ANDAre you on vacation and really can’t do the ‘number two’ in the hotel or accommodation bathroom? It is a problem that affects many people and has very uncomfortable and unpleasant consequences. To understand the phenomenon, the Lifestyle by the Minute spoke with Cátia Lopes, a hypnotherapist, licensed in psychology, at Clínica Dr. Alberto Lopez.
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According to the expert, thedifficulty evacuating, especially in unfamiliar locations, is much more than pure biologybeing a reflection of a complex web of behavior, personal comfort and food”.
Usually, this happens because “the abrupt change in routine, irregular and often less healthy meals can wreak havoc on our intestinal ‘transit’, making it difficult to have a regular bowel movement”.
Cátia Lopes© Clínica Dr. Alberto Lopes
By the way, mentioning a study, the specialist says that “researchers emphasized that constipation is a common complaint among adults and children during the holidays, with symptoms such as irritability, colic, pain when defecating and even stress”.
They also discovered that there are two possible explanations: “physiological changes due to changing the diet and, of course, behavioral changes due to the discomfort of using unfamiliar toilets”.
Yes, “the idea of defecating in unfamiliar places can be embarrassing for many, the fear of infections and contagion and some degree of exposure leads to emotional constraints such as shame”. According to the hypnotherapist, it is a phenomenon, “known as public toilet syndrome, a form of social anxiety, according to Simon Knowles, a well-known clinical psychologist”.
But calm down, this does not exclusively affect the most anxious people and “studies show that any of us can experience this discomfort”, he adds.
Read also: This is why you suffer from constipation (and it has nothing to do with food)
Unfortunately, the difficulty in having a bowel movement prolonged over several days causes a lot of discomfort, yes, and has many consequences for health. Which? “Stools become dry and lead to a chronic inflammatory process in the intestine.”
Quoted in an article, available in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, “about 60% of the dry weight of feces are bacteria, and the lack of adequate evacuation can cause fermentation that inflames the intestine, causing malaise, colic, difficulty sleeping, alterations mood swings, loss of appetite, fatigue and tiredness”.
To solve the problem, “we should try to maintain a regular diet, even on vacation, opting for healthy food”, he advises. It also helps “reducing the consumption of sugars and soft drinks, the intake of olive oil, fruits, and lots of fluids”.
Of course, physical activity like regular walking is another recommendation, as it promotes bowel movement. You can also “resort to the use of a glycerin suppository that helps in cases of dry stools”.
In addition to all this, the specialist recommends “the intake of lactobacilli and inulin-based fiber (a substance found in foods such as chicory, tomatoes, leeks, onions, asparagus) is an essential ‘fuel’ for our intestinal ‘machine’ “. Finally, in extreme cases, “a medical consultation is essential”.
Also Read: This Is What Happens When You ‘Trap’ Farts (Not Pleasant…)
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