Can alcohol cause diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea can be unpredictable, uncomfortable and highly embarrassing if it occurs when you're out having a few drinks with friends! Amongst other symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting and fatigue, alcohol can indeed cause you to suffer a bad bout of diarrhoea.
There are a variety of factors which must be looked at to understand and treat this problem, including:
- How alcohol causes diarrhoea
- Groups which may be at higher risk of alcohol-induced diarrhoea
- Prevention and treatment options.
Read on to find out more about these factors, and get some helpful tips on how to manage the problem.
How does alcohol cause diarrhoea?
Alcohol can disrupt and cause changes to the normal function of the digestive system, which can, in some cases, lead to diarrhoea. When you drink alcohol, it travels to the stomach where, if there is food in the stomach, it is absorbed with some nutrients of the food into the bloodstream through the stomach wall.
If you haven't eaten, the alcohol will pass to the small intestine where, similarly, it is absorbed through cells of the intestinal wall, but at a much faster rate. Once most of the alcohol has been absorbed, the rest is excreted from the body through your urine and stool.
Under normal circumstances, when stools reach the large intestine, water is absorbed before they are passed out of the body. However, when alcohol is present, the large intestine is not as efficient at pulling water from the stool. The muscles in the large intestine must work in a coordinated motion to squeeze the stool out of the body. Alcohol speeds up the rate of this motion, meaning that water cannot be absorbed as usual, resulting in a very watery stool which often comes out quickly.
Research has found that drinking even small amounts of alcohol can speed up the rate of digestion. (1) As the stool is pushed out the body much faster than usual, the intestines don't have time to digest the passing food properly, which often results in diarrhoea.
Alcohol may also irritate and inflame the gastrointestinal tract, worsening diarrhoea. Alcohol consumption can result in an increased production of stomach acid, as well as a reduction of good bacteria in the intestines, both of which can contribute to diarrhoea. There are a number of different bacteria in the intestines which work to keep the body healthy by attacking harmful intruders. When you consume alcohol, these helpful bacteria may be temporarily killed off, which can alter the function of the intestines.
Higher-risk groups
There are several factors which can contribute to the likeliness of suffering alcohol-induced diarrhoea. People who drink every day may be more likely to suffer chronic diarrhoea, and those who binge drink may be also be more inclined to have digestive upsets.
Eating large meals or heavy foods whilst drinking may also increase the risk of having diarrhoea. In addition, people who have disrupted or irregular sleep schedules may be more likely to experience diarrhoea after drinking compared to those who do not. Research has found that a lack of regular sleep may make the digestive tract more sensitive to the effects of alcohol because it's not getting the normal rest it needs. (2)
Unsurprisingly, people who suffer from bowel diseases are more likely to experience alcohol-induced diarrhoea. Conditions such as coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease all cause increased sensitivity in the digestive tract and, therefore, individuals are specifically reactive to alcohol. Therefore, when alcohol is consumed, existing symptoms, such as stomach pains and diarrhoea, may be exacerbated.
The type of alcohol you consume may also play a part in determining whether you experience diarrhoea or not. Wine and drinks with excessive sugar content, such as alcopops or cocktails, may both have a higher risk of causing diarrhoea. Beer has also been connected to increased risk of stomach upsets, specifically in those with coeliac disease who are gluten-intolerant and respond poorly to the grains in beer.
Prevention and treatment
There are a number of tips you can follow to reduce your chances of suffering from diarrhoea when drinking alcohol, including:
- Drinking more slowly – this can ease stress on the digestive tract
- Eating before drinking – this can slow the rate of absorption of alcohol into the body and reduce the risk of diarrhoea
- Avoiding alcoholic drinks that contain caffeine – caffeine can increase activity in the intestine and speed up the rate of digestion.
In most cases, alcohol-induced diarrhoea clears up within a few days – when ordinary eating resumes, alcohol intake stops and normal digestion is restored. If you are suffering from diarrhoea, following these simple steps can help to reduce symptoms and allow for faster recovery:
- Eat plain, easily digestible foods such as rice, plain crackers, toast and chicken – these should help fill your stomach without causing unwanted symptoms
- Drinks lots of clear fluids, for example water, broth, juice, and herbal teas, to replace fluid loss. Add some Silicol Gel to your water for some relief from symptoms including diarrhoea (although, this shouldn't be a long-term solution - always consider the cause for the symptoms in the first place).
- Avoid caffeinated beverages as these can worsen diarrhoea
- Avoid eating foods that could exacerbate symptoms, for example, high fibre foods such as wholegrain breads and cereals, dairy foods such as milk and ice cream, high fat foods such as cheese, and rich, highly spiced foods like curries.
- Our Balance Mineral Drink may also be a beneficial addition to your regime if you are recovering from a stomach upset. As well as replacing fluid loss as you sip, it is a great source of vital electrolytes, which you may have lost through diarrhoea.
When to see a doctor
Diarrhoea can become a very serious problem it is persists, as this can lead to dehydration. If left untreated, dehydration can become life-threatening. Dehydration symptoms include:
- Excessive thirst
- Decreased or no urine output
- Extreme weakness
- Dizziness
- Feeling lightheaded
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth and skin
- Urine which is very dark-coloured.
It is important to see your doctor immediately if you feel you are at risk of dehydration, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, and if you have had diarrhoea for more than two days without improvement.
If you regularly experience diarrhoea after drinking alcohol, it may be beneficial to cut down on your alcohol intake or rethink your drinking habits using the helpful tips provided.
What you said!
We recently ran a poll to find out how often you suffer from diarrhoea when drinking alcohol. We've crunched the numbers and here are the results.
Results: How often do you suffer from diarrhoea when drinking alcohol?
44.4% of you said that you suffer from diarrhoea now and again after drinking alcohol. If you find this bothers you, reducing the amount you drink could be a sensible approach.
