How Often Should You Poop?

Everyone experiences bowel movements, but many individuals may be concerned with how regularly or rarely they poop.

The frequency of your bowel movements is often an indication of your overall health, so understanding how this system works is important.

Not only does this help you determine when to seek medical attention, but it’s also essential for knowing how to maintain a healthy digestive tract.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at why bowel movements are important, how often you should poop, and what to do if this frequency changes unexpectedly.

Understanding Bowel Movements

Bowel movements — commonly referred to as pooping — is an essential bodily function that occurs at the end of the digestion process when the body excretes waste material.

This function is an important indicator of your overall health and variations in bowel movements could be signs of underlying issues. We’ll discuss this in more detail later.

How Often Should You Have a Bowel Movement?

There isn’t a fixed number of bowel movements you should have within a specific timeframe, but most healthcare professionals agree that anything from three times per day to three times per week is normal.

Although this range is quite broad, keep in mind that several factors can influence the frequency of your bowel movements.

Healthcare professionals typically use this range as a guideline to help individuals understand that the frequency of bowel movements is normal as long as they are consistent and occur without distress.

Some people may also find that their bowel habits change over time, usually as they get older or experience changes in their lifestyle, diet, or overall health.

Factors That May Affect Bowel Movement Frequency

Diet and nutrition

The foods we eat play the biggest role in determining the frequency, consistency, and ease of bowel movements.

Ensuring that you follow these guidelines can help you maintain consistent bowel movements while taking care of your overall health:

• Fiber intake: A diet high in fiber increases stool bulk and promotes regular bowel movements. Common sources of fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Insufficient fiber intake can lead to constipation and irregular bowel movements.

• Hydration: Adequate fluid intake — such as drinking enough water throughout the day — is crucial for softening stool, making it easier to pass. Not drinking enough fluids can result in constipation and hard, dry stools that pass with difficulty.

• Food sensitivities and intolerances: Certain food sensitivities can affect bowel movement frequency, leading to irregularities. For example, lactose intolerance may cause constipation in some individuals, while others may experience diarrhea.

Lifestyle factors

Your lifestyle choices can also have a significant impact on your bowel movement frequency. These choices typically involve:

• Physical activity: Regular exercise helps stimulate intestinal contractions, promoting more regular bowel movements. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to decreased bowel movement frequency.

• Stress levels: High stress levels can adversely affect bowel movement frequency, leading to constipation or diarrhea for some individuals.

• Routine changes: Alterations in daily routine — like traveling or variations in work schedules — can impact bowel movement regularity.

Health conditions

Underlying health conditions can influence the regularity and urgency of your bowel movements, as well as their appearance and consistency. These conditions may include:

• Gastrointestinal disorders: Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis can result in changes in bowel movement frequency.

• Thyroid issues: Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause changes in bowel movements, often leading to either increased frequency or constipation.

In addition to these conditions, certain medications — like painkillers, antidepressants, and antacids containing calcium — can also affect bowel movement frequency.

Age

As you get older, your risk of having less frequent bowel movements and becoming constipated increases.

This occurs for various reasons, but it is mainly due to a slowdown in metabolism and the digestive system.

Over time, reduced gastric movement decreases motility — how quickly waste moves through the body — which can cause constipation.

Taking medications to treat chronic conditions or comorbidities may also impact bowel health and reduce the frequency of pooping.

Signs of Unhealthy Bowel Movements

Physical appearance

The appearance of your stool can serve as an indicator of potential health issues that require further medical evaluation.

Healthy bowel movements typically produce stool that is soft, well-formed, easy to pass, and brown in color. The following changes may indicate health concerns:

• Color: Stools that are consistently very light, black, red, or contain streaks of blood may signal underlying health problems. These issues can range from dietary impacts to gastrointestinal bleeding and require prompt medical attention.

• Consistency: Hard, pellet-like stools often indicate constipation, while very loose or watery stools may suggest diarrhea or other digestive issues. While this doesn’t normally require a trip to the doctor, it’s important to keep an eye on the consistency. If it doesn’t improve within a few days, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider.

• Shape: Thin, pencil-like stools can be a sign of obstruction in the colon or rectum, which may require emergency medical care to remove and avoid further complications.

Warning signs and symptoms

Beyond the appearance, several other symptoms can indicate abnormal bowel movements. These include:

• Frequency: Having less than three bowel movements per week consistently may suggest constipation, while more than three per day can indicate diarrhea or other conditions. Speak to your doctor if the frequency of your bowel movements remains inconsistent.

• Effort: Straining or experiencing severe pain during bowel movements regularly can be signs of constipation or obstructive issues in the digestive tract. Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you frequently struggle to pass stools.

• Incomplete excretion: The sensation of not fully emptying the bowels after a movement can indicate constipation symptoms or obstructive issues. This can become a medical emergency if left untreated.

• Changes in bowel habits: Sudden changes in the frequency, consistency, or ease of bowel movements can signal digestive issues. If the frequency of your bowel movements doesn’t improve, visit your doctor.

3 Ways to Stay Regular

Eat a fiber-rich diet

A well-balanced diet high in fiber-rich foods — such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, nuts, and legumes — can help promote regular bowel movements.

For optimal digestive and bowel health, you should consume between 28 and 34 grams of fiber daily.

Stay hydrated

Staying hydrated is essential for helping you pass stools regularly.

Remember that dehydration can cause stools to become hardened, making bowel movements difficult.

You can tell if you’re drinking enough water by looking at your urine.

If it’s a pale yellow color, you’re adequately hydrated but anything darker than that indicates the need for more fluids.

Move your body more regularly

Regular exercise can help stimulate the muscles in the digestive tract to help promote regular bowel movements.

Aim for 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity workouts per week to maintain bowel health.

You can reach these targets by walking, running, resistance training, pilates, or swimming.

When Should You See a Doctor for Bowel Movement Concerns?

While it’s normal to experience changes in your bowel movements from time to time, certain circumstances may require a doctor’s visit.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical care:

• Blood in your stool
• Vomiting blood with a coffee ground-like consistency that appears to be poop
• Lack of bowel movements for more than a week
• Severe, stabbing abdominal pain
• Unexplained or unintentional weight loss
• Symptoms of anemia, including unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, or appearing paler than usual
• Inability to pass gas
• Constipation or chronic diarrhea that does not improve with medication

These symptoms could all be indications of more serious health complications that can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Where Can You Learn More About Healthy Bowel Movements?

If you’re concerned about your symptoms or want to know more about bowel movements, LifeMD is here to help.

A team of medical professionals can assist you with information and provide guidance on maintaining healthy bowel movements and avoiding complications.

Make an appointment with LifeMD today to learn more about bowel movement care — all from the comfort of your home.