Factors Affecting Bowel Elimination

Question 1

Developmental Stage

Answer 1

Bowel elimination patterns change throughout the life span

Question 2

Personal Factors

Answer 2

-Privacy is important to most people, as sufficient time

-Fast-paced jobs may cause a person to ignore the need to defecate

Question 3

Sociocultural Factors

Answer 3

-Stress has a major influence

-Can cause diarrhea or constipation

-Stress is primary risk factor in development of irritable bowel syndrome

Question 4

Nutrition/Hydration

Answer 4

-Regular intake of food promotes peristalsis

-Regular intake schedule

-Irregular schedule = irregularity

-high fiber

-fluid intake

Question 5

Activity

Answer 5

-Can stimulate peristalsis

-Sedentary(sitting) people have weaker abdominal muscles

-Pts with limited activity often experience constipation

Question 6

Medications

Answer 6

-All oral medications have the potential to affect function of the GI tract

Question 7

Surgery and Procedures

Answer 7

-Bowel manipulation can lead to paralytic ileus(motor activity of bowel impaired w/o physical obstruction)

-Nasogastric tube(NG tube) on low or intermittent suction

Question 8

Pregnancy

Answer 8

-Morning sickness

-Slowing of Intestinal motility

-Risk of hemorrhoids

Question 9

Pathological Conditions

Answer 9

-Neurological disorders that affect innervation of lower GI tract

-Cognitive conditions that limit the ability to sense “the urge”

-Pain or immobility that leads to sluggish peristalsis(wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract)