Some individuals use the time period “lazy bowel” to consult with slowed digestion. Slowed digestion is a symptom of a situation quite than a situation in itself.
An individual who has slowed digestion could expertise different signs, corresponding to rare bowel actions, constipation, and straining.
Learn on to search out out the causes of a lazy bowel and the opposite signs that will accompany it. We additionally define varied remedy choices that would help correct digestion and assist alleviate signs.
A lazy bowel will not be a diagnosable medical dysfunction. Nevertheless, many individuals use this time period to consult with slowed digestion.
Slowed digestion ends in rare bowel actions, which docs name sluggish transit constipation (STC).
Individuals with STC have very arduous stools. Hard stools are harder to go and may, subsequently, result in problems corresponding to hemorrhoids and painful bowel movements.
Some individuals develop slowed digestion after extended use of stimulant laxatives. Some examples of those medicine embody:
Stimulant laxatives stimulate peristalsis — a collection of muscle contractions that the physique makes use of to maneuver meals by the digestive tract. Over time, the physique can develop into depending on this stimulation, and it could develop slower or much less efficient peristalsis.
Nevertheless, some individuals could really feel the necessity to use stimulant laxatives. If that’s the case, it is very important use the bottom attainable dosage and solely depend on the drug for a brief interval.
The next signs could accompany slowed digestion:
- feeling the urge to have a bowel motion solely very occasionally
- having a bowel motion lower than a couple of occasions per week
- passing fewer stools than regular
- abdominal bloating and ache
- nausea
There are a number of potential causes of slowed digestion and STC. They embody:
- Laxative use: Individuals who use stimulant laxatives for prolonged intervals could wrestle to go stools with out them.
- Medicine and medicines: Some medicine, together with opioids, could sluggish digestion and trigger constipation.
- Fiber consumption: Consuming extra fiber can assist ease many types of constipation, however an excessive amount of can
make STC worse . Fiber will increase the quantity of stool within the rectum, which isn’t useful for an individual with STC, who’s unable to go stool continuously and successfully. - Bodily blockage: A progress or one other bodily blockage throughout the digestive tract could sluggish digestion.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): IBS causes constipation, fuel, diarrhea, and different digestive issues. Docs don’t totally perceive what causes IBS. Nevertheless, researchers have proven that folks with IBS are likely to have increased levels of sensitivity within the intestines.
- Thyroid illness: Some individuals with an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, expertise persistent constipation and slowed digestion.
- Nerve injury: Harm to varied nerves within the digestive tract can sluggish digestion, inflicting signs of STC. Neurological accidents, corresponding to spinal twine or traumatic brain injuries, may sluggish digestion.
Slowed digestion will not be the one explanation for constipation. Another potential causes embody:
- unhealthy bowel habits, corresponding to delaying bowel actions
- hemorrhoids
- injury to the anal muscular tissues
- pelvic flooring dysfunction
- developmental problems
- dementia
A lazy bowel is a symptom and never a diagnosable medical situation. As such, an individual who experiences slowed digestion ought to see their physician for a analysis.
Conventional constipation cures, corresponding to consuming extra fiber or ingesting extra water, could not work for STC. As such, it is crucial that a health care provider receives detailed and correct details about an individual’s signs and medical historical past. This data will assist them make an correct analysis.
A health care provider may carry out a bodily examination to verify for abnormalities within the rectum and anus. Some docs could assess the well being of the pelvic flooring muscular tissues.
They could additionally use diagnostic checks and procedures, corresponding to a colonoscopy, to detect any abnormalities within the digestive tract.
The remedy for slowed digestion and STC is dependent upon the precise trigger.
Typically, a health care provider could also be unable to establish a medical cause for sluggish digestion or STC. On this case, it may be useful for the person to maintain a document of their signs as they struggle totally different remedies.
Some potential remedies for slowed digestion and STC embody these under.
Evaluating fiber consumption
Considerably growing the quantity of fiber within the weight-reduction plan could make STC worse. Nevertheless, very low fiber consumption could make stools arduous and tough to go.
An individual ought to ask their physician for recommendation concerning the extent of fiber consumption that’s applicable for them.
Lowering use of stimulant laxatives
Individuals with STC could discover that stimulant laxatives worsen their signs. They need to cut back using these laxatives and discuss to their physician about different remedies.
Enemas
An enema is a process that includes flushing out the bowels utilizing an injection of fluid by the rectum.
An enema could assist an individual have a bowel motion. Nevertheless, it is very important communicate with a health care provider concerning the long-term use of this remedy.
Bowel retraining
Bowel retraining is a behavioral remedy for bowel problems corresponding to STC. Some bowel coaching therapies use biofeedback to assist an individual retrain their bowels to empty commonly.
There are totally different strategies of delivering biofeedback. One methodology includes inserting electrodes onto the bowel to permit the individual to see or hear the exercise of their bowel muscular tissues. An individual can then use this suggestions to grasp their bowel actions higher and retrain the muscular tissues.
Surgical procedure
In very uncommon and excessive circumstances of sluggish or insufficient bowel actions, a health care provider could suggest surgical procedure to put in a colostomy bag. A colostomy bag is
Interferential electrical stimulation
Interferential electrical stimulation makes use of painless electrical currents to extend digestion velocity and enhance the functioning of nerves within the digestive tract. It might be an efficient different to surgical procedure.
Individuals typically use the time period lazy bowel to consult with slowed digestion.
Slowed digestion ends in rare bowel actions, or sluggish transit constipation, which may trigger arduous stools, stomach ache, and painful bowel actions.
There are numerous potential causes of slowed digestion, a few of that are life-style elements which can be comparatively simple to alter. Typically, slowed digestion is the results of an underlying medical situation that requires applicable remedy.
Individuals who expertise signs of sluggish transit constipation ought to see a health care provider for a analysis.
