Holding in your poop has serious health consequences heres what can happen

In today’s fast-paced environment, many office workers are falling prey to an increasingly common phenomenon known as ‘voluntary withholding’ where the natural urge to go to the toilet is ignored.Sydney gastroenterologist Professor Peter Katelaris said it’s most common among office workers, especially young women, who may not want to use the office toilets.“People may try and override the urge to pass a bowel motion,” Prof Katelaris told news.com.au.“Some people do this as they may consider it inconvenient or embarrassing to go to the toilet during a busy day at work.Others don’t like to use a shared public toilet, and much prefer to use their own toilet, so suppress the urge which then passes.”Then, when it is convenient for them, they might sit on the toilet and try and push even though they don’t have the urge to empty their bowels anymore.This often ends in disappointment as the moment has passed.Not only that, but studies have shown that people who do this often develop a host of uncomfortable symptoms due to their bowel habits being disrupted.“It can cause bloating, fullness, and discomfort as they become constipated,” he explained.Prof Katelaris suggests people go to the toilet when there is “a call to stool”, rather than when they feel like they’d like to go.“Some people expect their bowels to open when they want them to, typically after breakfast and before work,” he explained.

“They sit in hope and expectation, sometimes for a long time, waiting for something to happen.”This can lead to forced straining which can cause fissures around the anus (a painful split in the skin) and hemorrhoids.In older people, it can even be dangerous as excess straining may raise blood pressure, leading to a heart attack or a stroke.The overarching message, according to Prof Katelaris, is that we must not lose sight of the fact that “our bodies are not machines.”We have to respond to our bodies’ messages and go to the toilet when we...