Even when it comes to body functions, some subjects are as universally relevant yet hardly discussed as bowel movements aka your poop schedule. Everyone poops, and while it is a natural and essential part of digestion, how often should it be? Is there some sort of ideal number of bathroom visits per day, or does it vary from individual to individual? Knowing the norm and what is abnormal can really help develop health through good digestive function and recognize red flags.

There is no rule for how often you should poop, but it should be regular and comfortable. If you experience persistent irregularities, you can try to improve your digestive health by making lifestyle adjustments such as increasing fiber intake, drinking more water, and exercising regularly. However, if changes in bowel habits are accompanied by pain, blood, or significant discomfort, you should seek medical advice to rule out any serious conditions.

What Is a Normal Bowel Movement Frequency?

There is no single answer to how often you should poop because bowel habits differ widely among individuals. Experts define a healthy range as anywhere from three times per day to three times per week. Some people naturally go more frequently, while others may only need to empty their bowels a few times a week.

What matters most is that your bowel movements are complete and spontaneous - they should happen naturally without straining or laxatives. If you're uncomfortable, struggle, or have unexplained difficulty, an imbalance may have occurred that needs to be addressed.

Things That Influence Your Poop Schedule

There are several things that determine how often you must go:

Dietary Fiber Intake – Fiber is crucial for regular bowel movements. Consuming 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes helps maintain healthy digestion.

Hydration Levels – Water keeps stools soft and easy to pass. Aim for at least eight cups of water daily to support smooth digestion.

Physical Activity – Regular movement, such as walking, stimulates digestion and promotes bowel regularity.

Stress and Anxiety – The gut-brain connection is strong, and stress can lead to constipation or diarrhea.

Medical Conditions and Medications – Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hypothyroidism, or diabetes can affect digestion. Certain medications, including opioids and antidepressants, can also slow bowel movements.

Bathroom Habits – Ignoring the urge to go can lead to constipation over time, so it’s essential to respond when nature calls.

How to Poop With Improved Bowel Regularity

If you find yourself struggling with irregular bowel movements, consider making these lifestyle changes to support a healthier digestive system:

Increase Fiber Intake – Add fiber-rich foods such as berries, oats, lentils, nuts, and seeds into your diet.

Stay Hydrated – Drinking at least 64 ounces (eight cups) of water daily helps soften stool and prevent constipation.

Eat Probiotic Foods – Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and probiotic supplements can balance gut bacteria, improving digestion and stool consistency.

Exercise Regularly – Engaging in physical activities like walking, running, or yoga stimulates bowel movements.

Maintain a Consistent Routine – Try to use the bathroom at the same time each day to regulate your body’s natural rhythm.

Don’t Ignore the Urge to Go – Holding in a bowel movement can lead to discomfort and constipation.

When to See a Doctor About Your Bowel Movements

While some variation in bowel habits is normal, certain signs may indicate a more serious underlying issue. You should consult a doctor if you experience:

Significant Changes in Bowel Frequency – Sudden, persistent constipation or diarrhea could signal a problem.

Painful or Laborious Bowel Movements-Chronic straining, bloating, or cramping may characterize IBS and other gastrointestinal maladies, which include hemorrhoids and even far more serious disturbances.

Blood in Stool-Light red streaks may herald hemorrhoids but dark, tar-like stools speak of gastrointestinal bleed.

Coloured Stools-Diarrheas may color the stool paler or its color clayey due to disturbed liver or the gallbladder.

Thin or Narrow Stools – A sudden change in stool shape could be a sign of a blockage or other medical concerns.

Severe Abdominal Pain – If experiencing intense pain with constipation, it could indicate an obstruction requiring medical attention.

Your poop habits may not be a frequent topic of conversation, but paying attention to them is crucial for your overall health. After all, a healthy gut contributes to a healthier life.

The World Health Organization (WHO)'s Montreal meeting focused on wearable technology like smartwatches and activity trackers as a reliable source of health tracking. The meeting discussed that wearables could in fact generate objective real-time data, which helps governments design targeted and evidence-based health interventions.

Physicians in the Montreal meetings discussed that wrist-worn devices are more reliable than traditional self-reported surveys. This is because the self-reported surveys could underestimate the levels of physical inactivity.

“Metrics such as step count, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time directly correlate with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health outcomes. Having population-level data allows for early and preventive strategies,” said Dr Venkat Nani Kumar, consultant in internal medicine.

WHO Montreal Meeting: How Have Doctors Reacted The Shift To Wearables?

Doctors in India have welcomed this shift to wearable devices as a better way to generate data and make policies. Dr Kiran Madhala, professor at Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad, said WHO’s shift reflects rapid advances in artificial intelligence and digital health tools, calling it a progressive step towards improved monitoring of physical activity worldwide.

City-based doctors also underlined the need for inclusive validation of devices. “Wearables must recognise varied movement patterns and step equivalents, especially in ageing populations,” a physician said, while stressing the importance of data privacy and ethical use of health information.

WHO Montreal Meeting: What Are Wearable Health Devices?

As per a 2022 study published in JMIR MHealth and UHealth, wearables refer to devices that are worn by individuals. In health care field, they assist with individual monitoring and diagnosis. Wearables are “seamlessly embedded portable computers...worn on the body," notes another 2018 study published in Telematics Informatics.

A 2018 study published in the journal Sensors noted that wearable health devices are increasingly helping people to better monitor their health status both at an activity/fitness level for self health tracking and at a medical level providing more data to clinicians with a potential for earlier diagnostic and guidance of treatment.

WHO Montreal Meeting: What Are Some Examples Of Wearables?

Blood Pressure Monitor

This is a blood pressure monitor that consists of a cuff that is placed in upper arm with a digital display that provides real time reading of systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Glucose Monitoring Device

This device estimates your glucose levels in every few minutes. It can be worn in upper arm, with a phone sensor connected to measure readings. It also includes real time glucose alarms to make informed decisions.

Wearable ECG Monitor

ECG patches are interconnected with smartphones, where one can see their readings. They not only measure electrocardiograms, but also detect any abnormalities.

Fitness Tracker

Smartwatches or fitbits that could be worn on your wrist. They help track real time data of your health, steps, heart rate, calorie consumptions, and even sleep patterns. It can also help keep track of oxygen levels.

Integrated Activewear

These activewears come with microscopic sensors to safeguard wearer's body or assist them in reaching their fitness objective.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm, also called an arrhythmia and can create blood clots in the heart, which can increase your risk of having a stroke by five times.

When a person has AFib, the normal beating in the upper chambers of the heart (the two atria) is irregular and blood doesn't flow as well as it should from the atria to the lower chambers of the heart (the two ventricles).

In this case, the risk of developing blood clots in your heart increases, which can not only cause a heart attack but also damage vital organs such as your brain. An AFib may happen in brief episodes, or it may be a permanent condition.

Common symptoms include palpitations (the feeling that your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering or like you have missed heartbeats), chest pain, finding it harder to exercise, tiredness, shortness of breath, dizziness or feeling faint.

READ MORE: You Can Stop A Heart Attack With This Medicine, Cardiologist Reveals Heart Attack 101

The death rate from AFib as the primary or a contributing cause of death has been rising for more than two decades.

Over 454,000 people with AFib are hospitalized in the US each year, out of which 158,000 die of the cause. It is estimated that 12.1 million people in the US will have AFib in the US will have AFib by 2050.

Who Is At Risk Of Having AFib?

• Advancing age.
• High blood pressure.
• Obesity.
• European ancestry.
• Diabetes.
• Heart failure.
• Ischemic heart disease.
• Hyperthyroidism.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Moderate to heavy alcohol use.
• Smoking.
• Enlargement of the chambers on the left side of the heart.

Treatment for AFib includes medications to control the heart's rhythm and rate, therapy to shock the heart back to a regular rhythm and procedures to block faulty heart signals.

A person with atrial fibrillation also may have a related heart rhythm disorder called atrial flutter. The treatments for AFib and atrial flutter are similar.

How To Improve Your Heart Health

Experts recommend following the below to reduce yor risk of stroke or developing AFib and maintaining heart health:

• Don't smoke or use tobacco.
• Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity (or an equal combination of both) each week. Eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Stay at a healthy weight.
• Get quality sleep.
• Manage stress levels
• Get regular health screening tests.
• Eat a fiber, nuts and fish-rich diet
• Limit salt intake
• Reduce saturated fat intake

Changes in your voice, whether in tone, volume, speed or overall quality, can act as early warning signs for a wide range of medical conditions, experts say.

Your voice is produced by the coordinated effort of your respiratory system, vocal cords (also called vocal folds), and the resonating chambers of your throat, mouth, and nose. Even subtle shifts in hormone levels, hydration status or tissue health can noticeably affect how you sound.

Recent research shows that subtle changes in speech, for example, slurring or vocal cord tremors, may be signs of disease or illness like Parkinson’s disease, depression, cardiac and mental health problems, as speech requires coordination with the brain, muscles and respiratory system.

Which Conditions Can You Identify By A Change In Voice?

• Diabetes: High-pitched, raspy voices or vocal strain can be linked to diabetes, with AI studies showing up to 75% accuracy in prediction.
• Cardiovascular Disease: Voice analysis can detect high, fluttering voices associated with coronary artery disease, caused by stress or fluid changes in the vocal cords.
• Hypothyroidism: A deeper, softer, or huskier voice can indicate thyroid dysfunction.
• Respiratory Illnesses: Conditions like COVID-19 or COPD are often associated with a breathy voice, coughing, and short, interrupted sentences.
• Throat Cancer: Persistent hoarseness and raspy voice, especially lasting more than 2-3 weeks, can indicate laryngeal cancer.
• Parkinson’s Disease: Identified by a monotone voice, reduced volume, increased breathiness, and vocal cord tremors.
• Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia: Characterized by slower speech rates, hesitation, frequent pauses, and simplified vocabulary/sentence structure.
• Stroke or Brain Injury: Indicated by slurred speech or difficulty finding words (global aphasia).
• Cerebellar Disorders (caused by damage to the nerves in the brain's cerebellum): Manifest as loud, staccato speech (bursts of broken sounds).
• Depression: Linked to a flatter, softer, and more monotone voice with a reduced pitch range.
• Anxiety/Stress: Often presents as a higher-pitched, faster, and more tremulous voice.
• Schizophrenia: Indicated by monotone, disorganized speech.

What Else Can Affect Your Voice?

Apart from serious medical conditions, voice changes may also be linked to aging and lifestyle factors. Fluctuations in testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and thyroid hormone levels may also influence the structure and function of the vocal cords.

Dehydration is one of the most common causes of voice problems, as cords need adequate moisture to vibrate efficiently. Aim for at least 64 ounces of water daily, and more if you use your voice professionally or live in a dry climate.

Smoking irritates and inflames the vocal cords, causing chronic hoarseness and increasing the risk of vocal cord cancer. Even secondhand smoke and vaping can affect voice quality.

Diet also plays a role in vocal health. Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics that can dehydrate your vocal cords. Spicy foods and acidic beverages may trigger reflux, irritating the throat.

Dairy products can increase mucus production in some people, affecting voice clarity. Voice overuse or misuse, common in teachers, singers, and public speakers, can lead to vocal fatigue and damage. The following table compares how different lifestyle factors impact your voice.

How Can You Take Care Of Your Voice?

Whether the cause is hormonal changes, medical conditions, aging, or lifestyle factors, most voice problems can be improved with proper diagnosis and treatment. Here are some things you can do to take care:

• Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day and using a humidifier in dry environments
• Warm up your voice before extended speaking or singing with gentle humming or lip trills
• Avoid shouting or whispering, both of which strain the vocal cords
• Take voice breaks during prolonged speaking to prevent fatigue
• Manage stress through relaxation techniques, as tension affects voice quality
• Treat allergies and sinus problems promptly to reduce postnasal drip
• Maintain good posture to support optimal breathing and voice production