Is it normal to have soft stool

Bile acid malabsorption can cause diarrhea or loose stools. An overactive thyroid is where the thyroid gland produces too many hormones, interfering with its normal functioning. This can cause loose stools or diarrhea. Chronic pancreatitis is a condition where the inflammation occurs in the pancreas. It can impair the proper breakdown of fats, starches, and proteins.

Cystic fibrosis is a long-term condition where mucus builds up in the lungs and digestive system. This can interfere with digestion and cause loose stools or diarrhea. Dumping syndrome is a condition where food moves from the stomach to the bowel too quickly. It often occurs after weight-loss surgery. It can cause loose stools and diarrhea. Infrequent cases of loose stools do not typically require medical treatment. However, multiple cases of loose stools can cause dehydration and malnutrition.

Some home remedies that may help to prevent or reduce diarrhea include:. With the help of these home remedies, diarrhea caused by dietary trends, infections or food poisoning should return to normal after a few days. Loose stools or diarrhea that does not improve after 1 week should be given immediate medical attention.

This can be a sign of a more serious medical condition and may worsen without treatment. Some conditions may be treated with prescription medications or antibiotics , but more serious conditions, such as pancreatitis may require hospital treatment. In some cases, there are no available cures for the underlying condition, but symptoms can be managed. Symptoms are often managed using a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. In most cases, diarrhea will often subside within a few days without treatment, or with the help of some home remedies.

It is important to distinguish between loose stools that occur infrequently and those that are chronic. Experiencing loose stools that persist for over 1 week may indicate a more serious underlying condition that will require immediate medical attention.

Read the article in Spanish. While most cases of diarrhea last for a few days, some cases can result in diarrhea lasting for a week or longer. Learn more about it here. Or you went three days without pooping — when you usually go at least once a day! Or maybe it has a foul odor — and not even the air freshener can mask it! Understanding the Bristol Stool Scale The Bristol Stool Scale is a useful reference for patients and healthcare professionals to check if the form of poop is healthy — looking at size, shape and consistency.

But what can the Bristol Stool Scale tell you about your health? Constipation can be an indicator of the following conditions: Poor lifestyle choices — A sedentary lifestyle, a diet lacking in nutrition or simply not drinking enough plain water.

Diabetes — Poorly managed diabetes can damage the nerves supplying the digestive tract, causing constipation. Thyroid conditions — Low levels of thyroid hormone often leads to chronic constipation. Pregnancy — An increase in the hormone progesterone during pregnancy relaxes the muscles in the lining of the digestive tract, leading to more sluggish movement of the bowels and constipation. Bowel obstruction — When a blockage inside your colon prevents your waste from passing through your digestive tract, constipation can be one of the first signs, but abdominal pain or cramping and a bloated stomach are other important indicators.

Stool Color The color of adult poop can also reveal a lot about your health: Dark brown — A healthy color caused by bilirubin — a pigment released by the breakdown of old red blood cells. Bowel Movements and Colon Cancer There are several bowel movement characteristics that are red flags for colon cancer.

When to See a Doctor About Your Poop Either due to embarrassment or minimizing their symptoms, many patients wait before booking an appointment with a gastroenterologist — often taking months to give us a call. Still wondering if you should book an appointment? Have you experienced: Blood in your stool or in the toilet bowl? A significant change in bowel movements — for example, have you gone from two daily bowel movements to only going every other day? Chronic diarrhea? Chronic constipation? Very foul-smelling stools?

Bowel incontinence? Yepuri is a board-certified gastroenterologist in Bedford, TX. His practice specializes in the treatment of GERD, heartburn, and hemorrhoids along with complications presented with each condition.

Also, Dr. Yepuri performs important health maintenance roles such as colon cancer screening with colonoscopy. Ethanol in alcohol speeds up the contractions in the colon, which means that waste is moved through the intestines faster and there's less time for the colon to absorb water, which can lead to watery stool. If you notice that drinking affects your stools, try seeing whether wine and spirits give you less digestive trouble than beer or malt liquor.

Cutting back on your overall intake will also help. The use of certain herbal remedies or medications may lead to the passage of loose stools. Some of the medications and supplements include:. Research suggests that probiotics may help prevent diarrhea that can occur after taking antibiotics.

The American Gastroenterology Association released a consensus on the use of probiotics after a systematic review of previously published studies. Regardless of age, the majority of gastroenterologists agreed there is benefit in taking a probiotic for the prevention of C.

Their analysis revealed that probiotics were associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adults but not in those over the age of According to another study, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is the most effective strain for antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Loose stools may also be seen in a variety of health conditions. A naturally occurring sugar, lactose is found in milk, ice cream, cheese, and other dairy products. Many adults have a low level of lactase, an enzyme that breaks lactose down.

Consuming milk or dairy can lead to loose stools and diarrhea in people with lactose intolerance. A condition that affects the large intestine, irritable bowel syndrome IBS can cause cramping, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. Some people have loose stools or diarrhea, while others have constipation or alternate between the two.

Gluten products like bread, pasta, and baked goods are a problem for people with celiac disease. One of the symptoms can be diarrhea or loose stools. The condition can cause low energy, unintended weight loss, and a lack of growth. If the condition is untreated, it may be hard to link gluten-containing foods to symptoms because of damage to the intestinal lining.

A condition is seen most often seen in people who have had bariatric weight loss , esophageal, or gastric surgery, dumping syndrome is when the food you eat moves too quickly from your stomach into your small intestine, causing loose stools. Loose stools may be seen in these conditions:. These conditions can be diagnosed or managed, so it's best to work with your healthcare provider if you suspect having them or have been diagnosed.

The stomach flu can cause diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, fever, and headache. Also known as viral gastroenteritis, it's highly contagious. Viruses such as noroviruses, rotaviruses, and adenoviruses target the digestive tract and result in inflammation of the stomach and intestines, diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps. Symptoms typically appear one to three days after you've been infected and can range from mild to severe.

Eating foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast may help. Young people, older adults, and people with weak immune systems are at risk for dehydration and should be watched carefully.

Also known as bacterial gastroenteritis, food poisoning is the result of eating food that has been undercooked, stored too long at room temperature, or not reheated properly and is contaminated with bacteria such as salmonella or E. The result is inflammation in your stomach and intestines, and symptoms that can include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and nausea.

For mild cases, staying hydrated and eating potassium-rich foods may help ease symptoms, although some people require treatment. Many cases of loose stool are the result of something you ate and will quickly return to normal.

When it happens, it normally lasts two to three days. Some people get loose stool more often, due to dietary changes or as part of irritable bowel syndrome IBS or other conditions. You should consult your healthcare provider if your symptoms don't resolve or become a regular occurrence. Also, call your healthcare provider if you are an older adult, recently hospitalized, pregnant, or have a compromised immune system e.

Understandably, it's an uncomfortable topic to talk about, but your healthcare provider understands and is there to help. The conversation may make you uncomfortable but will provide relief for your symptoms. Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Is fructose malabsorption a cause of irritable bowel syndrome?