When should I be concerned about loose stools?

One loose stool is not a big deal, but if they recur over several days or are accompanied with other signs – such as weight loss, pain or discoloration of the stool – then it may be time to talk to your doctor.
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Is it normal to have loose stools daily?

Frequent loose stools are a daily occurrence. There may be occasional normal stools. Despite the need to stay within reach of a toilet, the person is otherwise well. Very frequently, the diarrhea is due to something in the diet that is taken in excess.
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When should I go to the doctor for loose stools?

Schedule a doctor's visit for an adult with these symptoms:

Diarrhea lasts more than two days without improvement. Excessive thirst, dry mouth or skin, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, or dark-colored urine, which could indicate dehydration. Severe abdominal or rectal pain.
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How long is too long to have loose stools?

If diarrhea lasts more than 2 days it may mean you have a more serious problem. Diarrhea may be either: Short-term (acute). Diarrhea that lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away.
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What symptom is associated with loose stools?

Signs and symptoms associated with diarrhea may include:
  • Frequent loose, watery stools.
  • Abdominal cramps.
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Fever.
  • Bleeding.
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness from dehydration.
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10 Causes of Loose Stools: How to treat and home care? - Dr. Rajasekhar M R | Doctors' Circle



Why is my stool not solid anymore?

Liquid poop is the most advanced stage of diarrhea. It has no solid form and passes without control. Diarrhea occurs when the small intestine is irritated, forcing the liquid into the small intestine to flush out of the body without being properly processed.
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What cancers cause diarrhea?

Certain cancers can cause diarrhea. These include neuroendocrine tumors, colon cancer, lymphoma, medullary thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer.
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What type of diarrhea is Covid?

Diarrhea commonly occurs in people with COVID-19. One study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology examined 206 patients with a mild case of COVID-19. They found 48 people had only digestive symptoms and another 69 had both digestive and respiratory symptoms.
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What causes rapid bowel movement after eating?

The gastrocolic reflex is a normal reaction the body has to eating food in varying intensities. When food hits your stomach, your body releases certain hormones. These hormones tell your colon to contract to move food through your colon and out of your body. This makes room for more food.
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Why do I get the runs after eating?

Bile acid malabsorption: Your gallbladder produces bile to help break down and digest fats in your food. If these acids aren't properly reabsorbed, they may irritate your large intestines. This can lead to watery stools and diarrhea.
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What causes excessive gas and loose stools?

Excess gas is often a symptom of chronic intestinal conditions, such as diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Small bowel bacterial overgrowth. An increase or change in the bacteria in the small intestine can cause excess gas, diarrhea and weight loss. Food intolerances.
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Can diarrhea be the only symptom of Covid?

In about one-quarter of patients in the new study, diarrhea and other digestive symptoms were the only symptoms seen in mild COVID-19 cases, and those patients sought medical care later than those with respiratory symptoms.
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Is diarrhea a symptom of anxiety?

Can anxiety cause diarrhea? As well as affecting how a person feels mentally, anxiety can also have physical effects. A common physical manifestation of anxiety is stomach upset, including diarrhea or loose stools.
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What foods cause mushy poop?

The following can cause loose stools or make them worse.
  • Sugar. Sugars stimulate the gut to put out water and electrolytes, which loosen bowel movements. ...
  • Dairy foods. ...
  • FODMAPs. ...
  • Gluten. ...
  • Fried or fatty foods. ...
  • Spicy foods. ...
  • Caffeine. ...
  • Image: 5432action/Getty Images.
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How can I firm up my stools?

Drink 8-10 cups of fluid per day, like water, broth, half-strength juice, weak tea, or electrolyte replacement drinks. Eat small frequent meals slowly during the day. Try sources of soluble fibre to help firm up stool. Limit fried or fatty foods since these can worsen diarrhea.
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Why are my stools loose every morning?

If you often experience morning diarrhea, it's important to discover its cause. It could be a sign of a chronic health problem, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Or you may have a bacterial infection or simply a dietary pattern that needs to change.
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What causes explosive bowel movement?

Share on Pinterest Causes of explosive diarrhea can include viral infections, bacterial infections, and food allergies. The viruses most often responsible for diarrhea include norovirus, rotavirus, or any number of the viruses that cause viral gastroenteritis. This condition is what many people call the “stomach flu.”
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What is the dumping syndrome?

Dumping syndrome is a group of symptoms, such as diarrhea, nausea, and feeling light-headed or tired after a meal, that are caused by rapid gastric emptying. Rapid gastric emptying is a condition in which food moves too quickly from your stomach to your duodenum.
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Why do I have to poop right after I just pooped?

Passing stool immediately after a meal is usually the result of the gastrocolic reflex, which is a normal bodily reaction to food entering the stomach. Almost everyone will experience the effects of the gastrocolic reflex from time to time.
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Why do you get diarrhea with Covid?

While most of us know some of the common symptoms of COVID-19—such as fever, shortness of breath, and a dry cough—it's quite common to experience gastrointestinal distress, such as diarrhea. That's because diarrhea is the body's way of quickly disposing of viruses, bacteria, and toxins from the digestive tract.
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What gets rid of Covid diarrhea?

Greenough also notes that foods such as bananas, rice and toast are good binding agents to help settle one's stomach when they are experiencing diarrhea. Greenough is available for comment on COVID-19, diarrhea and oral hydration.
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What gastrointestinal tract GI symptoms can COVID-19 patients experience?

Many patients with COVID-19 present with GI symptoms and with pneumonia-like illness with symptoms such as fever, cough, and dyspnea. GI symptoms are wide ranging and include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and anorexia.
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Can colon polyps cause diarrhea?

But some larger polyps can cause: a small amount of slime (mucus) or blood in your poo (rectal bleeding) diarrhoea or constipation. pain in your tummy (abdominal pain)
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How do I know if it's IBS or something else?

There is no specific test to diagnose IBS. Gastroenterologists use specific criteria to identify the disorder and rule out other conditions. Certain GI symptoms, often called “red flag” symptoms, may suggest that something other than IBS is the problem.
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What can be mistaken for IBS?

Conditions That Seem Like IBS But Aren't
  • Ulcerative Colitis.
  • Microscopic Colitis.
  • Crohn's Disease.
  • Lactose Intolerance.
  • Stress.
  • Diverticulitis.
  • Celiac Disease.
  • Gallstones.
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