It is easy to take bowel movement for granted. It is only when something goes wrong down there that we sit up and take notice.
This should not be the case as bowel health is extremely important to your overall well-being, especially these days when diseases related to bowel movement are becoming more frequent, such as hemorrhoids, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. According to the WHO, colorectal cancer has become the third leading cause of cancer death.
The Function of a Bowel Movement
Your body contains a lot of toxins that need to be removed regularly. Your bowel system helps you achieve this by absorbing the nutrients that come from digested food and eliminating the waste products out of your body through stools.
A bowel movement should therefore be a quick, instinctive, and effortless act. It shouldn’t require effort nor should there be any straining involved. If you have regular bowel movement without any strain, pain, and blood, and you have soft and solid stools, then you have a pretty healthy bowel system.
On the other hand, if you have less than three bowel movements in a week, you may be suffering from constipation. If this is the case, you need to make changes because frequent constipation and straining can lead to hemorrhoids.
How to Keep the Bowel Healthy
An unhealthy lifestyle is usually the culprit behind difficult bowel movements, and not an underlying health condition. Thankfully, they can be easily remedied by implementing changes into your lifestyle.
You need to establish regular toilet schedules, and stick to them. Drink plenty of water and get regular exercise. Eat a balanced diet with lots of fiber in it. These will keep things moving down there and before you know it, your bowel movement is back to regular programming.
However, if your bowel movement remains difficult despite implementing these changes, then it is possible you have a colorectal disorder. During this time, it is best to seek professional help by consulting with a Los Angeles proctologist. Call us now for an appointment!