Having mucus in the stool, a sign of what disease?

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Pham Thi Thu Huong - Head of Department of Gastroenterology - Endoscopy - Department of General Internal Medicine, Vinmec Times City International Hospital.

What disease is mucus when having a bowel movement? This article will answer questions about this phenomenon with information shared from the gastroenterologists of Vinmec International General Hospital.
1. Learn about mucus and mucus in the bowels In the digestive system, intestinal mucosal cells are always regenerated, so there is a thin layer of fluid to lubricate the surface of the intestinal mucosa, helping to for the process of transporting waste products to the anus and excrement easily. The normal body will produce a sufficient amount of mucus that cannot be distinguished by the naked eye. When mucus appears so much that it can be seen with the naked eye and is mixed in the stool, it is an abnormal sign in some digestive tract diseases.

2. Causes of mucus in the bowels. Mucus may be caused by contaminated food, food safety, causing inflammation of the intestinal mucosa or by the disease itself. Intestinal-induced (cancer, Crohn's..). Mucusy stools that appear occasionally and do not last long are less dangerous and can be caused by the following reasons:
Some cases are caused by eating foods such as lactose, nuts... May cause mucus in the stools in patients with lactose intolerance. Prolonged constipation: When chronic constipation can cause damage to the intestinal lining and produce mucus that accompanies apple stools. When constipated, the stool is hard, so it often rubs against the intestinal wall causing burning pain. When passed, stools may be mixed with white mucus or have a red tinge. The red mucus is caused by the clumps and hard stools that collide with the intestinal wall and cause bleeding. Constipation can be caused by eating foods that are difficult to digest and contain a lot of tannin. But if constipation is long-term, it will affect your quality of life and general health.

anorectal cancer: If the mucus in the stool is caused by anorectal cancer, this is a rather dangerous condition. Stools in patients with anorectal cancer are often flat and mixed with milky mucus. However, this expression only appears for a short time and then it disappears on its own, and at the same time the organs are still functioning normally. If you see this phenomenon, you should see a doctor to screen for colorectal cancer, because it is most likely an early sign of colorectal cancer. Ulcerative colitis: Ulcerative colitis means when the cells lining the colon are damaged, the amount of mucus is abnormal, depending on the disease, the amount of mucus secreted is more or less. . Acute enteritis: When the intestinal lining cells are inflamed, more mucus will be secreted due to the inflammatory bowel condition caused by bacteria, viruses, toxins, some autoimmune diseases... Bowel syndrome Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition in which the bowel movements are irritated, so mucus is also produced more than usual. 3. How is mucus to be treated? When you observe yourself passing mucus a few times or for a long time, especially with blood in the stool when passing, you need to immediately go to reputable hospitals and medical facilities to check and diagnose the cause. Depending on the symptoms, the doctor will guide you to check to determine the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment according to those causes for you. With modern equipment and seasoned experience, Dr. Vinmec will advise, diagnose and treat you appropriately and effectively, ensuring safety. Things to note during and after the treatment process Depending on the cause, the doctor may assign the patient drug treatment in combination with the adjustment of diet, daily activities or other indications. other suitable as gastrointestinal endoscopy, surgical intervention (surgery). You need a reasonable diet to improve health and treatment effectiveness:
Drink lots of water: You need to replenish your body with enough water by drinking enough 2 liters of water a day or rehydrating from fruit and vegetable sources. plants, beverage,... This is a simple but effective treatment combination. Eat more fiber: Fiber helps the digestive system, if the diet lacks fiber, it will cause constipation. A high-fiber diet is essential in people with mucus in bowel movements in people with persistent (chronic) constipation. Some food sources of fiber are corn, legumes, avocados, apples, oats,...

Eat foods containing beneficial bacteria: Some foods such as yogurt ... provide many beneficial bacteria to help balance digestive system disorders, reduce mucus discharge. Eat foods with anti-inflammatory effects: Leading gastroenterologists say foods with anti-inflammatory properties are very useful for treating mucus-based bowel movements. So foods with good anti-inflammatory properties like dark green vegetables like cauliflower, cruciferous vegetables, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, turmeric, ginger, garlic... Monitor the color and condition of your stool so that you can detect early signs of disease, diagnose and treat it promptly because having mucus in the bowels may seem like no problem, but it can be a sign of a disease. Some intestinal diseases need early detection and timely treatment. Endoscopy - Gastroenterology is one of the key specialties at Vinmec International General Hospital. For timely examination, consultation and treatment of digestive diseases, you can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide or register online on the website for service.