Painful Bowel Movements

Painful bowel movements is a common problem faced by a large number of people all over the world. Bowel movement problems i.e, pain or discomfort while passing stools is definitely a cause of concern if a person experiences it occasionally. A person may also experience pain if he passes enlarged bowel movement. There can be several reasons for bowel movements to be painful. Let us have a look at them in detail.

Causes of Painful Bowel Movements

Indigestion: Most of the times, painful bowel movements is due to the amount and type of food that a person eats the previous night. A person may suffer from bowel movements problems if he eats in large quantity or if he eats extremely spicy food. Diarrhea resulting from food poisoning or indigestion can also cause painful bowel movements.

Constipation: It is the most prominent causes of painful bowel movements. The most common causes of constipation include dehydration and intake of diuretics. Deficiency of foods containing fibers can also result in constipation. The bowel movements are painful and irregular when a person suffers from constipation. Read more on constipation.

Anal Fissures: Cracks or slit in the skin around the anal region is known as anal fissures. Anal fissures causes a lot of pain after defecation. Apart from fissures, abscesses in the anal region can also cause pain during defecation.

Rectal Cancer: Cancerous or other similar growths can cause obstruction of the rectum or the anus. This is another major cause of painful bowel movements. It is also a prominent symptom of rectal cancer. The actual cause of rectal cancer is unknown but it is more commonly seen in older people.

Hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids or piles causes pain due to the swelling of the veins around or inside the anal sphincter. It is caused when extra pressure is exerted on rectal veins or rectal parts. Read more on hemorrhoids.

Constipation and diarrhea are the most prominent reasons for painful bowel movements in children. It is also a major symptom of other diseases like proctitis, Crohn's disease, prostate cancer and diverticulitis.

Read more on:

• Bowel Movement Problems
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Treatment of Painful Bowel Movements

The treatment of painful bowel movements completely depends on the cause. Constipation can be cured if adequate amount of fiber is included in a person's diet. Fiber can be obtained from green vegetables and whole grains. Temporary constipation can be cured by laxatives. The pain caused during defecation is very minor and it can be cured by appropriate medication. Hemorrhoids can be treated just by changing bowel habits. But surgery maybe required if the hemorrhoids are very large. The treatment of rectal cancer depends on the stage and the growth of the cancer.

If a person is suffering from painful defecation for a longer time, he must consult the doctor immediately as it can be a symptom of some serious disorder. Moreover, noticing blood in stool is also a sure sign of serious disorder and one must immediately consult the doctor.

Prevention of Painful Bowel Movements

There are a few things that a person can follow in order to avoid pain during bowel movements. Eating healthy food is extremely essential in order to overcome painful bowel movements. It is also necessary for a person to have a balanced diet to prevent bowel movements problems. One must also avoid eating very spicy food, especially at night. Drinking a lot of water is very helpful as it helps in diluting the acid in the body. Exercising regularly may also prove beneficial to overcome irregular bowel. Read more on digestive health.

One should remember that painful bowel movements can be cured. One just needs to find out the cause of it and get the necessary treatment as soon as possible.