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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz

Doctor says we've been going to the toilet wrong and it could put your health at risk

Most of us feel pretty confident about going to the bathroom. It's something we're taught by our parents from a young age, and chances are we visit several times a day.

But if you find yourself mindlessly going to the toilet every day, while not giving any attention to how you feel while you do, you're doing it wrong, according to a doctor.

There are many things having a poo can reveal about your overall health, from how healthy your diet is to your risk of bowel cancer – so it's important to take note.

Your bowel movement can even show different warning signs of certain health conditions. For example, if you find yourself straining to go, it could be a sign of a number of hidden problems, from a hernia to rectal prolapse and haemorrhoids.

You should be paying attention to what is going on while you're on the toilet (stock image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Dr Chun Tang, medical director and GP at Pall Mall Medical, told The Sun: "Excessive straining could even cause your rectum to prolapse which is where the lining of your intestines pushes outside of your body.

"Hiatal hernias are when the upper part of your stomach pushes through the opening in your diaphragm which could trap stomach acid and delay proper digestion."

Another health problem that could be caused by continuous straining is anal fissures, which the NHS describes as "a tear or open sore that develops in the lining of the large intestine, near the anus".

The health body says: "Anal fissures are most commonly caused by damage to the lining of the anus or anal canal, the last part of the large intestine.

"Most cases occur in people who have constipation when a particularly hard or large poo tears the lining of the anal canal."

If you go for a poo less than three days a week you could be suffering from constipation (stock image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Straining could also cause haemorrhoids, also known as piles, which are lumps around your bottom. According to the NHS, you might have piles if you have an itchy anus, experience bright red blood after you poo or feel like you still need to poo after going to the toilet.

The health body advises people not to spend more time than they need to on the toilet, and not to "push too hard when pooing".

Meanwhile, a rectal prolapse occurs "when the last few inches of the bowel become stretched and stick out from the bottom," says the NHS.

You're at increased risk from this if you have long-term constipation, and one of the symptoms is difficultly having a poo. It can be treated with surgery.

Regular straining can also be a symptom of bowel cancer – and you should also look out for softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that isn't usual for you, as well as needing to go to the toilet more often, and blood.

If you're worried about straining regularly, Dr Tang urges people to find out the root cause. According to the NHS, if you poo less than three times a week or have regular problems going to the toilet, you're likely suffering from constipation.

You can try some home remedies such as increasing the fibre in your diet, but the best thing is to speak to your GP.

Do you have a story to share? Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk

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