Can stress cause diarrhoea? The link between stress and an upset stomach

The human body is well equipped to handle small amounts of stress. In fact, small amounts of stress can actually be beneficial, helping to motivate you, focus your mind, and improve performance. However, when this stress becomes too much or is present for too long a time, it has the potential to affect every system in your body, including the gastrointestinal system, resulting in a condition that has been termed stress-induced diarrhoea.

Since the time of the Ancient Greeks, medical professionals have recognised and investigated the link between the brain and the gut. Named the gut-brain axis, researchers have found that during periods of intense stress, the brain sends stress signals to the gut via the sympathetic nervous system, triggering a hormonal response in the gut. These hormones slow the movements in the small intestine while increasing the movements in the large intestine in an attempt to expel harmful toxins. The result – diarrhoea.

In addition to this physical effect, stress has been linked to changes to the integrity of the gut’s barrier. Usually, the intestines have tight barriers covered in a layer of mucus, protecting the rest of the body from most food related bacteria. Stress loosens these junctions, allowing gut bacteria to enter the body, resulting in an upset stomach.

Stress-induced diarrhoea will typically go away once the stressful event has passed. However, if you have been experiencing stress for a prolonged period of time, the effects of stress hormones on the intestine’s barrier can lead to mild chronic symptoms. It is important to consult your doctor if:

• Your symptoms become worse or last beyond 2 days in adults or 24 hours in children.
• You notice signs of dehydration such as excessive thirst, no urine, weakness, or confusion.
• You develop severe abdominal pain
• You notice blood or pus in your stool, or they become black or tarry.

Considering there is a link between stress and an upset stomach, acknowledging and resolving the cause of the stress is just as important as treating the diarrhoea. Some steps you can take to reduce stress and anxiety are:

Stress is a normal part of life, and so avoiding it entirely is not possible. However, knowing what is triggering these feelings, even positive events, can help you manage and monitor stress levels.

Recent studies have shown that active diaphragmatic breathing can positively impact the amount of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is a hormone that plays an important role in the stress response, meaning practicing diaphragmatic breathing can help manage stress levels.

Exercise releases chemicals called endorphins, otherwise known as the happy hormone. This means that exercising regularly can help counteract the negative effects of stress.

In addition to managing your stress, taking an anti-diarrhoeal medication like Tasectan Duo can help to manage your symptoms and restore balance to your gut. Tasectan Duo has a unique mode of action, creating a thin biofilm to protect the wall of your intestine and prevent harmful bacteria from passing through the damaged intestinal wall. By doing so, Tasectan Duo reduces inflammation, allowing junctions to close and restoring normal gut function.