Painful bowel movements

Almost every person has suffered from painful bowel movements at least once in his or her life. This is considered to be a very common problem. Bowel movement pain happens when the stool cannot pass normally and it causes pain and discomfort. In some cases, that is a sign for concern. There is no one reason why a person might experience painful bowel movements. There are several causes that cause the pain most often.

Causes of painful bowel movements

Indigestion is one of the most common causes of painful bowel movements. In most cases a person will experience painful bowel movements because of the amount of foods that he or she ate the night before. The amount of food is not the only cause, for instance eating spicy foods can also cause painful bowel movements. Apart from indigestion, diarrhea that occurs because of indigestion or food poisoning can also cause painful bowel movements.

Constipation is another common cause. Dehydration and intake of diuretics are the main factors that lead to constipation. A person who does not consume enough of fiber rich foods has a greater chance of suffering from constipation as well.

Anal fissures can also cause painful bowel movements. Anal fissures are cracks or slits in the skin in the anal area. Defecation is quite painful for people who have anal fissures.

Cancerous or growths of some other sort are known to cause obstruction of the rectum or the anus. Rectal cancer is also known to cause painful bowel movements. Painful bowel movements are also a symptom of rectal cancer. It is mostly the elderly people who suffer from rectal cancer.

People with hemorrhoids are aware that they cause painful bowel movement as well. The pain occurs because of the swelling of the veins around or inside the anal sphincter.

Children mostly suffer from painful bowel movements when they experience diarrhea and constipation. Painful bowel movement is also a symptom for various diseases like proctitis, Crohn’s disease, prostate cancer and diverticulitis.

The cause of the problem will determine the treatment. Those who suffer from it because of constipation for instance, need to include more fiber rich foods into their diet. Certain medications will solve the problem of painful defecation. However, people who suffer from painful bowel movements for a longer period of time need to talk to a doctor.

Prevention of painful bowel movements

Consuming healthy food is the best advice for people who suffer from painful bowel movements. Having a well balanced diet and drinking a lot of water helps as well. A person should also include regular exercises into his or her daily routine.