Why You Sweat When You Poop and What You Can Do About It

You've heard of cold sweats, night sweats and maybe even nervous sweats — but how much do you know about poop sweats?

That's the colloquial term for when you sweat and/or feel dizzy during a bowel movement, and though it may sound weird to sweat when you poop, it's not terribly uncommon, says David M. Poppers, MD, PhD, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City.

It's also not usually cause for concern, although it sure can be confusing. Here's what you should know about poop sweats, from what causes them to possible remedies.

The symptoms associated with poop sweats include dizziness or lightheadedness, warmness and sweating before, during or after pooping. Sometimes nausea accompanies these symptoms, too. They come from a normal, primitive reflex that involves the vagus nerve, which runs between the brain and abdomen.

"When something stimulates the vagus nerve, it causes a slowing of the heart rate and a dilation of the blood vessels, which both cause a significant drop in blood pressure and in turn leads to a decrease in blood flow to the brain," says Brian Wolfman, MD, a gastroenterologist with Coastal Gastroenterology Associates in Jackson, New Jersey.

This is also known as vasovagal syncope, and it's the culprit behind poop sweats and sweating from diarrhea. If it's significant enough, it can even cause you to pass out, Dr. Wolfman says.

Interestingly, this same reaction is responsible when someone faints at the sight of blood, according to the Mayo Clinic.

There isn't one specific reason for sweating during a bowel movement, but one of the most common causes is constipation, which an estimated 33 out of 100 adults over the age of 60 have, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Constipation can lead to big poops that are hard and difficult to pass.

"As you bear down, you take a deep breath in and push, which decreases the amount of blood returning to your heart and therefore the amount of blood leaving it," Dr. Wolfman says. "Pressure receptors in the blood vessels in your neck detect the increased pressure from straining and trigger a slowing of the heart rate to decrease the blood pressure. This low blood pressure can lead to sweating, dizziness and fainting."

If you have certain chronic conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Dr. Wolfman notes you may be more prone to experiencing this vasovagal response.

"People with IBS have hypersensitivity to their viscera, or organs in their abdomen, which can trigger a hyper-response that leads to a vasovagal response," he says.

In this way, sweating isn't a symptom of IBS exactly, but having the condition makes you more likely to sweat when you poop.

Sweating is a common side effect of constipation, as we mentioned, and certain medications make constipation more likely.

"The classic category is medications that are described as having 'anticholinergic properties,'" Dr. Poppers says.

These include medications prescribed for:

• Blood pressure
• Spasm
• Overactive bladder

Interestingly, these meds can reduce your body's overall ability to sweat. But by causing constipation, they can lead to sweating with bowel movements.

If you recently ate spicy foods, it's also not uncommon to experience sweating during a bowel movement the following day, according to Niket Sonpal, MD, a New York City-based internist, gastroenterologist and faculty member at Touro College of Medicine.

"By the time that food has made its way to the bowels, it still has capsaicin (the active component of chili peppers), which binds to our TRPV1 receptors," he says. "These receptors detect heat in multiple parts of the body, including the anus, which signals to the brain that the body needs to sweat in an effort to cool down."

Vasovagal syncope causes your blood pressure and heart rate to drop suddenly, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can lead to:

• Fainting
• Feeling warm
• Nausea
• Cold, clammy sweat
• Feeling lightheaded
• Tunnel or blurred vision
• Pale skin
• A weak, slow pulse
• Dilated pupils
• Jerky or otherwise abnormal movements

That means it's possible to feel nauseated, shaky, weak or cold after pooping.

In most cases, especially in young people, poop sweats are a benign phenomenon, Dr. Poppers says. (In other words, they're no big deal.) Still, it's incredibly important to be mindful of your symptoms, especially if you're older or have certain conditions.

"If you are over the age of 50, have cardiovascular issues or a pelvic floor abnormality, you should get evaluated to rule out a more serious condition," Dr. Poppers says.

He also recommends paying attention to the onset and frequency of the poop sweats. If this is something new for you, it's more concerning.

"If you're 40 years old and this happens every time you're constipated and straining since age 20, this is less likely to be a concern than if this is starting in your 60s and 70s," he says.

Also: "If this is something that happens once every few years, that's less concerning than if it happens a few times a week."

You may be able to prevent poop sweats by changing your diet, swapping your medication or tweaking your toilet habits.

If you think sweating during pooping may be caused by a certain medication you're taking, talk to your doctor.

"A new medication may have side effects that can affect your ability to evacuate (pass a bowel movement) or that alter your so-called motility, or how well the intestinal tract is moving," Dr. Poppers says.

You may also want to consider how your diet may play a role in contributing to your constipation, if that's the cause of your poop sweats.

Dr. Poppers recommends making sure you're eating enough foods high in fiber, including fruits such as pears, mangoes and apples as well as legumes (think: beans, peas) and nuts. "Fiber can help lead to bulkier stools that are easier to pass, which can lead to less straining," he says.

Drinking enough water is also important in helping to encourage the flow of your digestive tract, he notes. Adults should aim to get between 11.5 and 15.5 cups of water daily, through drinking and water-rich foods, according to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

If you're on the toilet for several minutes and nothing is happening, try not to push it, both figuratively and literally. Doing so could cause straining that triggers the vasovagal response and sends you into the very tailspin that you're trying to prevent.

Last, but certainly not least, be sure to consult with your doctor if you're experiencing any irregular bowel movements or other symptoms associated with passing a bowel movement. Even if you think that your poop sweats are harmless, it's a good idea to get the opinion of a medical doctor to rule out anything more serious.