Why ‘holding on’ is bad for your health

Is your fear of using public toilets causing unhealthy side effects in return?

Australians’ aversion to public rest rooms is increasing the incidence of serious health conditions as a result of irregular bowel habits and not going to the toilet, according to The Movicol Bathroom Behaviour Report.

In the report, it was revealed 90 per cent of Aussies experience constipation at some point in their lifetime. But alarmingly, nearly three quarters (73 per cent) said they would rather ‘hold on’ than use a public toilet, increasing the risk of constipation, triggering conditions such as haemorrhoids, anal tears and rectal prolapses, as a result of excessive pushing later on.

According to the online quiz ‘What does your poo say about you’ (dontholdon.com.au) many people shy away from using public rest rooms for a number of reasons including a lack of privacy, embarrassment and cleanliness.

Going to the toilet when the urge arises is the best way to reduce your risk of constipation, in addition to incorporating lifestyle measures such as a high fibre diet, plenty of water and regular exercise, as well as over-the-counter medication, if required, for more serious constipation, the report revealed.

What does your poo reveal about you?

What comes out of your body can say a lot about what’s happening inside it.

So just what is poo? Poo is made up of water, fibre, bacteria, bile and sloughed-off cells from the inside of your intestinal tract. Although some people find bowel habits a source of embarrassment, studying your movements can give you useful insights into your wellbeing. After all, a healthy digestive system is the basis for good health. Your faeces are a veritable treasure trove of information and are far too valuable to flush down the loo without a second glance.

The Perfect Poo

The perfect poo is about the size and shape of a banana, not too hard nor too soft. Normal pooing frequency is three times a week to three times a day. However, most people feel their best with one or two nicely formed bowel movements each day. The colour should vary between Mission Brown (hard to forget if you were around in the 1970s) and burnished bronze. Here is a guide to some poos you may have had.

Déjà Poo

Seeing pieces of undigested food in your poo is cause for concern. Either you have not chewed your food well enough or your digestive system is in need of support. The exception to this rule is the odd kernel of corn or piece of tomato skin that can be devilishly difficult to digest. If you have undigested food in your poo, slow down when you eat and chew each mouthful at least 10 times before swallowing. If you still have issues, take a digestive enzyme with each meal.