Diarrhea is a condition wherein the individual may be compelled to frequently pass stools. The stools may be loose and have a watery consistency, due to which the individual may experience weakness because of the loss of excess body fluids through excretion. Diarrhea can give rise to symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, bloating, dizziness, and weight loss. There are indeed some effective ways to stop diarrhea, keep reading to explore those.
Adequate hydration
Hydration is essential during this condition, as the frequent loss of fluids from the body can deprive the body of sufficient fluids. This might even cause an electrolytic imbalance in the body, leading to weakness and fever. Dehydration might not be as damaging in healthy adults as it can be in infants and older adults. Infants, children, and older individuals need utter care during such conditions.
Dehydration
Dehydration can be indicated through symptoms such as thirst, dry skin, fatigue, dark-colored urine, urinating less frequently than usual, not being able to sweat, and lightheadedness. The first and foremost way of preventing dehydration is drinking lots of water. You do not have to gulp it at once, keep sipping it frequently. This will help in replenishing the amount of water that was lost.
Electrolytes
Sipping water is not enough, as your body also requires electrolytes. You can fulfill your body’s electrolytic needs by consuming fruit juices, tea with honey, soups, or some energy drinks. This will help in replenishing the levels of electrolytes that were lost through excretion.
Just make sure you do not consume caffeinated beverages such as coffee, energy drinks that contain caffeine, carbonated drinks, soda drinks, etc. Such drinks can worsen the symptoms of diarrhea.
Foods: what to eat and what to avoid
The linings of the stomach and intestines are extremely sensitive during this condition. This is why it is necessary to avoid foods that increase the irritation and inflammation of the intestinal walls. Food can speed up the process of recovery, they may include:
- White rice
- Fruits such as bananas and apples
- Toast
- Oatmeal
- Baked or boiled potatoes
- Chicken soup
Foods Prevent The Symptoms Of Diarrhea
Such foods prevent the symptoms of diarrhea from worsening. These are all low-fiber foods, that slow down bowel movement and lengthen the time of digestion. Also, do not eat these foods forcibly. Eat your meals only when you feel like eating or get hunger strikes, otherwise, you might develop an urge to vomit.
Whereas certain types of foods such as high-fiber, and high-sugar, can exacerbate the symptoms of diarrhea by speeding up digestion and bowel movements. During diarrhea, one must avoid the following types of foods:
- Green leafy vegetables
- Collard greens like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli
- Chickpeas, beans
- Prunes, berries
- Ice cream
- Peppers
- Alcohol
- Dairy products like milk, cheese, etc.
Probiotics
Probiotics are helpful bacteria or yeast that support your gut health. These are an excellent source of good bacteria that prevents irritation and inflammation of the lining of the intestines and stomach. During diarrhea, the gut throws out all the microbes of the intestines that are necessary for its health. But probiotics can help in restoring the gut microbes and alleviate the symptoms of diarrhea.
The natural source of probiotics is yogurt. You must include it in your food during diarrhea, it will increase the number of gut bacteria, and improve the condition of your gut which got previously imbalanced. One can even opt for probiotic supplements. For that, one must get an appropriate probiotic drug as per their doctor’s prescription.
Avoid exercising
Exercising and physical activity must be avoided during diarrhea. Already the individual is losing the body fluids and electrolytes, by exercising they might lose excessive amounts of fluids through sweat, which will only add to health damage.
Adequate rest is crucial during these sick days. Which can prevent heartburn, stomach discomfort, dehydration, and nausea. Avoid going to the gym unless and until you attain full recovery. After recovery, you might still feel a bit dizzy and weak, which will take some time, so, take as much as rest you can.
Take medication
There are certain OTC medications that can help in alleviating the symptoms of diarrhea and help you regain your gut health. But some of them might be suitable for all, which can worsen the condition even more. Therefore, it is necessary to talk to your doctor before you consider using any OTC drug to treat diarrhea. Managing such a condition on your own might become risky when the symptoms persist beyond two days. Hence, precaution is always better than cure, therefore, one must consult their doctor for medications.
See your doctor
If the difficulties persist beyond two days and you don’t see any sign of improvement, then it is better to see your doctor. They might conduct the proper diagnosis and treatment. They may suggest to you some remedial solutions like medications or vaccinations, which will speed up your recovery.