Stomach Upset Causes and Remedies

People live and eat their way without any tension from being attacked by digestive problems. Digestion is the breakdown of food into smaller components that the body can easily assimilate. Digestion varies from person to person, and it is not the same among all people. Age is the main criterion in digestion because a young person can easily digest food compared to older people. Youngsters participate in physical and other activities so the food can be easily digested, whereas older people may face some difficulties in digestion because of the lower immune system.

It is not a fact that young people do not face digestion problems. Every person faces digestive problems, which include diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and stomach flu. Some of the causes and the best ways to deal with an upset stomach are as follows:

• Diarrhea – Diarrhoea happens when the food and fluids ingested by a person pass too quickly or in large amounts through the colon. It is a condition in which a person gets loose and watery stools many times a day. Frequent, loose, and watery stools, abdominal cramps and pain, fever, blood in stool, and bloating are common signs of diarrhea. This is a problem that everyone has to experience in his/her life. Some of the causes of diarrhea are:
• Viruses – Viruses can invade the body and cause mild to severe problems. Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, and viral hepatitis are notable viruses that cause diarrhea.
• Bacteria and parasites—Contaminated water or food are easy targets for bacteria and parasites to enter the body. Diarrhea caused by bacteria and parasites is common while traveling in developing countries and is often regarded as a traveler’s diarrhea.
• Surgeries and medications—Some people experience diarrhea after undergoing abdominal surgery or gallbladder removal surgery. Antibiotics cause diarrhea because they destroy both good and bad bacteria, which can disturb the natural balance of bacteria in the intestines.

Remedies – The most important aspect of treating any disorder is to follow proper medical advice and remedies. In case of diarrhea, avoiding dehydration and replacing lost fluid by drinking lots of water, fruit juices, and chicken or beef soup is very important. Try to avoid having fatty food, sweets, coffee, and milk products during the time of diarrhea. Further, severe diarrhea conditions can be treated after seeking a doctor’s advice, who will suggest you take antibiotics.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – IBS is a common disorder among Americans and generally affects 55 million people. This problem affects the large intestine (colon), and cramping, abdominal pain, gas, diarrheal, and constipation are some common symptoms. It is a chronic condition that needs to be managed long-term by people most commonly affected by the disease. It has been proved in various studies that there is no fact what causes IBS. Some studies have mentioned a variegated number of causes that generate the problem of IBS; these are as follows:

• Foods—Foods play a major role in any problem related to digestion. Chocolates, spices, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, fats, broccoli, milk, carbonated beverages, and alcohol are some of the foods and drinks that cause IBS problems.
• Hormones – Women are at higher risk of getting attacked by IBS. Researchers believe that hormonal changes play a major role in IBS. Women experience the signs and symptoms during or around their menstrual periods.
• Other illnesses—Various illnesses, such as an acute episode of infectious diarrhoea (gastroenteritis) or more than normal bacteria in the intestines, may trigger IBS.

Remedies – There are various remedies and treatment procedures through which IBS can be treated. IBS can be treated by making basic changes in diet and lifestyle activities like avoiding caffeine products, quitting smoking, and increasing fiber intake. Moreover, IBS can be treated under the supervision of a professional health expert. He/she will recommend you the following drugs to prevent IBS. The doctor prescribes antispasmodics to control colon muscle spasms, and laxatives may be referred to treat the short-term management of constipation associated with IBS.

Constipation – It is a very dangerous and irritable condition in which bowel movements become difficult to pass. An estimated 2% of Americans experience constipation every year. A person is considered to have constipated bowel movements only once or twice a week. Various causes lead to constipation; these are mentioned below:

• Diet—Diet is considered the main culprit for any digestive problem. It depends on the person. Basically, constipation is caused by consuming a low-fiber diet, low liquid intake, or dieting.
• Medication – Some medications have constipation as a side effect. Antidepressants, antispasmodics, anticonvulsants, and aluminum antacids are some of the medicines that may cause constipation problems.
• Psychological—Voluntary holding of the stool is another common cause of constipation. Various factors, like fear of public restrooms and laziness, also cause constipation.

Prevention and treatment – Initially, any digestive problem is treated by implementing changes in the diet and lifestyle. Constipated people should increase their water and fiber intake to solve their digestive problems. If the change in dietary plan does not solve it, then laxatives such as milk of magnesia are used. Doctors recommend laxatives as first-line agents. Furthermore, if these get unaffected, then stimulants are referred. Healthcare professionals may also prefer prokinetics to improve gastrointestinal motility. Another treatment of constipation involves physical intervention, this treatment is recommended when the above methods failed to show the results. This method is regarded as the physical removal of stool using hands.

Stomach flu – People have to face problems related to their stomachs daily. People complain of stomach flu after a bout of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Doctors prefer gastroenteritis for stomach flu, which means irritated and inflamed stomach and intestines. This problem arises from the intervention of bacteria and viruses through contaminated water or food. Vomit or stools containing blood, dehydration, fever more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, and abdominal swelling or pain are common symptoms of gastroenteritis. Below are some of the causes of stomach flu or gastroenteritis:

• Food allergies can be produced after having eggs, nuts, milk, and shellfish.
• Many antibiotics allow bacterial/fungal overgrowth 

Remedies, prevention, and treatment – Most cases of gastroenteritis go away on their own if caused by a virus. The main home remedy for getting relief from stomach flu is rest. Your body needs rest to fight off the virus. Eating plain food like crackers, cereal, toast, rice, and potatoes can also fight the stomach flu. Add small amounts of yogurt, bananas, and fresh apples to your diet. In case of nausea and vomiting, the doctor may recommend you stick to a clear liquid diet and oral rehydration solutions (ORS). These solutions have a balance of salts and sugars. Furthermore, your doctor may recommend taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) to treat stomach flu unless you have liver disease.

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