Bowel problems – symptoms, causes and other risk factors

Bowel problems

There are many abnormalities and illnesses which are affecting the gastrointestinal tract when people are suffering from bowel problems. In this group are taking a part the next abnormalities and illnesses: irritable bowel syndrome, infections, obstruction, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, structural abnormalities of the bowel, diverticulitis and tumors. When food is passing through the intestines it is having residue which in many cases is interrupted by the presence of the bowel obstruction. In some cases the reason for this obstruction is the physical obstruction or in other words we say that the reason for bowel obstruction is the mechanical problem. These mechanical obstructions can be tumors, foreign bodies, scar tissue, fecal impaction, adhesions, gallstones and entrapment through a hernia. The malfunctioning of the bowel’s motility that is known as Ileus is also other cause for this bowel obstruction. Illeus is caused by appendicitis, obstruction of the mesenteric artery, electrolyte imbalances and gastroenteritis such as the infection of the intestines and stomach. When there are fetal problems in the wombs, then they can be a reason for the bowel problems. When people are having bowel problems in many cases they are not a reason for medical help. But there are also serious conditions which are a reason for medical help such as dehydration and diarrhea. If you have vomiting blood, severe abdominal pain or inability to pass gas or stool, then you should not be in a doubt to visit your doctor because your condition might be serious.

Most common symptoms of bowel problems

Here are the most common symptoms which are appearing in many people who have problems with their bowel:

• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Nausea with vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Absent bowel sounds
• Nausea without vomiting
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Abdominal swelling
• Bloody stool

Not every person who has bowel problems is having the same symptoms with other people. They can vary from person to person. They can depend from their disorder, underlying disease or condition. Also those symptoms can affect to the other parts of our bodies.

Other symptoms which can occur to people who have bowel problems:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Poor quality of life
• Skin conditions
• Hair conditions
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Chills
• Fevers
• Failure to thrive
• Development delays
• Malnutrition
• Loss of strength
• Weakness

Serious symptoms which are showing that you might have life – threatening condition: 

In some cases when people are having diarrhea, then they are risking their life from getting serious conditions such as dehydration which in some cases can be a life – threatening condition. In this case there are also other serious symptoms which can happen to you such as

• Severe abdominal pain
• Fever and chills
• Vomiting blood
• Bloody stool
• Nausea with vomiting
• Nausea without vomiting
• Rectal bleeding
• Inability to defecate or pass gas

If you have some symptom of the list which we gave you above, then you must talk with your doctor.

Causes for bowel problems: 

This condition can have different causes for it such as

1. Causes of physical obstructions of the bowel

• Hernias
• Adhesions
• Tumors
• Impacted feces
• Foreign bodies
• Diverticulitis
• Gallstones
• Volvulus
• Intussusceptions

2. Structural causes of bowel problems

• Short bowel syndrome which is caused when people have removed the small parts of their intestines with surgery
• Abnormalities which are happening in the development of the birth
• When people have made intestinal surgery to remove some causes of complications or intestines such as adhesions and scarring
• There is also incorrect position of the bowel when is developing in the period of fetal development. This condition is known as malrotation.

3. Infections and inflammation of the bowel

• Bacterial infection
• Fungal infection
• Appendicitis
• Viral infection
• Parasitic infection
• Gastroenteritis
• Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (the mentioned diseases are inflammatory bowel diseases)

4. Other causes of bowel problems

• Trauma to the abdomen
• Celiac disease
• Polyps or benign growths
• Irritable bowel syndrome

If you are feeling some of the mentioned symptoms, you must seek medical help because in some cases when bowel problems are untreated they are reason for serious problems in your health.

Life – threatening or serious bowel problems: 

There are also many cases when people with bowel problems are getting serious bowel problems such as

• Pancreatitis
• Abscess
• Cancer
• Bowel obstruction
• Diverticulitis
• Mesenteric vessel obstruction