The stress levels in India are high, as nearly as 9 in 10 Indians suffer from stress. According to a survey held by Cigna TTK Health Insurance in 2018, about 89% of Indians are under acute stress; the figure is 95% in millennials. Indians have the highest stress levels in comparison to the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Brazil, Indonesia among other developed and emerging countries.
If you have been under constant stress lately, you might have noticed diarrhea symptoms in your body. Stress tends to trigger diarrhea; this is exactly why you feel stress in the pit of your stomach. This connection between stress and diarrhea isn’t life threatening but can be highly uncomfortable in most situations.
When symptoms are not persistent but occur rather frequently, it is the number one sign of one having stress induced diarrhea. You would often find yourself running towards the washroom if you have stressed induced diarrhea. Further, when you are suffering from a bout of diarrhea, it is important to keep your hygiene game up. After every visit to the washroom, use Dettol hand wash to steer clear of germs.
How Does Stress Cause Diarrhea
There are many ways in which the body reacts to stress. Some of these symptoms are – loss of appetite, hair-fall, sleeplessness, fatigue, overeating and many more. The stress also causes you to have diarrhea like symptoms. Your brain and guts are more correlated than you think. Your brain gives out signals to your guts when you are stressed and vice versa.
According to doctors, your gut experiences spasms when you are under stress. If these spasms are widespread, everything will move along quickly as your whole colon contracts. This will cause you to have diarrhea symptoms caused by stress.
When in a stressful situation our body turns on the ‘fight or flight’ mode, and our bodies are built to survive. Adrenaline is released into our bloodstream to deal with the threat. This adrenaline is received differently by different people, some people have sweaty palms while some have diarrhea symptoms.
Diarrhea Symptoms That Are Caused by Stress
How could one tell if the symptoms that have been surfacing are caused only by stress or pressure and aren’t a deeper-rooted issue such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? Most of the time getting diarrhea doesn’t mean you are necessarily stressed out. If the stressful situation has passed but the diarrhea symptoms are still present, you should consult your doctor to rule out IBS, just to be safe.
If you have diarrhea caused by stress, you would usually feel the urge to go whenever you’re placed in a spot or stressful situation, such as a presentation or public speaking.
How to Prevent Diarrhea Symptoms Caused by Stress?
Usually, your body can recover swiftly from sudden bouts of adrenaline, it is best to have control over the situation, next time you are stressed.
Here are a few ways to prevent it and live a happier and healthier life:
- Watch What You Eat
Your food is a crucial factor in keeping you healthy. Avoid greasy food, coffee, dairy, alcohol and wholefoods. Try to include freshly cooked meals, ample water intake, fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet as much as you can. Make sure that you clean your hands thoroughly with Dettol hand wash before eating.
- Watch Your Stress Levels
To not have any diarrhea symptoms in the future, try and control your stress levels. In case you find it difficult to self-manage stress, you can seek help from a professional therapist.
- Exercise
Try to include as much exercise as you can in your schedule. Yoga is a great way to keep your mind calm and can relieve you from stress. You can also try heading to a gym or simply for a quick jog. Find what suits you best and practice it in your day to day life to reduce stress.
- Get Enough Sleep
It is important to get at least 8 hours of sleep for the body to function properly. It is also important to go to bed and wake up at a reasonable hour, your body needs to have constant and ample sleep.
Here’s What You Need to Do!
Even though stress is on the rise in India, you don’t need to be too concerned about the diarrhea induced by it. It is simply your body’s way of reacting and can be controlled easily by a few lifestyle changes. Make it a point to wash your hands properly with products such as Dettol hand wash before consuming any food. It is important to eat clean and maintain hygiene to avoid diarrhea in the future. Carry a Dettol hand sanitizer to fight germs even in those places where washing hands is not feasible.
