Lately I noticed that there is a connection between my sleep pattern and my bathroom habits. The lesser sleep I get, the worse my IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) symptoms get. When I only clocked in 5 hours of sleep, the IBS symptoms exacerbated. During the Movement Control Order imposed on us recently when we were quarantined at home for months, I caught up on my sleep and had the most sleep that I ever got in my entire adulthood. All the health issues that I had magically resolved on their own, from painful PMS breasts to IBS and I noticed a stronger immune system too.
Sleep is big part of our overall health, since it impacts our immune system, energy levels, and even our mental wellbeing. But did you know sleep can affect our poop, as well? And it is scientifically proven. While it may seem disconnected, sleep plays a role in how often we poop, the types of bowel movements we have, and even things like gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.
When we get too little sleep or too much, it throws our body out of whack and that includes our GI system, which functions via nerve signaling, hormones, and electrolyte balance. If possible, try to get seven to eight hours of sleep.
Digestive health experts have long believed that sleep quality and GI symptoms such as bloating, constipation, excessive flatulence and diarrhea are connected in some ways, especially among people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Research even suggests that sleep disruptions might trigger flare-ups of inflammatory bowel disease. Sleep disorders and poor sleep may also affect the immune system and, in turn, GI health. People who already deal with IBS or other gastrointestinal discomfort may very well notice that their symptoms get worse when they don’t get enough sleep or have poor quality sleep.
Our bodies follow a 24 hour sleep/wake cycle, also called our circadian rhythm. When this cycle is disrupted by sleeping less than the ideal amount of sleep per night, our intestinal cells and gut microbes are directly impacted. As a result, this can cause processes like digestion and excretion to be significantly slowed down. And you might even notice that it throws off your usual poop schedule. Thus, it’s important to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day — even on the weekends — so your body can fall into a rhythm, and stay on track.
Getting the right amount of sleep can act as a solid preventive health measure and, if you’re already living with GI discomfort or IBS, it won’t hurt to work on improving your sleep schedule. Regular sleep pattern and sufficient sleep could reduce the amount of stress you live with—which, by the way, could improve your digestive health too.
Sleep is a big part of our overall health, since it impacts our immune system, energy levels, and even our mental wellbeing. But did you know sleep can affect our poop, as well? And it is scientifically proven. While it may seem disconnected, sleep plays a role in how often we poop, the types of bowel movements we have, and even things like gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.
When we get too little sleep or too much, it throws our body out of whack and that includes our GI system, which functions via nerve signaling, hormones, and electrolyte balance. If possible, try to get seven to eight hours of sleep.
Digestive health experts have long believed that sleep quality and GI symptoms such as bloating, constipation, excessive flatulence and diarrhea are connected in some ways, especially among people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Research even suggests that sleep disruptions might trigger flare-ups of inflammatory bowel disease. Sleep disorders and poor sleep may also affect the immune system and, in turn, GI health. People who already deal with IBS or other gastrointestinal discomfort may very well notice that their symptoms get worse when they don’t get enough sleep or have poor quality sleep.
Our bodies follow a 24 hour sleep/wake cycle, also called our circadian rhythm. When this cycle is disrupted by sleeping less than the ideal amount of sleep per night, our intestinal cells and gut microbes are directly impacted. As a result, this can cause processes like digestion and excretion to be significantly slowed down. And you might even notice that it throws off your usual poop schedule. Thus, it’s important to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day — even on the weekends — so your body can fall into a rhythm, and stay on track.
Getting the right amount of sleep can act as a solid preventive health measure and, if you’re already living with GI discomfort or IBS, it won’t hurt to work on improving your sleep schedule. Regular sleep pattern and sufficient sleep could reduce the amount of stress you live with—which, by the way, could improve your digestive health too.
