Holding in bowel movements risks haemorrhoids and constipation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The urge to open one’s bowels is often ignored, particularly amid a busy schedule or when a toilet is hard to find, but if this habit continues it can disrupt bowel function.

According to an EatingWell report on Sunday, healthy bowel habits are one sign that the body is working as it should. Conversely, routinely postponing a bowel movement can raise the risk of haemorrhoids, alter stool consistency and cause constipation.

“Occasionally ignoring the urge to open your bowels is usually not a problem. But if it becomes a habit, stool stays longer in the large intestine,” said gastroenterologist Dr Supriya Rao.

In the long term, holding in a bowel movement can lead to constipation, a condition in which bowel movements become less frequent and stools tend to be hard or dry.

Normally, stool moves from the large intestine to the rectum when the body is ready to expel it. When the urge is ignored, stool remains in the large intestine for longer.

“Holding it in too often causes a cycle of constipation; the body starts to ignore the signals to open the bowels altogether, which leads to a build-up of stool in the large intestine,” said Dr Carmen Fong, FACS.

Holding in a bowel movement can also affect the rectum’s normal function. Dr Rao said that if the urge is continually suppressed, the rectum can stretch and lose sensitivity.

“In some cases it can even trigger ulcers in the rectum,” Rao said.

The rectum has nerves that send signals to the brain that it is time to go to the toilet. This process is aided by the rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR), which relaxes the anal sphincter so that stool can enter the rectum before being expelled.

If the urge is repeatedly ignored, these signals gradually become less effective. As a result, a person becomes less sensitive to the urge to open their bowels. Over time, this can trigger chronic constipation and rectal dysfunction.

“Hard stool usually forces a person to strain harder, and that is one of the risk factors for haemorrhoids,” Rao explained.

Holding in a bowel movement can also change the texture of stool. Fong said the longer stool remains in the large intestine, which continually absorbs water, the harder and drier it becomes, making it more difficult and painful to pass.

A build-up of hard stool in the rectum can also cause faecal incontinence, in which stool is passed uncontrollably.

“When a lump of hard stool blocks the rectum (faecal impaction), liquid stool arriving from above has no way out and seeps past the blockage,” Fong said.

Experts also recommend ways to maintain digestive health. Fong emphasised that when the body signals the urge to open one’s bowels, one should go to the toilet promptly, and advised against sitting and straining for too long while waiting.

Next, meeting fibre needs helps form stool bulk so it moves more easily through the digestive tract. Good sources of fibre include fruit, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.

Adequate fluids are also essential to keep bowel movements regular. Besides plain water, fluids can also come from fruit, vegetables, soups and other water-containing drinks.

“The large intestine continually absorbs water from stool. If the body is well hydrated, stool stays soft and is easy to pass,” Fong said.

Physical activity also helps the bowels work properly. Changes in bowel habits can sometimes signal a more serious health problem.

“If you experience constipation for three weeks or more, severe abdominal pain, nausea, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, or a sudden change in bowel habits, consult a doctor immediately,” Rao said.