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Lifestyle - Bowel problems 

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Living with faecal incontinence and constipation
Faecal incontinence and constipation can be very uncomfortable, and they also have a significant impact on our quality of life. Apart from the frequent physical discomfort and bloating, you may worry about having an accident in public. This fear may become so great that it stops you from going out altogether.

There are, however, simple measures you can take that will reduce the discomfort and allow you to go about your daily routines without worrying.

Better bowel function through change of lifestyle
Introducing relatively small changes to your lifestyle can help to reduce the symptoms of bowel problems and ultimately make the bowels healthier. These include:

  • introducing reliable bowel management routines – this can help to reduce bowel discomfort and, importantly, make it much easier to take part in work and social activities
  • eating healthily – a balanced diet that is high in fibre and water will help to reduce constipation. Eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and less red meat may help to protect against certain types of cancer
  • stopping smoking – smoking can make the symptoms of inflammatory bowel conditions worse
  • reducing the intake of alcohol
  • reducing the use of certain medicines – a number of common medicines, such as those used to treat heartburn and indigestion, can cause diarrhoea or constipation. It may also be possible to change the dosage of many prescription medicines
  • exercising gently – gentle exercise helps to squeeze food along the digestive tract and reduces the risk of constipation

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03 9541 1111