Stomach Problems: Symptoms, Reasons and Avoiding

Stomach Problems: Symptoms, Reasons and Avoiding Everyone gets the occasional upset stomach. Eating too much, or eating the wrong foods, wrong kinds of food or even not eating enough food can all cause discomfort. For mild cases of stomach discomfort, an over the counter antacid usually does the trick. For nausea, a bismol medication may help, and for diarrhea, a medication to control the symptoms may be in order. There are however some considerations with each condition. For nausea, peppermint, ginger, or ginger ale can help mild cases and allow you to skip the meds. For diarrhea, that one may be best to hold off on. When there is a bug or food borne contaminant in the body, the natural course is for it to expel, and many times that is through the stools. Allowing the body some time to rid itself of the problem may be the best solution.

Related: The Overuse of Prescription Medications Symptoms to Watch There are a number of symptoms that should be taken very seriously, and should never be ignored.

• Severe dehydration- the inability to keep even liquids down may indicate the need to see your doctor • Vomiting or diarrhea that lasts for more than 3 days should be checked by a medical professional.

• Pain in the side, accompanied by a fever could indicate appendix.

• Any severe pain should be taken seriously to rule out a medical emergency.

Common Reasons for Stomach Ailments • Overeating- an antacid or ginger ale should help • Eating spicy foods- some people have a low tolerance of spicy foods, and may need to avoid them.

• Ulcer- this is more of a pain type symptom, often felt in the upper portion of the abdomen. The treatment for ulcers has changed over the years, so don't ignore this one long term.

• Appendix- if the appendix need to be removed, then they must be removed. Most of the appendectomies are now done laparoscopically, with minimal pain and downtime.

• Gallbladder- same as appendix, when it's done it's done. Most can be removed laparoscopic ally, with minimal discomfort, with usually a 1 day hospital stay.

• Parasites- yes, it's gross, but it does happen. Often it's visiting another country; however, some cases occur without explanation where the parasites originated. This is treated with oral medications

which kill the parasites. Treatment is usually repeated 3 weeks after the initial dosage to kill off any unhatched larva from the original treatment.

There are less common reasons for stomach discomfort, some are serious and should be treated immediately. Any severe pain should not be ignored; aneurysms of the abdomen are often deadly if not caught quickly.

Avoiding Stomach Problems There is no way to protect against every occurrence of stomach problems; however, there are things that can help in some cases. Eating healthy, making sure to get plenty of fruits and vegetables included in your diet are important. Drinking plenty of water and getting regular exercise will keep the bowels functioning properly as well. Yogurt is also a good choice to balance out bacteria in the intestines, Greek yogurt is especially beneficial.

Maintain a healthy body weight; added pounds can put a strain on all body parts. Remember the soda in moderation. Soda can damage the interior lining of the stomach, and cause mild to moderate diarrhea.

Chronic Stomach Conditions There are some conditions that affect many people, and they can have a huge negative impact on their life. Crohn’s Disease can at times be debilitating and basically put life at a standstill. While the exact cause of Crohn’s remains uncertain, what is certain is that it can be serious if not treated. The lower intestines can become inflamed, which if left untreated could shut off the flow of the bowels. In most cases, however, the body has severe diarrhea for extended periods of times. The stool may have blood or mucus in it, and there is a 50/50 chance on making it to restroom when needed. Many Crohn’s patients are confined to home due to this problem, so it can certainly have an impact on quality of life. There are certain medications now approved to treat Crohn’s, however, it may take some time to determine which is most effective.

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Celiac Disease Celiac is an autoimmune disorder that is caused by an intolerance of gluten.

When a person suffering from celiac consumes gluten, the person's immune system attacks its own immune system. Once diagnosed, Celiacs can be controlled through diet. Celiac can cause irreversible damage, it's imperative a doctor examine a person if they think they have celiac.

Intestinal damage can occur as a result of celiac, which can then put patients at a higher risk for stomach cancers.

Unfortunately, many people who suffer from celiac disease have no symptoms. This is particularly dangerous as intestinal damage can occur even when no symptoms are present. With new screening techniques, people are being diagnosed without ever suspecting they have the disease.

It is important for people with no symptoms, but a positive diagnosis to eat properly, as they are still at risk for serious complications of celiac disease, such as cancer.

All problems of the intestines should be monitored closely, and any red flags should be dealt with and discussed with a health care professional. Follow protocol of tests and procedure recommendations, especially colonoscopies.

People that have never undergone a colonoscopy dread them, and often put them off for fear of discomfort. The fact is, the only discomfort will be the preparation for the procedure. There is 1 day of fasting, and consuming laxatives so that the test can be properly performed, and let's face it, fasting and laxatives make for a day that is not a lot of fun. The colonoscopy itself is simple, quick, and painless, as you are sedated the entire time.

Colonoscopies save countless numbers of lives each year, so if you are over 50, or if you have a family history of colon cancer, discuss with your physician when to have it done, and stay on routine schedules, usually every 3-5 years.

The stomach is complex, and problems can range from very mild to extremely serious. Take intestinal health seriously, and always consult your doctor for anything out of the ordinary gastrointestinal wise.

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