Cfit 24 Hour Fitness Tips and Health

Diarrhea is one of the most common ailments and is runner-up only to the common cold as a cause for absenteeism from work in many parts of the world.

What is Diarrhea?

Causes of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is caused mainly due to food poisoning due to bacterial and viral infections and also due to sudden dietary change. That is why it is mostly found in travelers where the body reacts to sudden food change. It can also be caused due to over consumption of laxative foods. Emotional stress is another factor leading to disruption of normal bowel pattern with alternating diarrhea and constipation. Reaction to medicines, Intestinal diseases and functional bowel disorders are some of the other reasons for cause of diarrhea. It has also been observed, diarrhea develops without any identifiable cause.

Diarrhea is however not a major cause of concern if the problem is not persistent or recurring. It becomes dangerous only when the person is severely dehydrated.

What should you do in case of Diarrhea

You should :

• Eat Boiled or poached eggs, skinless baked potatoes and other blend foods for normalcy of bowel movements.
• All binding foods such as bananas, rice, toast, applesauce works wonders in case you develop diarrhea.
• Consume plenty of water, herbal drinks like teas, low sugar beverages, broth. This will ensure replacement of lost fluids and other minerals from the body.

You should NOT :

• Consume any citric juices
• Dehydrating drinks like alcohol and caffeine.
• All other foods especially salads, whole grains and fruits which are heavy to digest.

The key for fast recovery is to keep up a simple diet with plenty of fluids until the problem persists. Stop all solid food and sip warm drinks frequently to prevent dehydration. In most cases of diarrhea, replacement of lost fluid to prevent dehydration is the only treatment required. When you do feel like eating start slow with low fiber foods after the first 24 hours. Do not touch any milk products until the symptoms disappear. An otherwise healthy person can generally tolerate all cooked vegetables and fruits during diarrhea, but eating raw fruits, high fiber vegetables or fatty foods usually aggravate the problem.

When to call a doctor ?

Mostly diarrhea is self-managed and lasts for maximum of 2 days. However, call your doctor when you find any of the following:

• Appearance of worms, mucus or blood in the feces.
• Severe abdominal or rectum pain
• Diarrhea accompanied by fever or vomiting.

Most doctors recommend taking bananas during diarrhea. While eating apples or applesauce can help to ease diarrhea, apple juice consumption can have opposite effect. In fact drinking too much fruit juice during diarrhea is not recommended especially for toddlers.

Hope this helps in dealing with diarrhea!