Diarrhea at Night

When you experience diarrhea at night, it makes you uncomfortable. Having diarrhea means you have loose, watery stool or bowel movement. Diarrhea at night is also called nocturnal diarrhea, and it usually occurs at night. Often people with nocturnal diarrhea will experience disturbances in their sleep patterns because they have to wake up every now and then to empty the bowel. Many things contribute to nocturnal diarrhea, and sometimes it may be mild while at other times, it is could be chronic. Mild nocturnal diarrhea will last for about a day or two but with chronic diarrhea, it will last for four weeks or even more, and it could be a sign of a more serious health problem. If you have severe or chronic diarrhea, see a doctor.

The disruption in sleep may at times aggravate diarrhea, particularly in people diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).  Some people have what is referred to as osmotic diarrhea; it happens if there is too much water that is drawn into your bowels. Osmotic diarrhea occurs when a person takes in a lot of salt or sugar that draws the water in your body into the bowel. Osmotic diarrhea can also occur at night.

It is not unusual to have occasional bouts of diarrhea, however, if it becomes a chronic condition, it should be treated with an emergency.

 Symptoms of Nocturnal Diarrhea

The symptoms of nocturnal diarrhea may vary depending on the causal factor or the underlying cause. It also varies from an individual to another. That said, a person with diarrhea that occurs at night may show the following symptoms:

• Nausea
• Fever
• Watery, loose, thin stools
• Frequent passing of the loose stool
• Bloating
• Sensation with bowel movements
• Blood in stool
• Pain in abdomen

When you have mild nocturnal diarrhea, it may present with some or all of the above symptoms and you should be able to manage it, it will pass after about two days. The problem is that you have to wake up from sleep or have difficulties sleeping. In the case of severe diarrhea, it may be accompanied by blood in stool and severe abdominal pain.

 Causes

Nocturnal diarrhea can be mild or severe and chronic. Causes of mild to severe diarrhea are:

• Foods
• Allergies
• Medications
• Infections from bacteria and viruses

Chronic nocturnal diarrhea most likely is a sign that you have another serious condition that needs to be treated. Chronic diarrhea can help a physician to make a diagnosis. Many gastrointestinal conditions are a culprit when you have chronic diarrhea. For example, irritable bowel syndrome can trigger chronic nocturnal diarrhea.

Secretory diarrhea may also occur at night and it’s caused by improper absorption or secretion of electrolytes and fluid. Secretory diarrhea may arise due to an underlying health problem, but at other times, it could be caused by external factors like medication use, surgery, and alcoholism. Some of the health conditions that may cause chronic nocturnal diarrhea are:

Inflammatory bowel disease: This occurs when you have chronic inflammation in your gastrointestinal tract that lasts for a long time. It may be due to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. While ulcerative colitis affects the large intestine, on the other hand, Crohn’s disease affects any part of the GI, from the mouth, through to the stomach, intestine, and the anus. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are autoimmune disorders and they cause inflammation within the GI tract.

If you have inflammatory bowel disease, you may experience mucus or blood in your bowel along with diarrhea. A person with this disorder may experience pain when having a bowel movement. They may experience anemia, weight loss, and severe, chronic abdominal pain. Inflammatory bowel disease may sometimes be severe, but at other times, you may have remissions. It is not exactly known why individuals have inflammatory bowel disease, however, some people may be more susceptible than others. If your family has a history of suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, you may also experience it. People who smoke tobacco or use NSAIDs for extended timeframes may be more likely to have inflammatory bowel disease.

 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS):  You may have bouts of nocturnal diarrhea if you suffer from IBS. It’s not well known what causes irritable bowel syndrome, however, having psychological problems can worsen the symptoms.

 Microscopic colitis: This occurs when there is inflammation of the large intestine occurring at the microscopic level. Older individuals may have this disorder as well as those who use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for extended periods. Having microscopic colitis may bring about chronic nocturnal diarrhea.

 Diabetes mellitus: People who have poorly controlled glucose levels and depend on insulin may be more susceptible to having nocturnal diarrhea. Again, if you have diabetes accompanied by autonomic and peripheral neuropathy, you may have nighttime diarrhea.

 Psychological factors:  If you have psychological stress, you may experience nighttime diarrhea. Nightmares and nighttime stress in people already having gastrointestinal issues may contribute to diarrhea. Sleep disorders may also lead to diarrhea.

 Taking food and drinks before going to bed: If you consume foods and beverages shortly before you go to bed, it can trigger nighttime diarrhea. This is among the most common causes of diarrhea at night. People who are lactose intolerant or have difficulty with dairy after they have consumed it may as well experience diarrhea at night.

 Treatment of Nocturnal Diarrhea

You may have diarrhea at nighttime that occurs in isolation, sometimes, it could be due to something else. Treatment may vary depending on the cause. Persistent diarrhea requires a proper diagnosis to find out the cause and the right treatment. Antibiotic therapy and anti-diarrhea medication may be prescribed by a doctor. If you have mild diarrhea, you can observe the following:

• Take enough fluids to remain hydrated because diarrhea can easily draw away water from the body. Ensure you have liquids that have nutritional value like broth, fruit juices, and sports drinks.
• Take bland foods that don’t have a lot of fiber. Staying away from taking heavy, greasy food may also help.
• Reduce your caffeine intake
• Refrain from drinking alcohol
• Limit taking spicy foods
• Avoid eating shortly before you go to bed. You can take your meals at least three hours before you retire to bed
• Try to empty or have bowel movements prior to going to bed. This will help train the bowel to empty during that time.
• Exercising the body in the morning and at daytime may help if you are having bouts of nighttime diarrhea after having night workouts.

If drugs you are taking are causing nighttime diarrhea, you should talk to your physician or doctor. You may need to have adjustments of the medications, but don’t stop before you have consulted with your doctor. Sometimes, antidiarrheals may be prescribed rather than changing the medications you are using so that the underlying cause is treated.

Home Remedies to Treat Nocturnal Diarrhea

It is unpleasant and frustrating to have diarrhea at night, so if you are seeking relief, you may want to try these home remedies.

Relaxation:  Relaxing the body and mind may help calm stress, a situation associated with nocturnal diarrhea. Using relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing before going to bed may help.

 Chamomile tea: Chamomile helps reduce inflammation, it’s also considered a natural sleep aid. Sipping a cup of this herbal tea an hour before you go to bed can help stop nighttime diarrhea while assisting in sleep.

 Sleeping close to your bathroom:  If you have diarrhea at night, it makes it difficult for you to sleep because you have to wake up to empty your bowel. If you’re sleeping far from the bathroom, you might empty on your night dress or garment. Also because diarrhea may come frequent, you will be making many trips to the bathroom. If you are close to the washroom, you save the steps you make to empty the bowel.

 Probiotics: You can take probiotics or eat live culture yogurt to replenish gut bacteria. Having healthy gut bacteria helps in digestion and reduces diarrhea. If you are having diarrhea after taking antibiotic medications, by replenishing gut bacteria, you may relief your diarrhea.

Complications Associated with Nocturnal Diarrhea

You should see a physician if nocturnal diarrhea is occurring because of an underlying condition. Complications may include:

• Dehydration
• High-grade or long-lasting fever
• Presence of mucus or blood in the stool
• Diarrhea lasting for several weeks
• Have symptoms of another more serious condition.