{"id":6670,"date":"2023-08-19T03:15:04","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T20:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=6670"},"modified":"2023-08-19T03:15:04","modified_gmt":"2023-08-18T20:15:04","slug":"can-stress-cause-diarrhea-according-to-a-gi-yes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=6670","title":{"rendered":"Can Stress Cause Diarrhea? According to a GI, Yes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">P<\/span>icture this: You&#8217;re about to give a big speech, or interview for your dream job, or race a marathon. But while you&#8217;re trying to focus on last-minute prep, you&#8217;re stuck in one place\u2014the bathroom.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, this predicament is all too common. While heart palpitations and sweaty pits can very much be part of our body&#8217;s reaction to stressful moments, believe it or not, tummy troubles can be, too, which might make you wonder, Can stress cause diarrhea?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re here to give you the short <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> long answer. TL;DR: Yes, stress can cause loose stools\u2014but it can do a whole lot more than that within the gastrointestinal tract.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<hr\/>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever been so stressed that your stomach begins to toss and turn, as if your intestines were physically disturbed by your anxious feelings, you\u2019re not alone. Stress and anxiety are triggers for uncomfortable and sudden bowel movements (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-stop-nervous-poops\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-stop-nervous-poops\/\">aka nervous poops<\/a>) and diarrhea, as well as other stomach issues like nausea and vomiting. Sound familiar? Keep reading to learn more about why this happens, and what you can do about it.<\/p>\n<h2>Does stress affect the GI tract?<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever Googled \u201cCan anxiety cause stomach issues?\u201d we&#8217;ve got some intel you&#8217;re gonna want to read.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-stress-cause-diarrhea\/\" current-title=\"Why Stress and Anxiety Can Send You Running to the Bathroom\" current-image=\"can-stress-cause-diarrhea-425x285.jpg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-02-18\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-stress-cause-diarrhea\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-stress-cause-diarrhea\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-stress-cause-diarrhea\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cIn addition to causing diarrhea, stress can cause gas, bloating, pain, and constipation,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biohmhealth.com\/pages\/dr-ghannoum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.biohmhealth.com\/pages\/dr-ghannoum\">Mahmoud Ghannoum, MSC, PhD, MBA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/skin-microbiome-connection\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/skin-microbiome-connection\/\">microbiome<\/a> researcher and co-founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biohmhealth.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.biohmhealth.com\/\">BIOHM<\/a>. \u201cIn fact, stress also worsens digestive symptoms in patients suffering from stomach ulcers and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/stress-ibs\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/stress-ibs\/\">irritable bowel syndrome<\/a> (IBS).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Suffice to say, if you\u2019ve ever felt particularly bloated or gassy\u2014or like you need to make a beeline to the restroom\u2014during stressful situations, it\u2019s most likely your nerves surrounding the situation, and not something you ate prior in the day.<\/p>\n<h2>Why does stress cause diarrhea?<\/h2>\n<p>As for exactly <em>why<\/em> stress can make you poop more, it comes down to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/wellness-and-prevention\/the-brain-gut-connection\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/wellness-and-prevention\/the-brain-gut-connection\">the brain-gut axis<\/a>, which can manifest in a few different ways.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you are stressed, your body releases extra corticotropin-releasing factor, a hypothalamic hormone, in the bowels,\u201d says gastroenterologist <a href=\"https:\/\/tourocom.touro.edu\/academics\/faculty\/harlem\/niket-sonpal.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/tourocom.touro.edu\/academics\/faculty\/harlem\/niket-sonpal.php\">Niket Sonpal, MD<\/a>. \u201cThis hormone helps mediate your stress response, but while doing so, it also acts on the intestines, causing them to become inflamed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24153250\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24153250\/\">small 2014 study<\/a>, that same hormone may also increase permeability of the gut, which is the main feature of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/do-you-have-a-leaky-gut\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/do-you-have-a-leaky-gut\/\">leaky gut<\/a>. But, it&#8217;s also been identified in people who have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-treat-ibs\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-treat-ibs\/\">IBS<\/a> and inflammatory bowel disease\u2014both of which are known to cause irregular poops.<\/p>\n<p>The classic stress-related hormones are also part of the reason why you poop more. \u201cCortisol, adrenaline, and serotonin are all released in the brain during periods of heightened stress,\u201d says Dr. Sonpal. \u201cThat raises the amount of serotonin in your gut, which can cause spasms in the colon.\u201d Those spasms can translate directly into diarrhea by causing the contents of your bowels to move through your system faster than they should.<\/p>\n<p>On the flip side, the hormonal response to stress can also slow digestion down (which can actually lead to just as uncomfortable bowel movements as when it moves at hyper-speed). Essentially, that same big release of adrenaline can cause the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/what-is-enteric-nervous-system\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/what-is-enteric-nervous-system\/\">enteric nervous system<\/a>\u2014the nerves governing your gut function\u2014to either slow or halt, leading to bloating and cramping, says Dr. Sonpal.<\/p>\n<p>And speaking of the nervous system, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2018.00044\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2018.00044\/full\">your gut is also linked to your brain via the vagus nerve,<\/a> which plays a role in maintaining its homeostasis, or general stability (read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/poop-sweats-cause\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/poop-sweats-cause\/\">saving you from out-of-nowhere poop emergencies<\/a>). \u201cThe vagus nerve starts in the brain and supplies nerve fibers to the heart, diaphragm, and the gut, from the esophagus and stomach to the small and large bowels,\u201d gastroenterologist <a href=\"https:\/\/gastrohealth.com\/physicians\/avanish-mittar-aggarwal-md\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/gastrohealth.com\/physicians\/avanish-mittar-aggarwal-md\">Avanish Aggarwal, MD<\/a>, previously told Well+Good. When that nerve is set off by stress or anxiety, your parasympathetic nervous system responds with an attempt to relax\u2014which can trigger a particularly sudden urge to find a toilet.<\/p>\n<h2>How do you know if your diarrhea is caused by stress?<\/h2>\n<p>Since diarrhea (and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/poop-color\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/poop-color\/\">the color of your poop<\/a>) can be influenced by a number of factors, including viruses, food poisoning, and an aversion to dairy, it\u2019s easy to misdiagnose the cause of loose, watery stools. That said, Dr. Ghannoum says that if you\u2019re simultaneously experiencing diarrhea and a stressful life event, it\u2019s likely that the two are connected.<\/p>\n<p>Another way to determine if your diarrhea is the result of stress is to evaluate when it\u2019s happening and when it stops, as well as what other symptoms are present. If you only have one episode and it\u2019s directly before facing a challenging situation, stress is likely the cause. If, however, your diarrhea is accompanied by blood, weight loss, or pain, board-certified gastroenterologist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drsamnazareth.com\/intro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.drsamnazareth.com\/intro\">Samantha Nazareth, MD<\/a>, says that it could be a sign of something more serious. \u201cDiarrhea caused by stress would not have these additional signs or symptoms,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<h2>How long does stress diarrhea last?<\/h2>\n<p>Generally speaking, stress diarrhea centers around an environmental or situational stressor. For example, if you have a big event coming up\u2014or if you\u2019re waiting for major news\u2014it\u2019s not unheard of for your bowels to overreact. That said, Dr. Ghannoum reveals that stress diarrhea should last no more than a day, two at most. \u201cOne to two days of diarrhea is fine, but having diarrhea for more than two days indicates that there may be a serious problem and you should consult your physician,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<h2>How do you stop diarrhea from stress?<\/h2>\n<p>To stop nervous poops from ruining your day, you might start with some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/vagus-nerve-breathing-exercises\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/vagus-nerve-breathing-exercises\/\">deep breathing<\/a>, which can help calm an overstimulated vagus nerve. And if you know that you\u2019re generally a member of the stress-poop gang, Dr. Sonpal also recommends steering clear of sugary drinks, sodas, and anything else high in processed sugar, as all of the above are common inflammatory foods that can make you more susceptible to bloating and diarrhea from the get-go. \u201cMinerals also get depleted during high periods of stress,\u201d Dr. Sonpal adds, \u201cso I suggest drinking water with electrolytes to help replenish those, as well.\u201d (Need a recommendation? We love the convenience of <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FNuun-Active-Electrolyte-Enhanced-Tablets%2Fdp%2FB06WV6V7KS%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx1133-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fcan-stress-cause-diarrhea%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fcan-stress-cause-diarrhea%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Nuun-Active-Electrolyte-Enhanced-Tablets\/dp\/B06WV6V7KS\">Nuun Sport Effervescent Tablets<\/a>, $12, and <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLiquid-I-V-Multiplier-Electrolyte-Supplement%2Fdp%2FB07HCLQZF7%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx1133-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fcan-stress-cause-diarrhea%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fcan-stress-cause-diarrhea%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Liquid-I-V-Multiplier-Electrolyte-Supplement\/dp\/B07HCLQZF7\">Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Electrolyte Drink Mix<\/a>, $17.)<\/p>\n<p>If this happens to you often, Dr. Ghannoum says that adopting mind-body practices like regular yoga and meditation can help. Additionally, he recommends making sure your diet includes apple cider vinegar, since some studies show that it has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5788933\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5788933\/\">antimicrobial properties<\/a> and can aid in digestion, while also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2245945\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2245945\/\">slowing the emptying process<\/a>, which may give bowel movements a bit more time to harden before being expelled.<\/p>\n<p>He also suggests making probiotics, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/best-probiotic-drinks\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/best-probiotic-drinks\/\">kefir and kombucha<\/a>, part of your daily routine. Not only can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK373095\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK373095\/\">probiotics help prevent diarrhea<\/a>, they can help make it go away faster, too, research shows. What&#8217;s more, Dr. Ghannoum points out that probiotics have been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6531156\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6531156\/\">shown to reduce anxiety, stress, and depression<\/a>, so it can help neutralize the triggers that cause nervous poops in the first place.<\/p>\n<h2>The takeaway<\/h2>\n<p>Can stress cause diarrhea? Unfortunately, yes\u2014anxiety diarrhea is a very real thing. \u201cThey call the gut the second brain for good reason,\u201d Dr. Nazareth says. \u201cIt has more than 100 million nerve cells; there is also constant communication between the gut and brain.\u201d With that level of ongoing correspondence, it\u2019s no surprise that what happens in the mind affects the gut\u2014and vice versa.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe [are used to thinking] top-down (brain to gut axis), however, we should also start thinking bottom-up (gut to brain axis),\u201d Dr. Ghannoum says. \u201cIn reality, the two opposite directions mutually affect and depend on each other and their purpose is to maintain homeostasis and protect the body against detrimental factors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With this in mind, he says that it\u2019s important to make mealtime decisions with your mind, well, in mind. Since everything is circular\u2014in that the gut affects the mind and the mind affects the gut\u2014limiting foods that cause stress (such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sugar-and-stress\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sugar-and-stress\/\">sugar and fatty, fried foods<\/a>) can in turn limit gut reactions to said stress. The result? Fewer instances of diarrhea from stress. (Hallelujah!)<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimers__after_content mb-[18px] mt-[16px] pt-[16px]\">\n<div class=\"outline-earmark relative mt-[8px] pt-[10px] pl-[20px]\">\n<p>\n            Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Picture this: You&#8217;re about to give a big speech, or interview for your dream job, or race a marathon. But while you&#8217;re trying to focus on last-minute prep, you&#8217;re stuck in one place\u2014the bathroom. Unfortunately, this predicament is all too common. While heart palpitations and sweaty pits can very much be part of our body&#8217;s &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6671,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6670"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6670\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}