There are many different reasons that can cause morning diarrhea, but the most common factor attributed to it is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Other simple problems, such as stress, can also soften stools in this way, as can more serious medical problems, such as Crohn's disease and colon cancer. The most accurate and safest way to find the cause of morning diarrhea is to schedule a visit with a licensed medical provider and complete some tests, which will usually consist of lab work and other tests, including a colonoscopy if necessary. Some basic tests will be done first to rule out some of the more common factors, and then the more involved ones will be done until the cause of the diarrhea is found.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common cause of morning diarrhea and is usually the first medical condition to be checked when these types of symptoms arise. Of course, a gastrointestinal infection will first be ruled out, which means the colon will be examined along with tests for Crohn's disease. IBS occurs when the intestines and colon don't contract as smoothly as they're supposed to, and can often be contributed to by dieting. Changes to basic eating patterns will usually solve this problem effectively, whether it's simply eating earlier in the evening or eating healthier. Allergic reactions to specific foods can also cause IBS, so these daily patterns will have to be looked at until the problem is found, and then changes will need to be put in place to eliminate those problems.
Some medications can also affect the stool. Antibiotics have been shown in numerous studies to cause morning diarrhea. This problem can occur at any time of the day, but morning diarrhea is extremely common because as the body and mind wake up, so do the internal organs of the body. Several other medications can cause loose stools, so the medical provider evaluating the patient will need to know about each medication being taken.
Various illnesses can also cause problems with stool in the morning. Morning diarrhea can be caused by Crohn's disease, colon cancer, and colitis, as well as some milder problems like food poisoning and E. coli. If IBS is ruled out and analysis of diet and lifestyle does not find the cause of the problem, specific tests will be done to rule out all of these conditions. The symptoms of morning diarrhea can be attributed to a number of factors, which is why a professional medical professional needs to perform various tests to isolate the problem, which is the first step in solving it.