The bowel is a term used to describe the small and large intestines. It is a long, tube-shaped organ that is responsible for processing our food; the small intestine extracts nutrients, while waste matter continues on to the large intestine, which holds and then expels it as stools.
‘Bowel problems’ are the range of difficulties experienced in a person’s normal, daily bowel function, for example constipation, diarrhoea or irritable bowel syndrome. Each individual has a different ‘normal’ pattern, but when this normal pattern varies, bowel problems may be experienced.
Constipation is a common health problem that affects a person’s ability to make normal bowel movements. People who are constipated may have:
Eating, drinking and exercise stimulates the passage of waste matter through the large bowel, so a poor diet and/or a lack of exercise is often the main cause of constipation. However, constipation may also be caused by hormonal or anatomical factors or could be an unfortunate side-effect of a patient’s medication.
Although constipation may be embarrassing or a nuisance, in most cases it is unlikely to cause serious problems. But if symptoms are severe, it may make you feel unwell, nauseous or lethargic, and it can make older people confused and restless. Constipation may also make bladder emptying difficult, or become so urgent that incontinence results.
Although the small intestine is longer than the large intestine (six meters and one and half meters respectively), it has a smaller diameter. That is why it is called the small intestine.
A condition where it becomes difficult to empty faeces from the bowel or where the stool is small, hard, and difficult or painful to pass.
A condition in which there is an increase in frequency, liquidity and weight of stools associated with urgency.
Severe or prolonged diarrhoea may lead to excess losses of fluid, salts and nutrients in the faeces.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the gut in which the nerves that control the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract are too active causing it to become sensitive to food, stool, gas, and stress. It is not know what causes IBS. Symptoms can be quite variable and include abdominal pain, bloating, mucus in stools, irregular bowel habits, diarrhoea and constipation.
Also called spastic colon or mucous colitis.
The inability to control accidental or involuntary leaking of urine or stool.
