If you’re feeling the need to go to the toilet more often than before, don’t take it lightly. However, everyone’s toileting patterns are different. Some may go once a day, while others may go two or three times. However, if your bowel movements suddenly increase and this change persists for several days, there could be a health problem.
According to experts, bowel movements between three and three times a day are considered normal. Therefore, based on the number alone, it’s impossible to determine whether there’s a problem. The real concern arises when your normal habits suddenly change and you start feeling the need to go to the toilet more frequently.
According to the clevelandclinic, there could be several common reasons behind this. If you’ve recently increased fiber-rich foods like fruits, green vegetables, and whole grains in your diet, this could increase the number of bowel movements. Similarly, drinking too much coffee or tea can also increase bowel activity. For many people, eating too much spicy food, fried food, or food that the body cannot easily digest can also cause frequent bowel movements.
Certain medications and supplements can also cause this. Taking vitamin C, magnesium, some antibiotics, and some antidepressants can increase the frequency of bowel movements. Hormonal changes during menstruation or pregnancy can also contribute to this problem. Stress and anxiety also have a direct impact on the digestive system, causing many people to feel the need to go to the bathroom frequently.
If frequent urination is accompanied by symptoms like abdominal pain, bleeding, high fever, nausea, weakness or rapid weight loss, then it could be a sign of some serious illness. Food poisoning, intestinal infection, hyperthyroidism, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease or other problems related to the large intestine could also be the reason for this. It is not right to ignore a long-lasting problem. If this problem persists for more than a few days, then it is important to consult a doctor. To find out the cause, blood test, stool test, breath test or if needed, imaging test can be done.