Intestinal and stomach disorders what to do. What to do if you have an upset stomach: causes, symptoms and treatment of the disease

Almost every adult experiences some type of gastrointestinal disorder during the course of their life. One of these is indigestion, a condition that is often attributed to episodes of diarrhea. But although these concepts may be present simultaneously, they have different origins.

All cases of indigestion are usually divided into organic and functional. In the first case, the symptoms are due to a cause that can be identified during the examination. The circumstances of functional disorders (and about a third of the adult population suffer from them) remain “unidentified” and are most often associated with an unhealthy lifestyle, overeating and other factors.

Symptoms of indigestion

In contrast to the symptoms of intestinal disorders (diarrhea, flatulence, etc.), functional disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract are manifested by nausea, often leading to vomiting, heartburn, decreased or complete lack of appetite, a feeling of heaviness and discomfort in the upper abdomen, and pain.

If the listed signs are accompanied by diarrhea, this may indicate food poisoning and other disorders.

Causes of indigestion

Poor nutrition . The most common cause of indigestion and diarrhea remains the consumption of fatty, spicy, fried, sweet foods, each of which has a negative effect. Hot and spicy dishes can irritate the gastric mucosa and increase its secretory activity, which is manifested by heartburn and pain in the upper abdomen. Fatty and sweet foods impede motility and can cause slow movement of food towards the intestines. As a result, heaviness in the stomach, belching, and bloating develop.

Overwork and stress . The functions performed by the entire gastrointestinal tract directly depend on the state of the nervous system. It regulates contractions of the walls of the stomach and intestines, the secretion of digestive juices, etc. Lack of rest, frequent or chronic stressful conditions, and psycho-emotional stress can quickly disable the mechanisms of the nervous system responsible for the health of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, treatment of indigestion and diarrhea requires reducing the level of these risk factors.

Alcohol and smoking. Alcohol is a strong irritant to the mucous membrane of the stomach walls. It disrupts the secretory function and composition of digestive juices. As for smoking, this bad habit affects the health of the gastrointestinal tract in two ways. Saliva, with toxic substances it contains (products of tobacco combustion), enters the stomach, irritating its walls. And nicotine, with its ability to cause spasms of blood vessels, disrupts blood flow to the stomach, which causes insufficient supply of nutrients and oxygen to its tissues. If functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are observed in an adult with bad habits, one of the remedies for indigestion is to quit smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.

Diseases accompanied by indigestion

Obesity and GERD. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), in which stomach contents back up into the esophagus, is often caused by obesity. With excessive body weight, intra-abdominal pressure is often increased, which affects the upper gastrointestinal tract, causing it to move food upward.

Diaphragmatic hernia. The diaphragm is a dense partition that separates the chest and abdominal cavities. Sometimes a defect in its structure occurs - a hernia, in which the organs of the abdominal cavity partially move into the chest, which puts pressure on the stomach, causing a number of symptoms.

Gastritis. Acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach walls can develop as a result of food poisoning or frequent consumption of excessively hot, spicy, etc. foods. Chronic gastritis in 90% of cases is caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.

Stomach and/or duodenal ulcer. In addition to Helicobacter pylori, the cause of peptic ulcers can be increased secretion of gastric juice, in which the walls of the stomach are irritated by hydrochloric acid, as well as taking a number of medications. Tablets such as aspirin, diclofenac and others can cause ulceration of the mucous membrane.

Stomach upset during pregnancy

Functional bowel disorder (constipation, diarrhea) and/or upper gastrointestinal tract is a common condition in pregnant women. This is due to changes in hormonal levels and a general restructuring of the functions of all systems and organs. And starting from the second half of the second trimester, this is accompanied by constantly increasing intra-abdominal pressure, which has a negative impact on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

You can alleviate the condition of functional disorders by eating frequently, but in small portions, and also by giving up fatty, spicy foods and foods that cause increased gas formation (legumes, cabbage, baked goods). For prolonged disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, a medicine for indigestion recommended for pregnant women may be prescribed.

Diagnosis for stomach disorders

Inspection. Before treating a stomach or intestinal disorder, it is necessary to identify the causes of this condition. Diagnosis begins with a visit to the doctor, who collects anamnesis (asks questions about the symptoms and how long ago they appeared, about diet and lifestyle, professional employment, taking any pills, etc.). All this information helps the doctor determine the further direction of diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment for intestinal disorders or disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Instrumental research. The means of accurate diagnosis are ultrasound, x-ray examination and fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS). Depending on the patient’s complaints, one of the listed methods may be prescribed, but FGDS remains the most informative. This study is carried out using equipment that allows the doctor to visually assess the condition of the walls of the stomach and duodenum, as well as take a small tissue sample for further laboratory testing.

Laboratory research. Testing samples of blood, urine, and stool can help identify an infectious cause of upset stomach or diarrhea and can also detect traces of blood (called “occult blood”). This indicates bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract or intestines (which, among other things, can be caused by taking NSAID tablets).

Treatment for stomach or intestinal disorders

What to do if you have an upset stomach depends on what is causing the complaint.

Changing lifestyle and eating patterns. Refusal of bad habits, normalization of the daily routine, physical activity and adherence to the basics of proper nutrition (eating 5-6 times a day in small portions and at certain times, minimizing or completely avoiding fried, fatty, spicy foods) are conditions that help both to cure intestinal and/or stomach disorders and to prevent the development of these conditions in the future.

Taking medications. Tablets for indigestion may be designed to neutralize the acidic environment (antacids) and create a protective barrier on the surface of the mucosa to prevent irritation (alginate preparations). If a functional disorder of the upper gastrointestinal tract is accompanied by flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, etc., medications for intestinal disorders in the form of tablets, suspensions, etc. are prescribed separately.

Upper gastrointestinal and intestinal disorders have different mechanisms of occurrence, so drug treatment also varies. The action of tablets for intestinal disorders can be aimed at normalizing motility, absorption of nutrients, restoring microflora, etc. Concepts such as functional disorders of the stomach and diarrhea should not be confused - the treatment of these conditions is carried out according to certain schemes that can complement each other, but the action of the prescribed drugs is aimed at achieving various effects.

By indigestion, many people understand a condition such as diarrhea. It can occur due to a large number of different reasons - from infectious to functional, and even hormonal. Treatment for indigestion aims to eliminate the cause while preventing the body from losing important nutrients and fluids.

Treatment begins after identifying the cause of the pathology

For this, a special diet is required, which will be approximately the same in each case. Medications and folk remedies are prescribed by a doctor based on the specific situation. We will consider those that can be used first and will not cause harm.

Drug treatment

Medicine for indigestion is prescribed by a doctor. All you can use at home is:

Sorbents such as “Activated carbon”. Taken in the correct dosage and taking into account contraindications, they will not harm, but they will attract and remove with feces all the toxins that are in the intestines.

Warning! Please note that enterosorbent drugs are taken so that at least an hour passes before taking food or other tablets. This does not apply to drinking liquids.
The second group of medications that you can use for indigestion is lactic acid bacteria.
The third group, which can be used in case of acutely developed diarrhea, if the stool has changed its color, smell and character, are intestinal antiseptics such as Phthalazol. Such products should be used with caution even if you are not allergic to them.

Warning! These stomach upset medications that stop diarrhea (Imodium and Loperamide) should not be taken without a doctor's examination.

The first medications used for indigestion should be sorbents

If the disease is caused by a bacterial infection, such drugs may cause the condition to become significantly worse instead of the expected cure. This group of medications can only be used for diarrhea caused by stress or hypersecretion of vasointestinal peptide. But to find out, you need to be examined, and not prescribe similar drugs to yourself.

How to eat when upset

The diet for indigestion is as follows. We exclude:

first broths;
lactic acid products;
fried and fatty foods;
alcohol;
fresh vegetables;
vegetables that contain a lot of fiber - even in stewed form: cabbage, radishes, sorrel;
mushrooms;
sour fruits and berries;
baking;
milk;
fresh bread.

Basic diet:

mashed potatoes;
boiled slimy rice;
white bread croutons;
boiled eggs;
vegetarian soups;
weak, not very sweet black tea;
boiled or stewed meat and fish;
jelly made from non-acidic berries or fruits.

Sequence of actions for indigestion

What to do if you have an upset stomach, and in what order:

Estimate the amount of water lost through diarrhea.
Assess your condition: in addition to diarrhea, do you suffer from symptoms such as abdominal pain that does not go away after diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. If so, you need to see a doctor, this could be life-threatening acute pancreatitis.
Are there the following signs: weakness, nausea, fever? Has the character of the stool changed, is there greenery, mucus, or foam in it? This may be a symptom of an intestinal infection. It is necessary to consult an infectious disease doctor, take antibiotics and antiseptics that act only within the intestines.
Can you drink water, or is it impossible to do so due to vomiting? In the second case, going to the hospital is necessary: the fluid that you have lost and not replenished, as well as the water that is needed to maintain life, must be replenished intravenously.
Drink the sorbent.
Don't rush to eat. A person can easily go without food for a day if diarrhea develops (this does not apply to children under 7 years old - they must be given food, even in the form of lactose-free milk formulas). Follow the guidelines for eating when you have an upset stomach.
If you can drink water, then you need to drink it in the following volume: 40 ml/kg of body weight (this is the daily volume) plus the liquid that you lost through feces and vomit. In this case, you need to monitor urination: it should be there, there should not be little urine, its color should be light yellow.
If you notice a decrease in the amount of urine or it is bright yellow, and the main symptom is diarrhea rather than abdominal pain, drink fluids. If urinary problems have not resolved after a couple of hours, you should seek medical help.

What to drink if you have an upset stomach? With diarrhea, vital electrolytes are lost, without which internal organs do not function well. The first signs of the loss of these ions are goosebumps and contraction of the muscles of the arms, legs, and lips. This means that you can’t get by with water alone; you need solutions that contain electrolytes.

Advice! Electrolyte-containing solutions can be purchased at pharmacies (called oral rehydration solution powders) but can also be prepared at home.

First aid for diarrhea - drink plenty of saline solutions

Here are a few recipes:

in 1 liter of water, dissolve a little less than 0.5 teaspoon of soda, 1 teaspoon of salt and 6 teaspoons of sugar;
a solution similar to the above can be prepared from 100 g of raisins, which are boiled in a liter of water; We also add 1 teaspoon of salt to this solution, but only 4 teaspoons of sugar;
a decoction of dried fruits with sugar (3 tablespoons per 1 liter of such compote);
rice water

The liquid that you drink when you have an upset stomach should be warm - this way it will be absorbed in the intestines and enter the bloodstream, and will not pass through in transit and be discharged with the same diarrhea.

Healing remedies

Adherents of natural treatment recommend the following folk remedies for indigestion caused by non-infectious pathology:

pour 1 teaspoon of dried blueberries into a glass of boiling water and leave to cool. Drink this amount of infusion per day.
1 teaspoon of black tea (can be from a bag for one-time brewing) pour 100 ml of water. Drink this strong tea 2-3 times a day.
Dry the rye bread, soak in warm water for a quarter of an hour. Drink throughout the day.
50 g of sage leaves are poured into a thermos with 500 ml of boiling water and left for 1 hour. After this, the infusion must be filtered and mixed with a bottle of red wine. Drink 100 ml of the product every 2 hours.
During the day you need to eat 12 large apples, which have been peeled and grated. You can't eat anything else besides apples.
Grind 1 tablespoon each of the herbs chamomile, wormwood and St. John's wort, mix, pour 0.5 liters of 40° ethanol and add 3 tablespoons of honey, mix. We insist for 2 weeks. Take 1 tablespoon three times a day.

Warning! Before starting treatment for indigestion with folk remedies, consult your doctor. Without knowing the reason and not taking into account your other illnesses, you can only harm yourself.

Additional information about gastrointestinal disorders, their causes and symptoms, as well as the characteristics of the pathology in pregnant women and children, can be obtained from the article:

Almost every person has experienced diarrhea. This condition cannot be called a disease, however, it creates a lot of trouble. An upset stomach brings stool disturbances, painful sensations in the epigastric region and general ailments.

When upset, many functions of the stomach are disrupted: secretion is not produced, which interferes with the movement of food. Because of this, diarrhea is often accompanied by vomiting or regurgitation, heaviness in the abdomen and pain.

Dysfunction may be functional or organic. In the first case, the disorder occurs for no apparent reason. Organic disorders are associated with diseases of the digestive tract. Most of the world's population suffers from functional disorders.

Why is this happening?

Absolutely different factors can provoke the disorder. It does not always occur due to bad food; the cause may be fear or strong emotions. For this reason, the popular names for diarrhea arose - bear disease or whistling.

Among the main factors are the following:

stress (acute or chronic);
poor diet;
long interval between meals;
generous portions;
abuse of fried, fatty, spicy or sweet foods;
an unexpected transition from familiar food to exotic food;

Frequent drinking and smoking also have a negative effect. Alcoholic drinks irritate the gastric mucosa. Nicotine causes vascular spasms, which prevents the normal flow of blood to the gastric walls.

Bear disease can occur due to climate change or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The listed reasons are typical for functional disorders.

Accompanying illnesses

Organic disorders develop against the background of problems with the digestive tract; the above-mentioned circumstances only aggravate the situation.

Most problems are caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. It is the cause of gastritis, peptic ulcers and their complications. Many of them have diarrhea on their list of symptoms.

Getting rid of the Helicobacter bacteria is difficult, but possible. Long-term antibacterial therapy is required. Its presence in the body can be confirmed using special tests.

Types of diagnostics

If the disorder manifests its symptoms quite often and treatment at home does not provide relief, you should consult a gastroenterologist.

Diagnosis necessarily includes a FEGDS study. Using an optical instrument, it is possible to examine the gastric walls and other organs of the digestive tract. This analysis also allows you to collect mucus for examination.

FEGDS is considered an unpleasant analysis, but it is one of the most reliable ways to study Helicobacter pylori infection. In addition, it is affordable and harmless. Based on it, the doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe how to treat the disease.

If the cause of the disorder is functional impairment, the image of the walls of the gastrointestinal tract will be clear. In case of organic failures, the walls of the organs will be irritated and inflamed; if the form of the disease is advanced, ulcers and tumors cannot be ruled out.

Additionally, it is necessary to take a general blood test if there is a suspicion of inflammatory processes. To eliminate the risk of hidden bleeding, a stool test is performed. Tested for Helicobacter pylori using a breath test.

Differential diagnosis

Diarrhea can be a manifestation of diseases that affect other body systems, not just the digestive tract. To do this, resort to differential diagnosis.

Pain in the epigastric region may indicate myocardial infarction. As a rule, discomfort is not associated with eating food, but appears after significant physical activity.

To determine heart problems, an ECG is prescribed. It is advisable to undergo examination in a hospital setting and be under the supervision of doctors. Some medications that are prescribed for heart disease are prohibited for stomach diseases.

Another disease with similar symptoms is called diaphragmatic hernia. Pain also occurs in the epigastric region, but is often localized behind the sternum. After eating, the pain intensifies, a burning sensation is felt, and unpleasant sensations can spread to the left arm and shoulder. To rule out the risk of a diaphragmatic hernia, an x-ray must be taken.

How to feel better

Treatment for indigestion depends on test results and a medical examination. To make you feel better before prescribing therapy, some recommendations will help:

Refrain from bad habits.
Stick to a healthy diet.
Follow a meal schedule.
Give preference to fractional meals.
Avoid foods that increase the production of gastric juice (fatty broths, fried meat, coffee, etc.).
Eat less fiber-rich foods.
When preparing dishes, it is better to give preference to gentle methods - boiling or steaming.
The menu should be dominated by grated, mushy food.
In terms of temperature, food should not be very hot or cold.

Treatment may include drug therapy if diarrhea is combined with vomiting and intoxication is at risk. The doctor prescribes medications based on the patient’s condition; he selects the necessary dosage and treatment course. To improve your well-being, you can take an antacid drug (Maalox, Almagel, Gaviscon). Painkillers are contraindicated for stomach upset.

Traditional methods

If you don't know what to do when unpleasant symptoms worsen, you can resort to non-drug methods. Flax infusion is famous for its good effectiveness. The plant has enveloping properties, relieves pain without activating the formation of gases or causing constipation.

For functional disorders, you can use other methods:

Swallow a few black peppercorns on an empty stomach with water.
Mix one and a half glasses of vodka with a third teaspoon of table salt. You need to drink this mixture. It relieves pain very well and quickly normalizes stool.
Dry tea leaves will help get rid of diarrhea. A few leaves need to be chewed a little and then washed down with water.
In summer, when the disorder occurs more often, it is useful to be treated with herbs. The plant serpentine, also known as snakehead, is considered miraculous in this matter. To get rid of indigestion, you need to chew raw serpentine root several times a day.
If you have bloody diarrhea, wormwood juice will help.
When upset, it is useful to eat millet porridge. It should be cooked in the traditional way, but without salt.
Boiled carrots, ground to a pasty mass, can relieve pain. The vegetable should be eaten four times a day, three tablespoons.

Cool rice water helps treat symptoms of the disorder in children. It is prepared with a spoonful of rice and seven cups of water over low heat. The healing drink should be given to the child every two hours, a third of a cup.

If the disorder does not go away for a long time, you should consult a doctor. You can make an appointment with a therapist or gastroenterologist. The child should definitely be shown to a pediatrician, and any therapeutic measures should be carried out only as prescribed.

Mandatory indications for a visit to the doctor are:

increased pain;
uncontrollable vomiting;
the appearance of blood in the vomit;
stool is loose and black.

Such signs indicate bleeding in the stomach. You should also be wary of pain that appears periodically, is difficult to eliminate with medications and is accompanied by weight loss.

The disorder should not be ignored. Any manifestations of pain indicate a malfunction of the stomach. When the cause of the disruption of its functions is not established, this leads to disruption of the entire digestive process. Poorly processed food in the stomach loads the intestines and injures its walls.

You should take care of your stomach, eat properly and regularly, monitor your diet and be less nervous.

Indigestion is very common these days. This process leads to disruption of the functioning of the entire digestive system. To prevent the occurrence of various diseases, it is necessary to promptly identify and eliminate the cause.

Abdominal upset can occur for a variety of reasons. Some people suffer from unpleasant symptoms due to quick snacks, while others suffer from pre-existing stomach diseases such as:

peptic ulcer;
gastritis;
increased stomach acidity.

If dyspeptic indigestion is observed, the reasons may be hidden in the following:

taking medications that affect the flora of the intestinal tract;
sudden change in climatic conditions;
prolonged fasting;
decreased immune function;
excessive intake of alcoholic beverages;
frequent consumption of fatty, fried and salty foods;
various mental disorders.

In some situations, a disorder of the digestive system can occur spontaneously, without any illness. This process is considered to be functional. Unpleasant sensations may occur due to overeating, taking fermented foods or drinks.

Women during pregnancy may experience discomfort due to the appearance of certain factors such as:

increased stomach acidity;
food poisoning;
lack of proper diet;
exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Therapeutic measures in such cases should be carried out under the mandatory supervision of a doctor, since at this time any medications can harm the baby.

Symptoms of indigestion

Dyspeptic symptoms have excellent symptoms. If a person has an upset stomach, symptoms will include:

bloating;
painful sensations of various types in the upper abdominal cavity;
belching;
nausea and vomiting;
rapid satiety while eating;
burning in the abdomen.

If unpleasant symptoms do not disappear for quite a long time, then you should urgently consult a doctor. If not treated promptly, dyspepsia can lead to weight loss, general weakness, and vomiting with blood or feces. In such a situation, an urgent call for an ambulance and hospitalization of the patient in a hospital are required.

By comparing different symptoms, the type of disorder can be identified. With fermentative-type dyspepsia, the patient will complain of rumbling in the stomach, flatulence, diarrhea, and an unpleasant odor of feces. In childhood, vomiting may occur.

In the first months of life, the baby experiences a functional disorder of the stomach. Usually this process ends with regurgitation. This process is considered normal and goes away by five months. If regurgitation is profuse, then consultation with a doctor and appropriate treatment is required.

Diseases that are characterized by dyspeptic symptoms

If stomach upset occurs, symptoms and treatment should be recognized as soon as possible. In the absence of timely treatment, normal dysfunction of the digestive organs can lead to serious diseases:

Gastritis. The reason for this process may be the entry and activation of a bacterial agent called Helicobacter pylori. It penetrates the gastric mucosa and begins to gradually eat away at it. This disease is accompanied by heartburn, belching, loss of appetite, and painful sensations even while eating.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease. This pathological process is characterized by the reflux of food from the stomach into the esophagus. Gastric juice has an adverse effect on the mucous membrane, which leads to unpleasant symptoms such as heartburn and pain in the chest area.

Ulcerative lesions of the stomach and intestines. The cause is also a bacterial agent in the form of Helicobacter pylori. The disease is complicated by the fact that, in addition, the mucous membrane is adversely affected by gastric juice, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and a general decrease in immune function. With this disease, patients will complain of pain in the upper abdomen, pale skin, nausea and vomiting. If timely treatment is not started, ulcerative lesions of the organ can lead to perforation of the walls and the development of bleeding.

The above diseases are the most common, which are accompanied by an upset stomach.

Treatment for stomach upset

How to treat stomach and intestinal upset? This question is of interest to many patients who suffer from this disease. When the first unpleasant symptoms appear, you should immediately seek help from a specialist. Only an experienced doctor can determine the true cause and eliminate it.

If you experience an upset stomach, treatment involves following a strict diet. For gastritis and ulcerative lesions, doctors advise stopping taking it for one or two days. These days you need to drink only purified water or rosehip decoction. This will eliminate pain and remove toxic substances from the body.

Gradually you can introduce porridges, low-fat soups and broths, vegetable salads, non-acidic fruits, green tea, cranberry or lingonberry juice. You can eat a little meat and fish dishes. But it is worth remembering that all food must be boiled or steamed.

You should eat slowly. There is no need to drink water. This process helps simplify the work of the stomach. Portions should be small. It is better to eat often, but little by little. The diet includes fatty, fried, hot, spicy and sour foods. This will normalize the acidity of the stomach.

If you have an upset stomach, what should you do? If you experience severe pain, you can take an antispasmodic drug in the form of No-shpa or Drotaverine. Drugs containing enzymes will help overcome frequent stomach and intestinal upsets. They are absolutely safe and therefore can be used independently. This category of medicines includes Mezim, Creon, Festal.

If indigestion or diarrhea occurs, the gastroenterologist may prescribe the following medications.

Abomin. A medicine that contains rennet. It is produced by the stomach of ruminant animals. Only a doctor prescribes the dosage, since if taken incorrectly, diarrhea may worsen and nausea may occur.
Vogalen. The necessary medication if the patient has an upset stomach accompanied by repeated vomiting. The product must be used before eating.
Alpha amylase. The main ingredient is diastase. This component leads to the normalization of digestive processes. This medication is considered very effective, but it must be combined with other medications.
Omez. The main ingredient is omeprazole. This component allows you to quickly overcome the inflammatory process in the gastric mucosa. Excellent for treating gastritis. The medicine should be taken only after consulting a doctor and in a strict dosage, as it can cause adverse reactions.

With diarrhea, the patient loses many useful substances. To replenish their composition, you need to take probiotics and prebiotics. They will saturate the body with beneficial bacteria and help stop the inflammatory process.

Since stomach upset often occurs due to the activation of the bacterial agent Helicobacter pylori, the doctor may prescribe the drug De-nol. The action of the drug is aimed at providing gastrocytoprotective and antimicrobial properties. When taking the medication, a film is observed covering the mucous membrane and ulcers, due to which the wounds heal faster and are not subject to negative effects.

It is necessary to take De-nol continuously for one to two months. In this case, you need to take the medicine four tablets per day. Capsules should be swallowed and not chewed. You can drink it with water or tea, but not with milk.

In addition to De-nol, Phosphalugel is prescribed. The effect of the medication is to provide enveloping and adsorbing properties. Thanks to its active components, all toxic substances in the form of bacteria, viruses, poisons, and gases are eliminated.

Along with drug treatment and following a strict diet, you need to think about leading a healthy lifestyle. It is worth giving up bad habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol. It is necessary to give up on-the-run snacks, carbonated drinks and fast foods.

There are special exercises that can prevent the occurrence of dyspeptic symptoms. During the acute period of the disease, physical activity must be abandoned. In such situations, strict bed rest is generally required.

If gastritis or peptic ulcer is detected, constant monitoring by the attending physician is required. You should undergo examinations at least twice a year. These diseases are chronic and it is very difficult to cure them completely.

Often the cause of such phenomena is stressful situations. It's quite difficult to avoid them. But you can reduce their influence by using soothing infusions and decoctions.

If the first signs appear, you should consult a doctor and undergo diagnostic testing of the body.

Who doesn’t know from television advertising what to do if diarrhea occurs in adults? Take a “magic” pill that will instantly stop diarrhea! However, any doctor will say that such “treatment” will not help at best, and will do harm at worst. Firstly, medications for diarrhea do not act instantly, they only reduce it, and secondly, the use of such medications is contraindicated for a number of diseases. What to do when you suffer from loose stools?

Diarrhea is not a disease, but a symptom that indicates problems in the gastrointestinal tract or in the body as a whole. Therefore, it is impossible to cure diarrhea without knowing what causes it. Diarrhea is defined as the passage of loose stool either once or with an increased frequency of bowel movements. If such a violation goes away within 2-3 weeks, we are talking about acute diarrhea, over 21 days - chronic.

In a normal state, the body of a healthy adult excretes 100–300 g of formed feces daily or at other intervals that are comfortable for a particular gastrointestinal tract. Liquefaction and accelerated evacuation of stool occurs due to a sharp increase in water content: with diarrhea, stool is 90% liquid. The amount of feces suggests the etiology of diarrhea:

disturbances of intestinal motility usually do not increase the daily volume of feces; it is excreted frequently, but in small portions;
if the problem is in the absorption of substances by the intestinal wall, there is a significant increase in the volume of feces due to the mass of undigested food.

The main causes of loose stools in adults:

Such diarrhea usually goes away within 3-4 days, and the patient will most likely be able to associate the onset of diarrhea with previous events.

However, the causes of diarrhea in an adult can be more serious:

infection with bacteria, viruses, protozoa (dysentery, salmonellosis, intestinal flu);
inflammatory diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, hepatitis, ulcers);
functional organ failure (deficiency of certain enzymes);
gastrointestinal diseases of unknown etiology (Crohn's disease);
toxic damage (poisoning with lead, mercury).

In such cases, it is not enough to simply stop the diarrhea: a diagnosis must be made and qualified treatment must be carried out, often in an inpatient setting. As for the clinical manifestations of diarrhea, they may be mild. This applies to ordinary indigestion, when in addition to loose stools, cramping pain in the abdomen and dyspeptic symptoms (boiling, bloating, etc.) may be observed.

In case of food poisoning, the pain is accompanied by weakness, fever, nausea and vomiting, refusal to eat, and the temperature may rise. Similar symptoms are accompanied by intestinal infections and viral diseases.

Alarming signs that require immediate attention are symptoms of dehydration. Dry skin and mucous membranes, cracked lips, severe thirst, rare urination, darkening of urine occur with debilitating diarrhea, and this condition poses a great danger: the pulse increases, blood pressure drops, and muscle cramps may begin.

What to do for diarrhea in an adult - first aid

To prevent dehydration, the water and salts lost by the body must be compensated by drinking plenty of fluids: it is best to take rehydrating solutions (Rehydron and analogues); in their absence, you can drink saline solution, salted water, chamomile tea. Prevention of dehydration should begin as soon as it becomes clear that loose stools are not an isolated case.

Especially if the diarrhea is profuse and constant, has been going on for several days, and is accompanied by vomiting. It is also necessary to pay attention to the presence of blood in the stool. It can appear with dysentery, ulcerative colitis,.

Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor will select a specific treatment, but there are general rules that must be followed in any case of diarrhea. This is dietary nutrition, taking adsorbent drugs, enzymes.

Diet for diarrhea in an adult

The nature of the diet obviously influences bowel movements. Many foods have an irritating effect on peristalsis, and during diarrhea you should forget about them until complete recovery. These are spices, raw vegetables, plums and other laxatives.

Some foods have a fixing effect, so in the first few days of the diet you should limit yourself to the following set of dishes:

wheat bread crackers;
vegetable purees;
slimy porridge;
pureed meat and fish of lean varieties (steamed, boiled);
tea, blueberry jelly, bird cherry fruit infusion, rice infusion.

You can start the diet on a “fasting” day: drink only strong sweet tea (8-10 cups during the day).

If diarrhea is caused by lactose or gluten intolerance, then diet is the main, and often the only, factor in treatment. For these diseases, a therapeutic diet is prescribed that completely excludes products containing milk sugar and the cereal protein gluten.

Diet is important: you need to eat often (every 3 hours) and in small portions.

The diet must be followed throughout the treatment and beyond, but after the first “hard” days, you can remove the restrictions and expand the diet, adhering to the following principles:

Thus, we list the prohibited products:

any fried meat;
offal;
rich broths;
fatty fish cooked in any way, and lean fish if it is fried, canned, smoked;
milk, high fat cream;
scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs;
cabbage in any form, beets, spicy root vegetables, turnips, radishes, cucumbers;
canned vegetables;
mushrooms;
sour berries and fruits;
pastries and bread;
carbonated drinks, kvass, cold drinks.

What then can you eat for diarrhea in adults? Here is an approximate list of dishes from which it is recommended to create a diet menu:

steamed minced meat cutlets, meat puree (can be from “children’s” jars), soufflé;
boiled fish (such as pollock, cod), fish balls, steamed cutlets;
cereal cooked in water; you can add a little milk and a piece of butter to the finished porridge;
rice pudding;
puree soups with vegetable or weak meat broth;
boiled pasta;
fermented milk drinks;
fresh cottage cheese;
omelet, soft-boiled eggs;
boiled, baked or pureed vegetables: potatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, green beans;
baked fruits in compote, some fresh strawberries;
jellies and mousses from berries and fruits;
white bread croutons, dryers, “Maria” cookies;
water, tea, compote, cocoa without milk.

In addition to diet, it is important to organize the correct drinking regime. The fluid entering the body should be several liters in volume in order to fully compensate for the loss of water through diarrhea.

Since microelements are washed out with loose stools, plain water is not very suitable for drinking. It is better to take glucose-salt drinks, which will replenish the loss of electrolytes, maintain normal blood sugar levels, and salt also promotes fluid retention in the body.

There are special preparations for preparing rehydrating drinks, these are Regidron, Citroglucosolan, Gastrolit, but if they are not available, you can prepare the liquid yourself by diluting it in a liter of water:

Instead of potassium chloride, you can pour a decoction of dried apricots and freshly squeezed orange juice into the solution. You need to drink in small portions, but constantly throughout the day.

Medicines to treat diarrhea in adults

As an important piece of advice, it should be noted that diarrhea in an adult that has not gone away within 3 days is a reason to consult a doctor. Chronic diarrhea can indicate the presence of serious diseases, it even occurs with some forms of cancer.

It is also worth seeing a doctor if the temperature rises above 38 during diarrhea, signs uncharacteristic of indigestion or poisoning appear: rash, yellowness of the skin and eyes, dark urine, sleep disturbances. Constant excruciating pain in the abdomen should not be the norm (spastic pain before and during bowel movements is acceptable).

Black or green diarrhea, vomiting mixed with fresh or coagulated (dark) blood, fainting, signs of severe dehydration indicate that the situation is critical: it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance.