Diarrhea
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- Diarrhea treatment
- Diet for diarrhea
- Nutritions and supplements for diarrhea control
- Diarrhea herbal treatment
- Acupressure treatment for diarrhea
- Aromatherapy treatment for diarrhea
- Homeopathy treatment for diarrhea
Diarrhea, or frequent and watery stools, is the body's way of ridding itself of toxins and foreign substances. Most cases of simple diarrhea should not be suppressed too quickly. It may be healthier to allow your body to flush itself clean, as long as you can support it with adequate fluids.
There are many microorganisms that can cause diarrhea, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. You can pick up viruses, bacteria, or protozoa from other people or from contaminated food and water. Food poisoning causes diarrhea very quickly. Food allergies and sensitivities can also cause diarrhea.
Less common causes of diarrhea include reactions to drugs, including alcohol; inflammatory bowel disease; hepatitis; cystic fibrosis; and pancreatitis. An anatomical deformity, such as a fistula, or a congenital defect, such as Hirschsprung's disease or short bowel syndrome, can also cause diarrhea. If your diarrhea arises from any of these conditions, you require medical attention.
Most cases of simple diarrhea are caused by viruses. Viruses invade the intestinal tract, causing irritation and inflammation of the intestinal walls. Viruses also induce the cells lining the intestines to secrete fluids. The increase in fluid volume in turn increases peristalsis, the wavelike contractions of the intestines. The result is cramping and the loose, watery, frequent stools characteristic of diarrhea.
Vomiting and stomachache often accompany diarrhea, and abdominal cramps usually come and go, often occurring right before a bowel movement. Depending on the cause of the diarrhea, you may or may not have a fever. When you are suffering from diarrhea, dehydration is always a concern, especially if your temperature is elevated.
If you are alert and are not experiencing cramping between episodes, it's safe to assume your body has the situation under control. But if diarrhea lasts for longer than forty-eight hours or comes and comes and goes over a period of two weeks or longer, or if you feel week, have cramping that is not relieved between episodes, experience severe or persistent abdominal pain with diarrhea, or have blood in the stool, call your doctor.
General recommendations for diarrhea
If you suffer repeated bouts of diarrhea, you may have lactose intolerance.
Preventive measures for diarrhea
Always wash your hands properly after going to the bathroom, when working in kitchen, and before eating.
Many episodes of diarrhea are triggered by ingesting contaminated food or water. Mild cases of food poisoning are often mistaken for flu.
Try to eliminate any food allergies or sensitivities as a cause of diarrhea. Common allergens include citrus fruits, wheat, sugar, and dairy products.
Acidophilus and bifidobacteria restore the friendly bacteria required to keep the intestinal tract free of many organisms that can cause diarrhea. These probiotic supplements qualify as true preventive medicine.
- Treatment for diarrhea: This section provides information about diarrhea treatment.
- Diarrhea diet: It gives information and guidelines to choose your sample diet to eliminate your diarrhea.
- Diarrhea nutritions and supplements: This section provides comprehensive list of nutritional supplements for diarrhea.
- Herbal treatment for diarrhea: This section focuses on various traditional herbal treatments used to cure diarrhea.
- Diarrhea acupressure treatment: This section provides various acupressure points on the body to treat diarrhea.
- Diarrhea aromatherapy treatment: This section provides information about essential oils which are helpful to cure diarrhea.
- Diarrhea homeopathy treatment: It provides information about homeopathic medicines required for curing diarrhea.