Diarrhea can become problematic when it remains for a long time. Sometimes it can even become life-threatening if you pass too many stools in a small period of time. Diarrhea may get better on its own. But it may require symptomatic treatment to cope with the condition.
In this article, we will tell you the tips to deal with diarrhea. If you have a complaint of recurrent diarrhea, you should consult with a healthcare provider. For more advice, you can visit oladoc.com.
Antidiarrheal Medications
Some people do not take diarrhea seriously. They just take it as a nuisance that makes you go to the bathroom frequently. But this is wrong. Diarrhea should be taken seriously. You can ignore it.
When you have diarrhea, you lose fluid and electrolytes- a condition that can become life-threatening for you.
To cope with diarrhea, you must take an antidiarrheal medication that can help control it. You can get antidiarrheals such as Imodium over the counter. It helps stop watery stools. However, do not take it right after the first or second episode. You should take it when diarrhea does not stop on its own.
Sometimes you may also need an antibiotic to kill the bacteria if diarrhea occurs due to bacterial growth.
Rice Water
For fast and effective relief of diarrhea, rice water is a good option. To make it, you can boil one cup of rice in two cups of water. Boil it for almost ten minutes, until the mixture becomes cloudy.
To consume, strain the rice and drink rice water. Rice water not only helps in keeping you hydrated but also reduces the severity of diarrhea by making your stools bulky.
Probiotics
Generally, your digestive system contains bacteria that ease digestion- known as probiotics. Sometimes, these probiotics may get killed. It happens most commonly due to antibiotic intake such as clindamycin. Therefore it can result in diarrhea.
If you have a complaint of recurrent diarrhea, you can take probiotics that can help in food digestion. They can restore the health of the digestive system and prevent diarrhea too.
Antibiotics
When diarrhea occurs due to bacteria, you will need to take antibiotics. However, they will not be effective if it occurs due to viral growth. If you eat something infected with bacteria, you can get a bacterial infection of the digestive system. To prevent that, make sure you eat fresh and fully cooked food.
Eating half-cooked or uncooked food can increase the risk of diarrhea many times. Make sure you complete the course of antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor. If you leave-taking medication in between the course, it can result in antibiotic resistance that can become even more difficult to treat.
Try BRAT diet
BRAT diet can help relieve diarrhea because you stop eating hard and spicy cooked meals. Instead, you eat:
- B for bread
- R for rice
- A for applesauce
- T for toast
It is effective because it is bland and does not contain any such spices. Moreover, they are easy to digest, contain starch that leads to the formation of bulkier and firmer stools. This diet does not contain spices, so it does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
Conclusion
Diarrhea can occur due to eating infected food or as a side effect of various medicines. Therefore you should practice good hygiene practice while cooking. Make sure you wash your hands with disinfectant soap and water before cooking food.
You must keep yourself hydrated to avoid dehydration due to diarrhea, as it can be life-threatening. If you have a complaint of recurrent diarrhea, you can consult with the best gastroenterologist in Lahore.