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

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

Why You Sweat When You Poop and What You Can Do About It
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Updated on August 6, 2025
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You've heard of cold sweats, night sweats, and maybe even nervous sweats — but how much do you know about poop sweats? Some people experience sweating, dizziness, or both during a bowel movement, says David M. Poppers, MD, PhD, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City. “Poop sweats” isn't a medical term, yet it refers to these symptoms mentioned by Dr. Poppers.

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

What Are Poop Sweats?

Poop sweats might occur due to a normal, primitive reflex that involves the vagus nerve, which runs between the brain and abdomen. The symptoms of vasovagal syncope include dizziness or lightheadedness, warmth, and sweating before, during, or after pooping. Sometimes, nausea also accompanies these symptoms.

 While other vasovagal syncope triggers are more likely, such as standing up too quickly, standing for too long, emotional distress upon seeing blood, stress, or exhaustion, bowel movements are a less common but possible culprit.

“When something stimulates the vagus nerve, it causes a slowing of the heart rate and a dilation of the blood vessels, which leads to a significant drop in blood pressure and reduced 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 can be the culprit behind poop sweats and sweating from diarrhea or constipation. If it's significant enough, it can even cause you to pass out, Dr. Wolfman says. Vasovagal syncope is responsible for fainting at the sight of blood.

Why Do Poop Sweats Happen?

Several factors may contribute to poop sweats:

You're Constipated (and Straining)

No single explanation exists for sweating during a bowel movement. However, one of the most common causes is constipation, which occurs in around 33 percent of adults over age 60 and in 16 percent of those under 60, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Constipation can lead to large poops that are hard and difficult to pass, which is a less common cause of vasovagal syncope than others, but still occurs.

 “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,” 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,” he explains. “This low blood pressure can lead to sweating, dizziness, and fainting.”

You Have IBS

If you have certain chronic conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), 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 exactly a symptom of IBS. However, having the condition may make you more likely to sweat when you poop.

You're Taking Certain Medications

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

“The classic category is medications that doctors describe as having anticholinergic properties,” Poppers says. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons lists anticholinergic medications among those commonly associated with constipation and recommends reviewing medication lists for such drugs when evaluating patients with constipation.

These include medications prescribed for:

  • Muscle and bladder spasms
  • Tremors
  • Slow heartbeat, known as bradycardia
  • Excessive drooling
  • Nausea and vomiting due to motion sickness
Some anticholinergic meds can reduce your body's overall ability to sweat and are available as a topical treatment for excessive sweating, known as hyperhidrosis.

 But by increasing the risk of constipation, they may indirectly lead to sweating with bowel movements.

You Had a Spicy Meal

If you recently ate spicy foods, it's also common 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 to cool down.”

Vasovagal Syncope Symptoms

Vasovagal syncope causes a sudden drop in blood pressure and heart rate. This can lead to:

  • Fainting
  • Feeling warm
  • Stomach upset
  • Clamminess and sweating
  • Feeling lightheaded
  • A narrowed field of vision
  • Pale skin
  • A weak or slow pulse
  • Wide pupils
  • Jerky or erratic movements

Are Poop Sweats Harmful?

In most cases, especially in young people, poop sweats are nothing to worry about, Poppers says. Still, it's vital to be mindful of your symptoms, especially if you're older or have certain conditions.

“If you are over age 50, have cardiovascular issues, or live with a pelvic floor abnormality, a doctor should evaluate you to rule out a more serious condition,” 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 has happened every time you’ve had constipation and straining since you were 20 years of age, this is less likely to be a concern than if it started in your sixties and seventies,” he says. “If this is something that happens once every few years, that's also less concerning than if it happens a few times a week.”

Can You Prevent It?

You may be able to prevent poop sweats by adjusting your diet, switching medications, or modifying your toilet habits.

If you think sweating during pooping may be caused by a specific 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,” Poppers says. Other medications may be available for your condition that don’t trigger constipation.

You may also want to consider how your diet may contribute to your constipation, if that's the cause of your poop sweats.

Poppers recommends ensuring you eat enough high-fiber foods, including fruits such as pears, mangoes, and apples, as well as beans, peas, and nuts. “Fiber can help lead to bulkier stools that are easier to pass, which can lead to less straining,” he says. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends getting a minimum of 28 grams of fiber daily, although this varies depending on age, sex, and pregnancy or breastfeeding status.

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 depending on their sex. You can get water through drinking it directly or eating water-rich foods.

If you're on the toilet for several minutes and nothing is happening, try not to strain. Doing so could trigger the vasovagal response and symptoms like sweating.

Consult with your doctor if you're experiencing irregular bowel movements or other symptoms associated with passing a bowel movement. Even if you think that your poop sweats are harmless, get the opinion of a healthcare professional to rule out anything more serious.

The Takeaway

  • Sweating during a bowel movement can occur due to various factors, such as constipation, certain medications, or having a condition like IBS.
  • If poop sweats are a new or frequent issue for you, especially if you are over 50 years of age or have cardiovascular conditions, consult a healthcare provider to rule out more serious problems.
  • Increasing your dietary fiber intake, ensuring proper hydration, and discussing any potentially constipating medications with your doctor may help reduce the occurrence of poop sweats.
  • Try to avoid straining during bowel movements, as this can trigger a vasovagal response, leading to symptoms such as sweating, dizziness, or even fainting.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Vasovagal Syncope. Cleveland Clinic. March 4, 2025.
  2. Vasovagal Syncope. Cedars Sinai.
  3. Vasovagal syncope. Mayo Clinic. February 15, 2025.
  4. Definition & Facts for Constipation. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. May 2018.
  5. Frank C. Common triggers of vasovagal syncope and how to reduce your risk of fainting. Harvard Medical School. November 4, 2024.
  6. Karim A et al. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Constipation. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. October 2024.
  7. Anticholinergic Drugs. Cleveland Clinic. December 12, 2024.
  8. Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. March 5, 2024.
  9. Water: How much should you drink every day? Mayo Clinic. October 12, 2022.
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