Q. What is an effective treatment for fecal incontinence?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Fecal incontinence, also known as bowel incontinence, is a condition in which an individual has difficulty controlling their bowel movements. It can be an embarrassing and difficult condition to deal with; however, there are several natural treatments available that may help reduce or eliminate the symptoms of fecal incontinence.
One of the most effective ways to treat fecal incontinence naturally is by making lifestyle changes. Eating a diet high in fiber helps keep your stools soft and easier to pass. This includes foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. Drinking plenty of fluids is also important for a healthy digestive system; aim for 8 glasses per day minimum! Additionally, regular exercise helps strengthen the muscles that control your pelvic floor - try doing Kegel exercises (squeezing and releasing your pelvic floor muscles) several times per day if you are able to do so comfortably.
Another natural treatment option is biofeedback therapy. Biofeedback uses specialized instruments that measure muscle activity in different areas of the body including the rectum or anus; this provides feedback from which patient's can learn how best to contract and relax their sphincter muscles for better control over movements of gas and stool excretion via conscious effort alone!
Finally, hypnotherapy can also be beneficial for people with fecal incontinence when combined with dietary/lifestyle modifications discussed earlier - it involves using deep relaxation techniques while introducing positive suggestions into one's subconscious mind related to regaining normal function of their lower GI tract/spincter muscles via autosuggestion! This form of therapy has shown promising results in research studies conducted on those suffering from chronic fecal discomfort or involuntary leakage due to weakened anal sphincters caused by various causes such as aging-related conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), spinal cord injuries etcetera...
For some individuals living with this condition, these simple lifestyle modifications may provide enough relief from symptoms while others may need additional support from more intense therapies such as biofeedback and hypnotherapy mentioned above - it ultimately depends on each person’s particular case so consulting with a healthcare professional should always be done first before attempting any type of self-treatment regimen!