it’s not as bad as it sounds. It can happen to anyone! But what is it exactly that causes this embarrassing condition?

Let’s take a deep dive into the world of digestive health and uncover some fascinating facts.

The Digestive System: A Brief Overview

Before we delve into bowel seepage, let’s first understand how our digestive system works.

Our digestive system starts with our mouth, where we chew and break down food into smaller pieces. Next stop is the esophagus – the tube that connects our mouth and stomach through which we swallow food. Once in our stomach, gastric juices are released to break down food further before sending them off to our small intestine for nutrient absorption. Our large intestine then absorbs any remaining water before getting rid of waste through defecation.

Sounds simple enough right? Unfortunately not always.

Involuntary Leakage: An Embarrassing Condition

Bowel seepage or involuntary fecal leakage is common amongst adults over 40 years old and those who’ve had surgery (but don’t worry if you’re under 40). Sometimes there can be a disconnect between your brain (which sends signals telling your body when it needs to go) and your anus muscles – leading to unwanted leaks!

Let’s Talk About Bowel Movements

The frequency of going ‘number two’ varies person-to-person (just putting that out there). Most people think once per day should suffice but really anywhere between three times a day or thrice weekly should give no cause for alarm unless things start looking/smelling funny- then consult with Dr Fartsman immediately!

Dry/sticky/hard poop means one isn’t drinking enough water or eating a high-fiber diet (such educators we are). Soft, easy-to-pass stools demonstrate good digestive health.

Okay back to bowel leakage…

Causes of Bowel Seepage

For some people, the reason behind bowel seepage remains unknown (medical jargon – idiopathic). Common causes include:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Weak or damaged anal sphincter muscles
• Nerve damage from childbirth/previous surgery/incidents such as bike riding accidents, for example.
• Some prescription medication cause laxative side effects which can lead to fecal incontinence.

Anal Sphincter Muscle: The Mighty Defender

The anal sphincter muscle is a powerful piece of anatomy that most of us never consider until it stops working correctly – this trusty friend works hard and deserves praise!

It acts like an elastic ring around your anus and controls bowel movements by opening only when you decide it should! If these muscles are weakened/damaged through pregnancy/surgery/injury then there’s less control over one’s poop destiny. But don’t let this bum you out too much; there’s hope yet!.

Kegel Exercises – A Game Changer!

Strengthening kegel exercises (Boys/Men!! These work for you too!) may tighten up the sphincter and put things back into working order relatively quickly. Just 5 minutes every day oughta do the trick reports show substantial improvement within six weeks dude(s)!

So go ahead try contracting (winking/lifting) those pelvic floor muscles while on public transport/gym/yoga class…extra points if anyone asks what you’re doing! 😉

Tips To Prevent Bowel Seepage

While not entirely preventable, here are some ways to reduce your chances of developing involuntary fecal leakage:

Dietary Changes: More Fiber = Better Pooping 💩

(It’s a poop article, so we can share a 💩emoji or two) Adding more fiber to your diet through fresh fruits/vegetables (which take longer to digest), helps reduce constipation- which often leads to bowel leakage. Legumes/nuts/seeds and grains are brilliant options too.

Bowel Training: Learn Your Pooping Habits

A fancy term for getting into the habit of going at set times (after every meal, for example) – this helps keep things on time instead of leaving anything in there that could come out unexpectedly (see what we did there!).

Monitor Fluid Intake: Stay Hydrated

Not drinking enough water means our bodies hold onto as much liquid as possible – leading to difficulties pooping. Keep those bowels smooth with plenty of fluids!

If you’re an avid alcoholic beverage consumer; remember alcohol by nature is diuretic hence it slows down the digestive process exacerbating any pre-existing anomalies already present. Sorry 🍻enthusiasts!

Exercise More Often

Regular exercise works wonders not just for toning up glutes, but also the muscles around our anal sphincter reducing potential leaks.

When To See A Doctor?

We know discussing bowel problems can feel uncomfortable – no need to bring it up at dinner table conversations but if symptoms persist/cannot control-feces consistency changed/unexplained pain then make an appointment with Dr Fartsman immediately 😎!

The Bottom Line

While experiencing involuntary fecal leakage may cause embarrassment and inconvenience; rest assured that these kinds of medical issues don’t have control over one’s happiness/reasoning abilities/accomplishments etc! Just try out some dietary changes/makeup/exercise/yoga/chia seeds-there really isn’t much picking when comes discovering remedies.
But….always consult with Dr Fartsman before creating your self-management plan!!

Now go forth and spread the good word!!! 💩

(Cue applause).