What would cause you to have diarrhea all the time?

Diarrhea – a truly embarrassing condition that can leave you feeling drained, dehydrated, and desperate for answers. If you’ve found yourself chained to your toilet seat lately or wondering why every meal feels like Russian roulette, don’t worry! We’re here to help sift through the muck and figure out what could be causing your chronic diarrhea.

What is Chronic Diarrhea?

Before we dive into the possible causes of diarrhea, let’s first define what it is. According to medical professionals, diarrhea refers to loose or liquid stool that occurs frequently throughout the day. Unlike acute diarrhea which typically resolves within two weeks with minimal treatment needed, chronic diarrhea refers to symptoms that last longer than four weeks without improvement.

So if you’ve been experiencing frequent trips to the bathroom with no signs of relief in sight – buckle up because things are about to get interesting (and probably pretty gross).

Common Causes of Chronic Diarrhea

Eliminating certain possibilities is key when trying to detect possible explanations behind persistent intestinal distress – so let’s go over some common culprits:

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

The term inflammatory bowel disease includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These chronic illnesses occur when inflammation damages digestive tract tissues leading to abdominal pain, blood in stools as well as alternating episodes between constipation and severe diarrhoea/diabetes- both short-term subtypes diarrhoeas which may lead towards long-term effects such chronic https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/inflammatory-bowel-disease-symptoms

If you suspect this might be the root issue behind your leaks then set up an appointment with a gastroenterologist who can perform the necessary testing to provide a definitive diagnosis.

Antibiotic Use

Antibiotics can do wonders for us when we’re down with an infection, but they also MADLY kill good bacteria alongside bad. It’s why it’s important not to overuse them/ take pill(s) that aren’t prescribed by medical professionals. When gut flora is damaged/disrupted/dismantled, diarrhea can result as your body tries to restore balance in vain [1].

Be sure to talk with your doctor about any recent antibiotic use and investigate if taking probiotics could help replenish friendly bacteria/microorganisms that were destroyed during treatment.

Celiac Disease

This immune system disorder causes gluten intolerance which results in inflammation of small intestine lining (villi). Though prevalent in 1-2% folks worldwidehttps://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352220, America has the highest variance out of all populations prompting https://celiac.org/about-the-foundation/news-and-events/annual-research-meetings/the-silent-global-public-health-crises-of-celiac-di/, estimates suggest over two million Americans are unknowingly affected [2].

If you suffer from unexplained episodes of diarrhea along with gas or bloating after consuming breads, cereals or pastas – this should be taken seriously as described ‘if left untreated’, C.Disease may harmfully damage intestines eventually leading towards other gastrointestinal complications. Consider consulting a physician ASAP and inquire about allergy-testing or possible blood screening for antibodies indicating existence.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-A)

According to studies published at MIT itself(https://medical.mit.edu/my-mit/preventative-care/2020/12/navigating-gastrointestinal-care), approximately 10%–15% individuals have IBS-A , making up one third of digestive ailments, with prominent symptoms such as abdominal discomfort or pain.

Though the actual cause of IBS is unknown, it seems stress ,diet[say what?..], and sometimes hormones/aggravating substances can trigger/aggrevate episodes. Unlike Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis which impact all intestinal tracts lining{s} homogeneously,ICD-A affects specific parts – making diagnosis harder [3]. Pick up a journey today tracking foods/consumables consumed to discern aggravations in consultation with gastroenterologists(or dieticians may help) for samples on tailored diet changes too!

Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is an inflammation in your pancreas that results due to various factors like alcohol consumption (Umm…drinks nervously) ,cystic fibrosis, smoking ;eventually leading towards diabetes or malnutrition if untreated[4]. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain after eating high-fat-content food along with chronic diarrhea

If you suspect this might be putting the crawl in your sprints, reach out to a physician about available treatment methods/recourse options potentially including pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy(aka PERT).

Not So Common Causes of Diarrhea

Okay so you’ve eliminated some obvious possibilities – but what could possibly explain prolonged trips into your porcelain throne?- It’s time for some unusual suspects:

Lactose Intolerance

Has Uncle Sal been bringing milk carton(s) labeled ‘lactaid’ everytime he visits? That should have been a red flag. Lactose intolerance occurs when the body lacks the enzyme lactase necessary responsible for properly digesting dairy- thusly causing stomach upset and diarrhea.

Consider replacing traditional cow milk products/spreads/biscuits/chips/snacks/cheese-crackers/etc—supermarkets usually offer lactose-free alternatives/range these days anyways Which are easier than monitoring flatulence frequency/emitting unpropitious gases.

Coffee Overload

We get it – coffee is a delectation of the senses but overindulgence can oft times lead to gastrointestinal woes such as diarrhea. Caffeine in general acts like a stimulant naturally which may sometimes cause bowels to become overactive .

Try reducing amounts/consumption rate for some comfortable consumption or try stimulating caffeine-free alternatives instead!

How Should I Proceed?

In case you’re struggling with intestinal issues, regardless of whether they are chronic/short-term bouts- It’s important that you:

  • Consult your primary-care physician[PCP] : Start by scheduling an appointment with them ,as PCPs will possibly have necessary knowledge and expertise to determine if formal consultation/referral makes sense . Sometimes this might involve dietary changes or lifestyle-adhere(ing behaviours) recommendations)
  • Keep track of episodes: Be diligent recording when instances happen and their frequency as well as making note(s)(due time-wise) the possible foods / medicine[s] consumed beforehand.
  • Hydrate regularly: Frequent trips towards your commode often results in dehydration/toilet jokes-we’ll save those for later/. Ensure ensuring sufficient water/electrolyte intake is necessary
    .

Diarrhea isn’t any fun, But hopefully we’ve provided enough information on what could be behind it so you can start keeping/knowing …what’s coming out(side). Tread loosely my friends!

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