Health Conditions That Could Make Pooping Painful

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBS) is a blanket term for conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease that attack the large intestine and colon, leaving these parts inflamed and irritated. This can make pooping painful. Other issues that may crop up alongside painful bowel movements include stomach cramping, fatigue, weight loss and bloody diarrhoea. If you spot any worrying signs, I advise you to contact your doctor or physician immediately. If your doctor confirms you have IBS, they will recommend medications such as Infliximab(Remicade), Vedolizumab(Entyvio,) and Ustekinumab(Stelara) or surgery to remove your large intestine and rectum.

Constipation

Constipation is a condition characterized by infrequent bowel movements and hard, dry stool. When the stool is hard to pass, your bowel movements can hurt. Issues that can happen alongside painful bowel movements include bloating and thinking or acting slower than usual. Normally, constipation goes away if you drink a lot of fluids, eat high-fibre foods and exercise regularly. If the symptoms don’t go away, seek medical attention.

Anal Fissures

Anal fissures are tears or cuts in the anal canal or skin around the anal opening. Anal fissures mainly result from stool that is hard to pass. With anal fissures, muscles in or around the anal canal begin to spasm. This makes pooping painful. To prevent painful bowel movements from anal fissures, I advise you to drink lots of fluids and follow a fibre-rich diet. If you don’t see any changes after a few weeks, contact your doctor. There are drugs that can help with the condition. Your doctor may also recommend surgery.

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Anastasia Filipenko is a health and wellness psychologist, dermatolist and a freelance writer. She frequently covers beauty and skincare, food trends and nutrition, health and fitness and relationships. When she's not trying out new skincare products, you'll find her taking a cycling class, doing yoga, reading in the park, or trying a new recipe.

MS, University of Tartu
Sleep specialist

Using the acquired academic and professional experience, I advise patients with various complaints about mental health - depressed mood, nervousness, lack of energy and interest, sleep disorders, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts and anxieties, difficulty concentrating, and stress. In my free time, I love to paint and go on long walks on the beach. One of my latest obsessions is sudoku – a wonderful activity to calm an unease mind.

MS, Durham University
GP

The work of a family doctor includes a wide range of clinical diversity, which requires extensive knowledge and erudition from a specialist. However, I believe that the most important thing for a family doctor is to be human because the cooperation and understanding between the doctor and the patient are crucial in ensuring successful health care. On my days off, I love being in nature. Since childhood, I have been passionate about playing chess and tennis. Whenever I have time off, I enjoy traveling around the world.

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