(HealthDay News) -- Fecal incontinence is more common than you may think. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, more than 5.5 million Americans suffer from the inability to control bowel movements.
Ironically, constipation may be one of the causes of fecal incontinence, as well as muscle and nerve damage and diarrhea.
After being diagnosed by a physician, there are many treatments for this condition, depending on its severity. Dietary changes are the simplest to act on. If stools are hard to control because they are watery, a person can add fiber to the diet.
Foods can also contribute to fecal incontinence, including caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol, dairy, greasy foods or foods with sweeteners.
Eating smaller meals more frequently, eating and drinking at different times, and increasing consumption of water may help alleviate the condition.
