Bowel incontinence — causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 by Michelle Simmons

Bowel incontinence is the inability to control your bowel movements, which results to involuntary soiling. This condition can affect anyone, but is more common in women and older adults, although it is not a normal part of aging. Bowel incontinence is also known by different names, such as encopresis, fecal incontinence, and stool soiling. The causes of the disease include constipation, damage to muscles or nerves of the anus and rectum, diarrhea, and pelvic support problems. It can also be caused by long-term conditions, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and dementia.

Known side effects of bowel incontinence

With bowel incontinence, a person may be able to hold a bowel movement until he gets to a toilet; or stool may leak from the rectum unexpectedly, sometimes while passing gas. Some of the known side effects of bowel incontinence include anal itching, a buttock skin infection, or breakdown of the skin and ulcers. Others symptoms of the condition include abdominal pain or cramping; bloating, flatulence or both; constipation or diarrhea; and urinary incontinence.

Body systems harmed by bowel incontinence

The main body system that is harmed by bowel incontinence is the excretory system.

List of foods or nutrients that prevent bowel incontinence

The foods that can prevent bowel incontinence depend on what causes it. Eating more fiber-rich foods and drinking more liquids can improve the symptoms of bowel incontinence that is caused by constipation or hemorrhoids. On the other hand, there are specific foods and drinks to avoid when a person has bowel incontinence. These include alcoholic beverages; caffeinated drinks and foods; dairy products such as milk, cheese, and ice cream; fatty and greasy foods; foods and drinks with fructose; fruits such as apples, peaches, and pears; spicy foods; and products with sweeteners ending in “-ol,” such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and maltitol.

Treatments, management plans for bowel incontinence

Bowel incontinence treatments are for the restoration of bowel control or reduction of its severity. One of the treatments for the condition is to make dietary changes. Keeping a food diary can help monitor the impact of different foods. Moreover, drinking more fluid and eating more foods rich in fiber can help lessen bowel incontinence that is caused by constipation. Another treatment for the condition is bowel training, which may be effective for patients with poor sphincter control or low awareness of the urge to discharge stools.

Bowel training can involve exercises to help restore the strength of vital muscles for bowel control and learning to use the bathroom at certain times of the day, like after a meal. Another type of bowl training is biofeedback in which a pressure-sensitive probe is inserted into the anus to detect the contractions of the muscles of the anal sphincter. Other treatments for bowel incontinence are surgery and medications.

Where to learn more

Summary

Bowel incontinence is a condition in which a person cannot control his bowel movements.

Bowel incontinence can be caused by constipation, damage to muscles or nerves of the anus and rectum, diarrhea, pelvic support problems, and other medical conditions.

Bowel incontinence symptoms include anal itching; a buttock skin infection; breakdown of the skin and ulcers; abdominal pain or cramping; bloating, flatulence or both; constipation or diarrhea; and urinary incontinence.

Bowel incontinence can be prevented by eating more fiber-rich foods and drinking more liquids.

Bowel incontinence treatments include dietary changes, bowel training, surgery, and medications.

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