What Is Causing My Diarrhea

Reduce Stress And Improve Sleep

Managing stress and getting adequate sleep are important for healing from diarrhea. Stress causes bowel dysfunction through different pathways, including the HPA axis, the autonomic nervous system, or directly on the bowel itself .

Stress alters the gut flora and increases intestinal permeability, which may lead to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Chronic stress has been linked to numerous digestive disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome .

Two of the most effective strategies to reduce stress and optimize sleep are implementing a healing diet and balancing your blood sugar levels. Additional stress relieving techniques are grounding, deep breathing exercises, sunlight exposure, Epsom salt baths, and dry brushing.

Poor sleep quality is linked to gastrointestinal disorders, including diarrhea . To improve sleep, it is important to keep a regular sleep schedule and practice healthy bedtime habits. You should also get sunlight during the day, avoid artificial light and EMFs, black out your room with blackout curtains or using a sleep mask, and be smart about caffeine intake.

Supplementing with adaptogenic herbs, such as those in Cortisol Defense, may help your body resist and recovery from everyday stress and support restful sleep. Brain Calm Magnesium may also be helpful as magnesium plays a critical role in stress and sleep.

When Should You Seek Medical Care

Diarrhea can usually be treated with home care. In some cases, it may become more severe. A person should go to a hospital emergency department in the following situations:

• If the person has the condition along with high fever, moderate-to-severe abdominal pain, or dehydration that cannot be managed by drinking fluids
• If the diarrhea appears to contain blood
• If the person is sleepy and is not acting like their usual selves

• Vomiting and inability to tolerate any food or to keep liquids down
• Signs of dehydration
• High fever, significant abdominal pain, frequent loose bowel movements, or bloody diarrhea
• If he or she is elderly or has serious underlying medical problems, particularly diabetes, heart, kidney, or liver disease, or HIV/AIDS
• A parent or caregiver needs advice about preventing dehydration in newborns and infants
• Symptoms do not improve in two to three days or appear to become worse
• If he or she develops diarrhea after travel within their home country, or foreign travel; or if a woman is pregnant

For cases of chronic diarrhea, your primary care provider may consult with a gastroenterologist .

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How Can Diarrhea Be Prevented

It’s almost impossible to prevent all cases diarrhea. But there are some ways to make it less likely:

• Wash your hands well and often, especially after using the toilet and before eating. Hand washing is the best way to prevent diarrheal infections that pass from person to person.
• Keep bathroom surfaces like sinks and toilets clean.
• Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating.
• Clean kitchen counters and cooking utensils well after they’ve been in contact with raw meat, especially poultry.
• Refrigerate meats as soon as possible after bringing them home from the store. Cook them until they’re no longer pink. Refrigerate all leftovers as soon as possible.
• Never drink from streams, springs, or lakes unless local health authorities have checked that the water is safe for drinking.
• Avoid washing pet cages or bowls in the same sink that you use to prepare food. And try to keep pet feeding areas separate from family eating areas.

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Could It Be Due To Anything Else

An attack of watery diarrhoea that comes on rapidly, is associated with vomiting and fever and clears after a day or so may well be due to gastroenteritis or food poisoning or too much rich food or alcohol.

But diarrhoea that goes on for weeks or months is often caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but may be caused by coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and rarely cancer, especially if you have red flag symptoms.;

For more information, log in or register to become a member of The IBS Network, then click on the following links:What else could it be?

But many different foods and medications can cause diarrhoea, so ask yourself, did my diarrhoea start after taking a certain medication, did it come on after changing my diet, or was it triggered by change or stress?;

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How Diarrhea Is Diagnosed

Many people experience diarrhea and do not go on to receive an official diagnosis as it often clears up on its own. Individuals who experience persistent or chronic diarrhea should seek medical attention so a doctor can diagnose the cause.

Tests for diarrhea include a blood test, a stool test, colonoscopy, and flexible sigmoidoscopy, per the Mayo Clinic.

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Acute And Persistent Diarrhea

The most common causes of acute and persistent diarrhea are infections, travelers diarrhea, and side effects of medicines.

Infections

Three types of infections that cause diarrhea include

• Viral infections. Many viruses cause diarrhea, including norovirus and rotavirus. Viral gastroenteritis is a common cause of acute diarrhea.

• Bacterial infections. Several types of bacteria can enter your body through contaminated food or water and cause diarrhea. Common bacteria that cause diarrhea include Campylobacter, Escherichia coli , Salmonella, and Shigella.

• Parasitic infections.Parasites can enter your body through food or water and settle in your digestive tract. Parasites that cause diarrhea include Cryptosporidium enteritis, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia lamblia.

Infections in the digestive tract that spread through foods or drinks are called foodborne illnesses.

Infections lasting more than 2 weeks and less than 4 weeks can cause persistent diarrhea.

Travelers diarrhea

Travelers diarrhea is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Travelers diarrhea is most often acute. However, some parasites cause diarrhea that lasts longer. Travelers diarrhea can be a problem for people traveling to developing countries.

Side effects of medicines

Many medicines may cause diarrhea. Medicines that may cause diarrhea include antibiotics, antacids containing magnesium, and medicines used to treat cancer.

How To Identify Causes Of Diarrhea

This article was co-authored by Roy Nattiv, MD. Dr. Roy Nattiv is a board certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Nattiv specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. Dr. Nattiv graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and received his Doctor of Medicine from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel. He then completed his pediatric residency at the Childrens Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Nattiv went on to complete his fellowship and training in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at the University of California, San Francisco . He was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. This article has been viewed 422,874 times.

Diarrhea happens when food and liquid you ingest pass through your system too quickly, resulting in watery, loose stools. This can be caused by a number of factors, including viruses, bacteria, medications, and certain foods. Since there are so many potential causes of diarrhea, identifying the right one can be tricky. If you want to know more about how to identify causes of diarrhea, keep reading.

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Home Remedies And Natural Remedies

Chronic diarrhea may develop after taking a prescription medication such as an antibiotic. Talk to your doctor about alternative drugs. If one isnt available, incorporate probiotics into your diet to restore stool bulk. These are available in yogurt and capsule form.

Fiber supplements are associated with relieving constipation. But certain fiber supplements can also relieve chronic diarrhea because of its water-holding effect. Taking psyllium on a daily basis can produce bulkier stools and lessen or eliminate diarrhea caused by IBS or medication.

Chronic diarrhea caused by an underlying medical condition isnt always preventable. But you can prevent chronic diarrhea due to infection by taking steps to keep your food and water supply clean. For example:

• Drink from a clean water source or filter your water.
• Thoroughly clean meat before cooking.
• Cook meat thoroughly.
• Wash your hands after handling food.
• Clean kitchen surfaces to prevent contamination.
• Wash fruits and vegetables before consuming them.
• Wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, or attending to a sick person.

Whats The Difference Between Normal Diarrhea And Severe Diarrhea

There are actually several different ways to classify diarrhea. These types of diarrhea include:

• Acute diarrhea: The most common, acute diarrhea is loose watery diarrhea that lasts one to two days. This type doesnt need treatment and it usually goes away after a few days.
• Persistent diarrhea: This type of diarrhea generally persists for several weeks two to four weeks
• Chronic diarrhea: Diarrhea that lasts for more than four weeks or comes and goes regularly over a long period of time is called chronic diarrhea.

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How Should Diarrhea Be Treated

It is important to seek medical attention, especially when seniors have other pre-existing diseases, when diarrhea is severe and oral rehydration is not possible. Diarrhea is a symptom and the most effective way to treat it is to treat the underlying cause. This may required various different medication depending on the causative condition.

Bed rest, plenty of fluid intake and frequent small meals that are nutritious but bland are the most important approaches to treating and managing elderly diarrhea. Intravenous fluid administration may be necessary. Chronic medication should not be stopped without a doctors approval and new medication should not be started unless prescribed by a doctor.

Causes Of Chronic Diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea is sometimes caused by an underlying medical condition. See your doctor if diarrhea doesnt respond to at-home care. If youre concerned about your diarrhea and dont already have a primary care provider, you can view doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.

During your appointment, your doctor may conduct a physical examination and ask about your symptoms. For example, how often do you have loose stools? Do you have any other symptoms? Is there a personal or family history of digestive problems? Based on your physical exam and your symptoms, your doctor may order a complete blood count or a stool sample to check for infections or inflammation.

Inflammatory conditions that can cause loose, watery stools include ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease. These conditions can also cause bloody stools and abdominal pain.

A stool sample, which examines feces, may reveal elevated white blood cells. This can be a sign of inflammation in your body or bacteria or parasites in your stool. The latter can also cause loose stools. This sample may also reveal fat in your stool, which can indicate chronic pancreatitis or celiac disease.

Your diet can also play a role in chronic diarrhea. Certain ingredients speed up the rate of digestion, causing food to pass rapidly through the colon. Common culprits include milk and artificial sweeteners .

Other causes of chronic diarrhea may include:

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Practicing Good Food Hygiene

Food poisoning resulting from a bacterial infection is a common cause of watery diarrhea. To reduce the risk of food poisoning, a person should:

• store foods at the correct temperature
• wash their hands thoroughly before preparing or eating food
• keep fresh produce and raw meats separate, and use separate utensils and chopping boards when preparing foods
• cook meat and seafood thoroughly

Seek Immediate Treatment For The Following

You should seek help without delay if:

• You have an inability to replace the fluids you are losing
• You feel dizzy, lightheaded or lose consciousness
• You do not improve on antibiotics
• You have symptoms for longer than two days
• You have a recurrence of symptoms without being exposed to the same initial cause

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Rebuild Gut Flora To Reduce Diarrhea

The large and complex community of microorganisms in our GI tract is called the gut flora. Your gut flora has many important functions in the body and proper diversity and balance are essential to your overall health. After you have eliminated pathogens, you should work on rebuilding your gut flora with probiotics, prebiotics, and fermented foods.

Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that keep your gut and body healthy. They are similar to the microorganisms that naturally live in our bodies. Probiotics support digestive health in many ways .

There are 4 main categories of probiotics: food based, spore-forming soil based, probiotic yeast, and combination probiotics. If you are struggling with digestive issues, a good strategy is to try one probiotic from each category for a short time to determine which is most beneficial. You should also rotate probiotics to keep the microbiome adapting. For information on the benefits and categories of probiotics along with suggested protocols, read this article.

As long as you dont have issues with higher FODMAP groups as explained above, then you should also include these prebiotics which feed good bacteria and help them to thrive. The top prebiotic foods include berries, sweet potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and seeds such as flax, hemp, pumpkin, and chia seeds.

How Your Stool Becomes Bright Yellow

More than mechanism can aid in the transformation of your stool into a bright yellow color, most commonly:

• Speeding up of stool passage: To acquire its brown color, your stool must have enough time staying inside your colon to be processed to its brown color. Any process of speeding up poop passage through your colon can cause its color to become yellow. So, any form of severe diarrhea can lead to the bright yellow color of your diarrhea. Examples:
• infections : especially the watery, non-inflammatory type
• IBS with predominant diarrhea.
• laxative abuse.

• Presence of more fat in your stool: any condition leading to fat malabsorption of fat overload. more fat in your stool leads to yellow or yellowish-grey color . Examples:
• pancreatic diseases leading to fat malabsorption.
• Gallbladder diseases leading to fat malabsorption.
• Bile acid diarrhea .
• Giardiasis: a common infection that affects fat absorption and causes bright yellow watery diarrhea.

• Other factors contributing to bright yellow diarrhea:
• High bilirubin as with gilberts syndrome which affects about 3% of people worldwide.
• Certain foods may cause bright yellow stools such as carrots,;sweet potatoes, turmeric, and high-fat foods.

Before you start reading about what caused your bright yellow diarrhea, there are some things to put into consideration:

• presence of warning signs:

When to see a doctor:

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Why Does Diarhea Affect The Elderly

Chronic diarrhea is a common ailment that some seniors suffer with and the elderly may also be more prone to acute diarrhea than younger adults. However, some elderly people are more prone to the other extreme of bowel habit constipation. When diarrhea does arise, it has to be established whether it is acute or chronic. The causes of both acute and chronic diarrhea can differ significantly and some of these causes may not be easily treated.

Acute diarrhea refers to diarrhea that arises suddenly, is intense but for a short period of time and resolves thereafter. It may require medical treatment or resolve on its own without ay treatment. Chronic diarrhea persists for long periods of time. Usually this is defined as diarrhea that persist for more than 4 weeks. However, recurrent diarrhea may also be considered as chronic.

Most of the time acute diarrhea is due to infections and certain foods. This is not uncommon to any age group but the elderly may be prone to infectious diarrhea and dietary-related diarrhea for several reasons. Chronic diarrhea is more likely associated with certain chronic diseases of the bowel or sometimes with other organs and systems. Sometimes chronic medication may be the cause, which the elderly are more likely to use since these chronic ailments are more common in the senior years.

How To Prevent Diarrhea Every Morning

There are also a number ways to prevent diarrhea every morning, including:

• Avoiding substances: Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which are known to stimulate the digestive tract.
• Keeping hydrated: When diarrhea in the morning is a problem, its best to focus on hydration. Consume two cups of liquid every couple of hours, including water, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices, and bone broths.
• Aromatherapy: Several essential oils have antispasmodic properties that relieve stomach cramps and diarrhea every morning, including lemon balm, lavender, and chamomile oils.

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Consider A Health Coach To Personalize Your Health Plan

If you have diarrhea, you should consider working with a skilled health coach to support and guide you.; Our health coaches are trained to help identify the underlying cause of your digestive symptoms and to develop a customized protocol to address the cause.

Our health coaches work with challenging cases from all around the world and understand how to create individualized programs based on your unique needs.; You can learn more about our coaching program here.

What Is Diarrhea Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention

Diarrhea is a common ailment that most everyone experiences from time to time. It is characterized by the passing of loose, watery stool accompanied by abdominal pain and cramping.

Diarrhea typically clears up on its own within a few days, but severe or chronic diarrhea that lasts for weeks can be a sign of a serious health problem that needs medical attention.

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Bacterial And Viral Infections

Chronic diarrhea is a symptom of a viral or bacterial infection.

The most common viral infections that cause diarrhea include rotavirus, norovirus, and adenovirus.

The rotavirus in particular is a common cause of baby diarrhea every morning.

Bacterial infections can cause serious cases of diarrhea, often occurring after the consumption of contaminated food or water.

Shigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter are the most common bacterial strains that cause diarrhea.

Other symptoms associated with bacterial and viral infections include inflammation, fatigue, cramping, vomiting, fever, sneezing, and coughing.

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