Abdominal cramps, frequent needing to go to the toilet, and loose or runny stools - this is what diarrhea looks like. It is a disorder that can prevent us from going through the day normally. However, there are several remedies that can cure it quickly, for example you can make some minor changes to your diet or take a suitable medication. Read this article to learn how to eliminate the causes and prevent the body from dehydrating, to minimize the duration and intensity of the disease.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Get Rid of Symptoms Quickly
Step 1. Prevent your body from becoming dehydrated
The most frequent complication caused by diarrhea is dehydration of the body, a condition that can be very dangerous. Make sure you replenish lost fluids by drinking water, broth, and fruit juices frequently. Even if you can only take small sips at a time, it is important to restore lost fluids through liquid stool.
- Drinking water is certainly helpful, but try to integrate broth, fruit juice, or sports drinks as well. The body also needs electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium.
- According to some, apple juice can aggravate the symptoms of diarrhea.
- Suck on an ice cube if you don't feel like drinking due to nausea.
- See your doctor right away if you have been unable to hold fluids for more than twelve hours due to vomiting, or if the diarrhea or vomiting has lasted for more than a day. In the event of severe dehydration, the only way to replenish fluids would be through a drip in the hospital.
- If the person suffering from diarrhea is a child or infant, do not give him fruit juice or carbonated drinks. If you are breastfeeding it, continue to do it normally.
Step 2. Use an over-the-counter diarrhea medication
Choose a loperamide (such as Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate. Ask your doctor or pharmacy for advice and strictly follow the directions for use given in the package leaflet.
- Never give an antidiarrheal medication to a child without the doctor's approval.
- In some cases, the diarrhea may get worse after taking these medications, for example if the stomach problems are caused by a bacterial infection. You can try taking an over-the-counter antidiarrheal, but if your condition worsens, see your doctor right away for alternative treatment recommendations.
Step 3. Use pain relievers with caution
You can try taking a drug that belongs to the class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also known by the acronym NSAID) such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to try to reduce the fever and pain caused by abdominal cramps. However, note that, in large doses or if you have certain diseases, these medicines can cause irritation and damage to the stomach. Take them strictly following the directions given by your doctor or on the package insert and avoid them completely if:
- Your doctor has prescribed you a different drug or if you are taking another anti-inflammatory drug to treat a different ailment;
- You suffer from some liver or kidney disease;
- You have suffered from a stomach ulcer or bleeding in the past;
- You are under 18. In this case it is important to consult your doctor; in particular, never give aspirin to a child or adolescent without the approval of a doctor. The use of aspirin to treat viruses (including influenza) in children and teens has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.
Step 4. Rest
As with many other conditions and ailments, one of the most useful things to do is to allow the body to rest. Relax, stay warm and give yourself a chance to sit still. In this way the body will be more likely to be able to quickly defeat the infection, which could be the cause of the diarrhea, and to recover from the physical fatigue caused by the disease.
Step 5. See your doctor if symptoms persist or worsen
If you have episodes of vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours, or if you can't hold on to fluids for more than 12 hours, see your doctor to prevent your body from becoming dehydrated. You should also see your doctor if you have a high fever (39 ° C), acute abdominal or rectal pain, blood in stools or black stools, stiff neck or severe headache, or if your eyes or skin appear dyed. yellow.
You may be dehydrated if you really feel very thirsty, have a dry mouth or skin, your urine is dark or light, or you feel weak, fatigued, dizzy or dizzy
Step 6. Take your child to the doctor if he is dehydrated
Children and babies dehydrate more quickly than adults, and the consequences can be more serious. Signs that may indicate that their body is dehydrated include: low urine (noticeable from a dry diaper) or completely absent for more than three hours, crying without tearing, dry mouth or tongue, high fever (39 ° C or higher), severe irritability, sleepiness or impaired response to environmental stimuli.
You should take it to the doctor even if the diarrhea has lasted for over a day or if you have black or bloody stools
Step 7. Contact the emergency medical service right away if you notice any sudden changes in your health
Call 911 immediately if you or someone else has difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, excessive sleepiness, apathy, loss of consciousness, faster than normal or irregular heartbeat, seizures, stiff neck, or severe headache, excessive fatigue, feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
Part 2 of 3: Get Rid of Diarrhea Quickly By Modifying Your Diet
Step 1. Try a liquid-only diet
If you have diarrhea, do what you can to limit the workload of the digestive tract. Drinking plenty of fluids allows you to keep your body hydrated and restore the correct level of electrolytes without stressing the stomach. Eat 5-6 small "meals" evenly distributed throughout the day, or sip liquids only frequently, depending on how well you can tolerate them. Fluids that can help you get better include:
- Water (also in the carbonated or flavored variety);
- Fruit juices without pulp, freshly squeezed and centrifuged;
- Fizzy drinks, as long as they are free of sugar and caffeine;
- Hot water with lemon juice;
- Coffee, tea (decaffeinated) and herbal teas, without the addition of milk;
- Tomato juice or vegetable centrifuged;
- Sports drinks (don't just drink these types of drinks as they contain a lot of sugar, so they're not useful on their own);
- Broth (not soups or soups);
- Honey and hard candies, for example those for the throat with a mint or lemon flavor;
- Icicles (free from fruit pulp or milk derivatives).
Step 2. Add solid foods gradually
From the second day you may be able to add dry or semi-solid foods. Consume them in small quantities. If you still can't tolerate them, go back to the liquid-only diet, you can try again after a few hours. In any case, choose soft foods, low in fat and fiber.
- Try the BRAT diet based on soft and light foods, namely Bananas, Rice, Apples (from the English "Apples"), Tea and Toast. Other useful options include crackers, plain pasta, and mashed potatoes.
- Avoid heavily seasoned foods. Using a little salt is allowed, but you should avoid anything that is spicy or spicy.
Step 3. Avoid foods that are high in fiber
Fiber can contribute to the formation of intestinal gas which could aggravate diarrhea. Avoid fresh fruits and vegetables (aside from bananas) until you start to feel better. Whole grains and bran are also high in fiber.
In the long run, fiber can help regulate your gut, so if you frequently suffer from diarrhea, you may want to consider increasing your consumption to improve digestive health
Step 4. Avoid fried or very fatty foods
Foods that are high in fat generally tend to aggravate the situation of diarrhea and abdominal pain. Until you are completely cured, try to avoid red meats, butter, whole dairy and fried, ready-made or packaged foods, as well as "fast food" of course.
Limit your fat intake to less than 15g per day
Step 5. Give up dairy products temporarily
One of the possible causes of diarrhea, intestinal gas and bloating is lactose intolerance. If you have noticed that the problem occurs many times, or worsens, after drinking milk or eating milk products, consider being lactose intolerant. In any case, when you have diarrhea, you should avoid milk and dairy products.
Step 6. Avoid caffeine
The reason is that it can cause stomach pains and abdominal gas; in addition, it aggravates the dehydration level of the body. If you are a lover of tea, coffee or fizzy drinks, choose them decaffeinated.
In addition to tea and coffee, some energy or sports drinks also contain caffeine. Also remember that some foods are also high in caffeine, such as chocolate
Step 7. Don't drink alcoholic beverages
Alcohol could intensify the symptoms of diarrhea; also, it may interfere with the medications you are taking to control symptoms. Alcohol is also a diuretic, so it helps dehydrate the body. Don't drink alcohol until you've fully recovered.
Step 8. Avoid fructose and artificial sweeteners
Some of the chemicals that make up artificial sugar substitutes are known to cause or aggravate diarrhea. In general, it is always best to avoid all types of food additives, but you should be especially careful when the digestive system is compromised. Many of the common sweeteners contain potentially harmful synthetic (artificial) substances such as:
- Acesulfame K;
- Aspartame;
- Saccharin;
- Sucralose.
Step 9. Try using probiotics
They are a variety of live bacteria that can help keep your digestive system healthy. They are contained in foods such as yogurt with live lactic ferments, but can also be taken in the form of food supplements readily available in pharmacies. Probiotics can help treat diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics or certain types of viruses because they help restore the right amount of good bacteria in the gut.
Eating plain yogurt with the addition of live lactic ferments is an exception to the rule of not taking dairy when you have diarrhea
Part 3 of 3: Treating the Causes of the Disease
Step 1. If the diarrhea is caused by a virus, wait
Most cases of diarrhea are viral in origin, like the common flu. In this case, the symptoms should subside within a couple of days. Be patient, keep your body hydrated, rest and, if necessary, use an over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication to relieve symptoms.
Step 2. See your doctor if your diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection
If the disease was caused by contaminated food or water, it is likely that bacteria or in some cases parasites are present. Your doctor may prescribe specific antibiotics or other medications to treat the infection. If the situation does not improve within 2-3 days, it is best to go to the doctor to determine if you can have an infection.
Note that antibiotics will only be prescribed to you if your doctor is certain that the diarrhea is caused by bacteria. The drugs themselves are not effective against viruses or other causes and can also cause unwanted side effects or worsen digestive problems if used inappropriately
Step 3. If you are taking any medications to treat another condition, consider changing them with your doctor's help
Antibiotics, for example, frequently cause diarrhea because they compromise the balance of intestinal bacteria. Cancer medications and antacids that contain magnesium can also cause or worsen diarrhea. If you have frequent episodes of dysentery and you don't know the cause, ask your doctor to evaluate the medications you are taking. He may advise you to reduce the dosage or indicate a different treatment.
It is very important not to interrupt or change therapy without first consulting your doctor. The health consequences could be serious
Step 4. Treat chronic ailments
Some digestive disorders can cause frequent or chronic diarrhea, including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and gallbladder problems (or if it has been removed surgically). Work with your doctor to find out if you have a disease that causes episodes of dysentery. He may suggest that you go to a gastroenterologist, which is a specialist who deals with diseases of the digestive system.
Step 5. Control anxiety and stress
For some, feeling very stressed or anxious can interfere with stomach health. Use relaxation techniques consistently to reduce stress levels and relieve symptoms during episodes of diarrhea. Try meditating or doing deep breathing exercises. Practicing mindfulness, taking long walks in nature, and listening to music are just some of the strategies that can help you relax.
Advice
- Avoid cooking for others if you have diarrhea. Wash your hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom, to prevent the infection from spreading.
- Drink plenty of water with the addition of electrolytes. Diarrhea causes the loss of mineral salts as well as that of fluids.
