Diarrhea – Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Diarrhea, as we all know, is a condition in which we experience frequent watery stools (loose stools) as against normal smooth stools, in other words its increase in the liquid substance in the stools accompanied with increase in stool frequency. Diarrhea can be looked at as one of the symptoms for many types of bowel/digestive system related diseases or itself is a disease under various conditions.

In general cases, diarrhea can last anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks (short-termed) and is not a serious condition. But you should be watchful if it is more painful, and lasts longer than 2 weeks, in that case you should see your physician for an expert advice.

What happens in the Colon?
As a part of digestion, liquid content (amount of water) in the food is needed to be at higher level for its smoother digestion. Food first enters into stomach and travels to small intestine and then large intestine, during this journey most of the nutrients are absorbed by these parts.

At the end of digestion process, when the food reaches colon, body finishes absorbing almost all the possible nutrients. Colon absorbs the excess amount of water from the stool that is then pushed towards the rectum, and stored until it is thrown out of the body.