Can Nerves Cause Diarrhea?

As the U.S. population grows and people tend to move about, eat out and often sleep less, we are more prone to infection and disease. One of the more consistent illnesses today is diarrhea, which has numerous causes. Our fast-paced lifestyles can lend themselves to stress-related illnesses, but in the case of diarrhea, nerves do not play a role in its onset.

Identification

• Diarrhea is the common problem of loose, watery stools. The stools are larger than most regular bowel movements, and diarrhea can cause dehydration if you don't drink more liquids to compensate for what you lose. Diarrhea can affect anyone, at any age, and can be an acute or chronic problem, depending on the cause.

Causes

• Often diarrhea occurs for no identifiable reason, but some common causes include bacterial and viral infections, parasites, medication side effects and certain foods, including dairy. Medical conditions such as Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and diseases of the stomach and colon can also cause diarrhea; in such cases, your doctor can help you get tested for a definitive diagnosis.

Effects

• Stress has been known to worsen symptoms related to bowel conditions such as IBS, but beyond that, no specific data has associated diarrhea and nerves. Diarrhea can come and go and last anywhere from a day to months or longer. If it persists for three days or more and you also have fever, dark or bloody stools and signs of dehydration, you should talk to a doctor.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of diarrhea can include abdominal pain and bloating, cramping and a feeling of urgency to use the bathroom. If the cause is IBS or inflammatory bowel diseases, you may have fever or bloody stools. In all cases you may feel sick to your stomach.

Prevention/Solution

• Most of the time diarrhea resolves itself within a few days; however, the more complex or chronic conditions causing diarrhea may require intervention. Some medications can alleviate or eliminate symptoms if your doctor recommends them.