WE all struggle to poo from time to time.
Maybe you’ve not been getting enough fibre into your diet, or perhaps you’ve just come back from a holiday – yes, vacation constipation is a thing.
Getty – ContributorBowel movements that are too infrequent are associated with declines in cognition[/caption]
Basically, it’s pretty common. Approximately 16 per cent of the world’s population struggles with the condition.
But according to new study, those who have chronic toilet troubles are at increased risk of cognitive decline.
The impairment, which many people experience as they grow older, is the gradual loss of thinking abilities such as paying attention and remembering things.
Researchers from the US found those who only have bowel movements every three days or more were 73 per cent more likely to suffer from cognitive decline than those who poo daily.
Meanwhile, those who take a number two more than once per day are at a 37 per cent increased risk.
This adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that gut health plays a role in dementia and related illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
In fact, the latest study presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in the Netherlands on July 19 found people who don’t poo enough have older brains.
The noggins of the participants who had infrequent bowel movements were three years older than those who pooped regularly, it found.
Scientists from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, US, analysed the health data from more than 110,000 adults.
Everyone reported the frequency of their bowel movements between 2012 and 2013.
They also assessed changes in their own memory, attention and other aspects of cognition over a two- to four-year period with a survey.
“Our body systems are all interconnected. When one system is malfunctioning, it impacts other systems,” said Heather Snyder at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago in a statement.
When to visit the doctor about your poop
Usually, irregular changes in a pooping habits usually resolve within a short amount of time and are no cause for concern.
But please see your GP if your issues don’t clear up within one to two weeks, or you have any of the following issues:
blood in the poop
black poop
new onset of “pencil-thin” poop
weight loss or fever that accompanies diarrhoea or constipation
severe abdominal pain
vomiting blood or a substance that looks like coffee grounds
Source: Medical News Today
“When one system is malfunctioning, it impacts other systems.
“When that dysfunction isn’t addressed, it can create a waterfall of consequences for the rest of the body.”
How often should I be pooping?
When it comes to going for a number two, plenty of people aren’t really sure what’s normal.
According to the NHS a normal and healthy to have a bowel movement anywhere between three times a week to three times a day
Keeping an eye on what’s ‘normal’ for you though is crucial, as is being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your pooA change in your normal toilet habits – going more frequently for examplePain or a lump in your tummyExtreme tirednessLosing weight
If you notice any changes to your usual habits, don’t be embarrassed, speak to your GP.
And if you are eligible for a bowel cancer testing kit, make sure to do on.
The Sun launched the No Time 2 Lose campaign in April 2018 – to call on the Government to lower the bowel cancer screening age to 50 and raise symptom awareness.
As a result, people in their 50s started to be invited for screening last year