If you have loose, watery bowel movements three times per day or more, you are experiencing diarrhea. With diarrhea your stool is runny and you find yourself frequently in need of a bathroom. Diarrhea is most commonly acute, and lasts no more than a few days. If diarrhea is prolonged, and lasts more than two days, then you just might have Irritable Bowel Syndrome .

 
If you have diarrhea for more than three consecutive days, see your doctor immediately. You may need to be treated for dehydration.

 

While it is important that you see your doctor if you think you have IBS, he or she can do a slew of tests which only show that you have fully functioning intestines and a perfectly healthy colon. It is a good idea to undergo these tests to rule out organic bowel diseases and bowel cancer. But if the tests some back okay, and clearly something is not right, your doctor may tell you that you have an Irritable Bowel diagnosis .  

 

 

The causes of diarrhea in Irritable Bowel Syndrome are unclear. It is widely believed that there is a glitch in communication between the muscles of the large intestine, the colon and the brain, which causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. Oversensitivity may cause ordinary events, such as the passage of food, to trigger bowel pain responses.

 

Food absorbs water as it moves through the colon, eventually becoming stool. As muscle contractions force the stool through the colon, the water is reabsorbed and the stool is more or less solid when it is passed through the rectum. When not enough water is absorbed, or the process of moving waste through the colon is too fast, the result is loose and watery stool.

 

Because the colon is, in part, regulated by the autonomic nervous system, stress can exacerbate diarrhea.

 

 

If you’re not careful, diarrhea can cause dangerous levels of dehydration – especially in children and the elderly. Dehydration occurs when the body has lost a lot of water, and is drained of electrolytes. If you have constant or excessive thirst, urinate with less frequency, and find it is dark in color, you may have a shortage of water in your body. Watch out for feelings of fatigue, lack of energy, or light-headedness. If you have had diarrhea for three days or more, see your doctor immediately.

 

Prevent or treat dehydration by drinking not just water, but also juices that contain potassium and soup broth that contains sodium. Doing this will replace the lost electrolytes, without which the body cannot function.

 

Treatment for IBS Diarrhea

 

The most effective way to treat IBS diarrhea is to make changes to your lifestyle. As you may have noticed, certain foods trigger symptoms while other foods alleviate them.

 

Monitoring your diet is one of the most effective ways to find IBS relief.

 

 

Ease your autonomic nervous system by de-stressing. Meet with a psychologist or lifestyle coach to identify ways you can reduce the stressors in your life. Meditation, yoga, or self-hypnosis techniques can also help you accumulate coping skills that will help you navigate your way through life with less stress.

 

Antidepressant medications effect the serotonin in your brain and may be helpful in calming oversensitive bowels. Small doses of antidepressants can actually ease the symptoms of Irritable Bowel. And antianxiety medication can help reduce your response to stressors, thereby easing your IBS symptoms .

 

Diarrhea is an uncomfortable and painful condition that no one should have to live with. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to alleviate it. Under the watchful eye of your doctor or dietitian, try over the counter remedies and/or prescription medications, but remember – only you truly know your body. Keep a record of your symptoms and how they are affected by treatment. That way, you can modify your routine and habits according to your specific needs.