Page 33 - NAMAH-Jul-2019

Healthy bowel habits

Dr. Uttareshwar Pachegaonkar, Dr. Arati Sharma

Abstract
The state of a cleared bowel movement is a great relief for everyone. One should pass
regular bowel movements without straining or using laxatives. The faeces in normal
course are soft yet well-formed, easily passed and at a frequency anywhere between 1–3
times a day and 3 times a week. It is not absolutely essential for one to have it each day.
One should promptly comply with the urge to defecate. If it is not heeded within a few
minutes, the urge usually passes off. It may take just one or two minutes to accomplish
the defecation. The postures and modalities of defecation are culture-dependent. Faeces
contain 65-85% water. Constipation, being a common problem, might result in hard,
dry faeces that are difficult to pass. If defecation occurs too fast, before excess liquid is
absorbed, it gives rise to diarrhoea. Innumerable disease conditions are diagnosed based
on bowel symptoms. Intake of high fibre foods, drinking plenty of water; not straining
for stools, complying promptly with the urge to pass stools and optimum physical
exercise are the best means to prevent bowel-related diseases.

A bowel movement (defecation) is the act frequency anywhere between 1–3 times a day
of eliminating solid or semi-solid waste and 3 times a week.
materials (faeces) from the digestive tract. A
state of cleared bowel movement is a great Anatomy and physiology of bowel movement
relief for everyone. It is common to have a
bowel movement once every day and that too The rectum is a distensible muscular tubular
in the morning hours. However, the normal space acting as a temporary storage space for
frequency of bowel movement is from three excrement (faeces).Muscular contractions
times a day to three times a week. It is not (rhythmic peristaltic wave-like movements)
absolutely essential for one to have it each in the walls of the colon move faecal material
day but one should be able to pass regular through the digestive tract to the rectum.
bowel movements without straining or using When the rectum is moderately filled,
laxatives. The faeces in a normal course are pressure within it is increased. This pressure
soft yet well-formed, easily passed and at a stimulates the urge to defecate. This increased

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