Introduction
Diarrhea (or in medical terms “diarrhea”) is defined as the emptying of at least three liquid stools a day. Diarrhea is not a disease in itself, but rather a symptom. The reasons for these unpleasant intestinal complaints are manifold, and under certain circumstances it may not be possible to give a concrete cause for the diarrhoea.
Therefore the question is obvious whether a modern lifestyle or stressful phases of life can also lead to diarrhea. Since the intestine is a very sensitive organ for stress, it is not surprising that the answer to this question is “yes”. Why this is so and what can help against stress-related diarrhea is described below.
Causes – why does diarrhea occur during stress
The intestinal tract contains a large number of nerve cells that control the movements of the intestine. These movements (“peristalsis”) can become faster or slower as required: In a calm state, the nerve plexus “parasympathetic nervous system” is activated, which ensures reduced intestinal peristalsis. The stool is then transported more slowly through the intestinal tract and the vitamins, minerals and water it contains can be absorbed by the intestinal mucosa.
In contrast, during activity or stress, its antagonist, the “sympathetic nervous system“, has a stronger effect on the intestine. This leads to an increase in peristalsis. In the case of severe stress, this can lead to a malfunction: The intestine then transports the digested food so quickly that it has less opportunity to modify it. Among other things, this results in less water absorption, i.e. less thickening of the stool. As a result, the affected person experiences diarrhea, i.e. an increased volume of watery stool.
Diagnostics
It is difficult to trace diarrhea back to stress, as other causes must be excluded. There is no such thing as a test, the observation and synopsis of the symptoms are useful for the diagnosis. If you often suffer from diarrhoea, which could be caused by stress, it can therefore help to keep a kind of diary: Here the days on which one had diarrhea are noted, as well as the frequency and possible stressors that could have caused the diarrhea during this time.
Any periods of constipation should also be noted. On the basis of these notes, it can then usually be seen more clearly whether one’s own intestines react sensitively to stress, as well as which types of stress cause diarrhoea particularly frequently. A common diagnosis in this context is the so-called irritable bowel syndrome: This is a functional bowel condition that leads to a change in stool consistency or frequency of defecation, and which is alleviated by the defecation. However, irritable bowel syndrome is a so-called exclusion diagnosis: this means that other possible causes of diarrhea must be excluded before making this diagnosis.
