Frequent bowel movements

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Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

Digestive Health

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If you're having more bowel movements than usual, chances are you've made some change in your lifestyle. You may, for example, be:

  • Eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which increases fiber intake
  • Getting regular exercise or increasing your exercise
  • Drinking more water

Diseases and other conditions that may make you have more frequent bowel movements include:

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

When to see a doctor Definition
References
  1. Understanding constipation. American Gastroenterological Association. http://www.gastro.org/patient-center/digestive-conditions/constipation. Accessed Oct. 7, 2011.
  2. Irritable bowel syndrome. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs/. Accessed Oct. 11, 2011.
  3. Sanjoaquin MA, et al. Nutrition and lifestyle in relation to bowel movement frequency: A cross-sectional study of 20,630 men and women in EPIC-Oxford. Public Health Nutrition. 2004;7:77.
  4. Fry RD, et al. Colon and rectum. In: Townsend CM Jr, et al. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery: The Biological Basis of Modern Surgical Practice. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1565/0.html. Accessed Oct. 11, 2011.
  5. Cook IJ, et al. Colonic motor and sensory function and dysfunction. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&about=true&uniqId=229935664-2192. Accessed Oct. 11, 2011.
  6. Farrell RJ, et al. Celiac disease and refractory celiac disease. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&about=true&uniqId=229935664-2192. Accessed Oct. 11, 2011.
  7. Mandel SJ, et al. Thyrotoxicosis. In: Kronenberg HM, et al. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191205553-3/0/1555/0.html#. Accessed Oct. 11, 2011.
  8. Wilkinson JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 11, 2011.
MY00786 Nov. 5, 2011

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