What does it mean when diarrhea and constipation alternate? The causes of this pathology will be considered below.
In some situations, people may experience diarrhea that alternates with constipation. Such an alternation of stool disorders may indicate any malfunctions in the body, and the patient should consult a doctor. The causes of alternating constipation and diarrhea can be very diverse, and not always even a specialist can establish an accurate diagnosis without a complete preliminary examination. The patient himself in such a situation is perplexed, not understanding what is happening with his body. Most often, the cause should be sought in the processes that constantly occur in the gastrointestinal tract against the background of various diseases and are responsible for intestinal motility.
If a person has constipation, then diarrhea, the doctor should determine the reasons.
Causes of alternating diarrhea and constipation
Diarrhea andconstipation develop against the background of the presence of certain causes and are not considered a disease in themselves, representing only symptoms. Diarrhea can be observed up to 4 times a day, and feces during this period become quite rare. Constipation, in turn, causes a slowdown in bowel cleansing, defecation occurs rarely, sometimes once in a few days. It is considered normal to delay bowel movements for one day. In the case when bowel movements are less frequent, you should think about the presence of digestive disorders.
The normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is indicated by defecation, which occurs no more than three times a day, but no less than three times a week.
If you suffer from constipation, then diarrhea, the causes for women and men often coincide.
Specialists believe that the simultaneous appearance of diarrhea and constipation indicates the occurrence of significant pathological disorders in the body.
Possible pathologies
Such symptoms occur, as a rule, if the following diseases are present:
- Inflammation of the colon or small intestine that is chronic.
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
- Dysbacteriosis.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of an oncological nature.
- Worm infestation.
- Chronic constipation with simultaneous use of laxative medications.
In all these cases, constipation is replaced by diarrhea. The reasons are discussed in more detail below.
It is important to remember that diarrhea and constipationare a special reaction of the body to various factors. Among the predisposing factors are food poisoning. When microbes enter the body, it begins independent attempts to get rid of them. As a result, the patient develops diarrhea. When dehydrated against the background of a lack of fluid, the body reacts accordingly - the appearance of constipation.
Physiological factors
The main physiological factors that play an important role in the alternation of diarrhea and constipation are considered to be:
- Violation of intestinal patency as a result of mechanical blockage of the intestinal lumen by a neoplasm or foreign body.
- Violation of intestinal patency as a result of a malfunction of intestinal motility.
Any of these conditions require the help of a specialist, so do not put off a visit to a medical facility.
It is important to understand that as a result of prolonged diarrhea, the patient may become seriously dehydrated, and constipation threatens to poison the entire body with toxic substances. Such conditions are extremely dangerous.
When a person alternates between constipation and diarrhea, it could be IBS or irritable bowel syndrome.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Quite often, the main cause of the simultaneous appearance of constipation and diarrhea in adults and children is irritable bowel disease. This pathological condition can affect people of any age. It is characterized by impaired intestinal motility and pathologicalchange in the large intestine.
Diarrhea appears after constipation. The reasons for this pathology are of interest to many.
The primary source of such a condition is considered to be dystrophic changes that affect the walls of the organ. The main risk group are adults.
Causes of IBS
The disease can develop for several reasons, but most often its development is due to a combination of factors:
- Food abuse causing chronic overeating.
- Using too many alcoholic and carbonated drinks too often.
- Frequent use of unhe althy foods and processed foods.
- Lack of a balanced diet, lack of certain trace elements in food.
- Dysbacteriosis.
- Frequent stressful situations at home and at work.
Women
In women, there is some connection between the activity of the intestines and the hormonal background of the body. Hormonal failure in women may be accompanied by unpleasant symptoms in the form of:
- Prolonged migraines.
- General weakness.
- Feeling of incomplete bowel movement.
- Frequent manifestations of flatulence.
- Pain in some muscles and lower abdomen.
- Alternating diarrhea and constipation.
Irritable bowel often develops as a result of depression in womendifferent ages. They note the appearance of nausea, unreasonable anxiety, suffer from lack of appetite. Most often, bowel movements lead to the complete disappearance of some of these symptoms.
Quite often, alternation of stool disorders is observed in women with menopausal changes, when the body undergoes a global hormonal restructuring.
If there is an alternation - then constipation, then diarrhea - the cause of this may be enterocolitis.
Enterocolitis
Alternating diarrhea and constipation may indicate a person's disease with enterocolitis. This disease is characterized by a violation of motor skills and a deterioration in the process of assimilation of useful substances necessary for the body. The most dangerous consequence of enterocolitis can be atrophy of the intestinal mucosa or dystrophy. Enterocolitis can develop over several years. The root causes of the pathology lie in poorly treated acute enterocolitis. However, it must be taken into account that the duration of the pathology directly affects the depth of damage to the intestinal mucosa.
When women and men experience both constipation and diarrhea, it is important to identify the cause as soon as possible.
Clinical signs
Clinical signs of enterocolitis are irregular bowel movements and alternating diarrhea with constipation. Diarrhea is a consequence of increased intestinal peristalsis. In this state, the liquid and trace elements are not able to be absorbed normally. Diarrhea can also develop as a result of the fact that fec althe masses are excessively liquefied. At the same time, the higher the degree of damage to the intestinal walls, the more often the patient has a defecation process.
If the inflammatory process affects only the small intestine, defecation can occur up to 4 times a day. This ailment is not accompanied by pain, and the urge to defecate occurs immediately after eating.
If the inflammatory process affects all parts of the intestine, the urge to defecate can occur up to 10 times. At the same time, the presence of mucus is observed in the feces, and the number of bowel movements decreases over time. Excruciating diarrhea gives way to persistent constipation, in which a person does not go to the toilet for several days.
What other reasons are known? Either constipation or diarrhea occurs with various neoplasms.
Tumor in the rectum
The rectum is the final section of the digestive tract, through it the feces are removed to the outside. The main factors provoking the development of cancerous pathologies in the rectum are usually referred to:
- Polyposis formations on the walls of the intestine.
- Proctitis.
- History of chronic colitis.
- Hereditary predisposition.
Some experts believe that the main factor contributing to the development of cancer is malnutrition. If the patient's daily diet is saturated with fried foods, and the amount of fruits and vegetables is limited, this can provoke persistent constipation. Also predisposinga factor is inactivity and being overweight.
Symptomatics
Clinically, oncological pathology of the rectum manifests itself quite specifically, which suggests the presence of a tumor in the early stages. Symptoms are as follows:
- Abnormal inclusions are present in the feces - tumor particles, greenish pus, mucus, blood blotches.
- The patient feels the presence of a foreign body in the anus.
- Defecation causes severe pain.
- Patient experiences frequent urge to defecate.
- There is a constant alternation of diarrhea and constipation.
In the case when the tumor formation is localized in the upper intestine, diarrhea occurs, and the stools are black, and this indicates an admixture of blood to the feces. Very often, patients mistake oncological manifestations for hemorrhoids, trying to independently and unsuccessfully cure it at home. It is important to note that there is a significant difference: hemorrhoids are accompanied by the release of feces, on the surface of which there is blood (it can also come out of the anus before or after defecation), and in oncology, blood is mixed with feces. Constipation in oncological lesions is becoming a daily occurrence.
And very often there is an alternation of either diarrhea or constipation. Causes and treatment are interrelated.
Therapy of alternating diarrheal manifestations and constipation
In order to normalize the process of excretion of feces fromadult and pediatric patients should first of all identify the cause of such a violation. Experts recommend that patients undergo an in-depth examination, which includes the following methods:
- Performing a biochemical study.
- Carrying out a bacteriological laboratory study of feces.
- Determining the presence of occult blood in the feces.
- Performing a digital rectal examination.
- Intestinal X-ray.
- Laboratory examination of urine and stool samples.
The main goal of therapy should be to eliminate the root cause of the indicated condition, its manifestations. Along with the use of medications, therapy includes a complete revision of the patient's diet, minimization of stress-provoking factors. Of the drugs, the use of sorbents, analgesics, laxatives or antidiarrheals, antibiotics, enzymes is indicated. If constipation is persistent, cleansing enemas should be used. If a patient is diagnosed with an oncological pathology in the rectum, he is shown surgical intervention and radiation therapy. It is only important to correctly identify the cause.
Constipation, then diarrhea for a long period of time are very dangerous signs, the patient should not risk his he alth by postponing a visit to the doctor and trying to fix the problem on his own. This condition can occur for various reasons, the elimination of which requiresa certain technique, which only a doctor can choose after diagnosis. Timely therapy will avoid the development of complications and in the shortest possible time will allow a person to return to a normal rhythm of life.
We looked at the causes of alternating diarrhea and constipation.
