My stools are often very hard. I can hardly get it out. How come and what can I do about it?
Joris Bartstra, journalist with a medical degree.
When we eat food, fluid with enzymes is continuously added to it in the mouth, stomach, duodenum and small intestine. This creates a thin paste in which all foods are dissolved in such a way that they can be absorbed into the blood. At the end of the journey, the remains end up in the large intestine, where the fluid is extracted again so that solid stools are formed. If the way through the large intestine is taken too slowly, the stool will become increasingly solid and harder. You can prevent this problem by drinking a lot of water, eating high-fiber foods (such as brown bread, fruit and vegetables) and also exercising a lot, because exercise also makes the intestines move. If this is not sufficient, there are laxatives that soften the stool by retaining moisture, such as psyllium seed (brand name Metamucil). Has the case really stalled? With an enema (such as Microlax) the stool becomes softer again. Psyllium seeds and Microlax are available at the drugstore without a prescription.
Would you also like to ask doctor Joris Bartstra a question?
Then click here. Don’t forget to include your name, age and gender. If your question is also interesting for others, Joris will answer it and publish it in Plus Magazine.
