Whether before an exam, a job interview or an important speech, the stress affects nearly 9 out of 10 French people during their lifetime. It is a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. As explained by the World Health Organization (WHO) “Stress is a natural human response that motivates us to meet the challenges and threats we face in our lives.” This acts on both the mind and the body.
Although the symptoms of stress vary from one person to another, it is still quite common to experience intestinal discomfort when you are stressed. This can be manifested by vomiting, nauseabut also by a sudden desire to have a bowel movement. But then, how can we explain this phenomenon? Asked in the columns of the media Well+Good, gastroenterologists Andrea Culliford and Danielle Hoo-Fatt spoke about the impact of stress on intestinal transit.
How does stress impact intestinal transit?
When you are stressed, do you often have the urge to have a bowel movement? Don’t panic, this is a completely normal natural phenomenon. Indeed, according to gastroenterologist Andrea Culliford,“nervousness or anxiety can lead to a frequent need to go to the toilet in distressing situations. She adds that This would be linked to the fact that the nervous systems of the brain and gut send messages to each other in times of stress or anxiety.
Concretely, why does stress make you want to have a bowel movement? As explained by Doctor Danielle Hoo-Fatt, a gastroenterologist in North Carolina (United States), “When we are anxious or stressed, our body activates the sympathetic nervous system. This is a way for it to develop a flight or fight response, which protects it against imminent danger. It thus retains functions not essential to survival immediate, such as the gastrointestinal system. According to the specialist, this natural reaction of the body results from a reduction in gastric emptying and thus leads to nausea, abdominal pain and digestive disorders. It can also cause an urgent need to have a bowel movement.
Learn to manage your stress to limit digestive problems
Your transit intestinal plays tricks on you whenever you’re stressed? To limit the appearance of these digestive disorders, the gastroenterologist Ali Kazemi, who also spoke on this subject in the columns of Well+Good, advised to “favor foods rich in fiber, especially whole grains, and ensure you stay hydrated by drinking enough and minimizing caffeine and alcohol consumption.”
But how can we fight against the stress that causes these transit disorders? Here are 4 tips from the WHO to learn how to manage stress and thus avoid the intestinal discomfort that accompanies it.
- Eat healthy. We all know that what we eat and drink can have an impact on our health. It is therefore best to adopt “a balanced diet and eating at regular intervals” according to the WHO. Hydration also plays an essential role in maintaining good health.
- Get enough sleep. To limit stress, it is important to have good sleep hygiene. In fact, this one is “restorative, relaxing and invigorating for the body and can help reverse the consequences of stress” as explained by the WHO.
- Maintain a daily routine. “Having a daily schedule can help us use our time efficiently and feel more in control” says WHO. Indeed, the more we occupy our mind by practicing a physical activitycarrying out daily tasks, or visiting friends, the less time it leaves for stress to settle in our minds
- Exercise regularly. Practicing physical activity on a regular, daily basis can help reduce stress, as explained by the WHO.
You will have understood, it is better to learn to manage your stress if you do not want to suffer intestinal discomfort.
Sources :
- A Gastroenterologist’s Top 5 Ways to Stop Nervous Poops—Because If Anything’s Going to Make You *More* Nervous, It’s That – Well+Good
- Stress – World Health Organization
