Posts Tagged ‘diarrhoea’

Tips to improve your Irritable Bowel Condition!

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

You may have been suffering from bowel irritation for long and would like to know what food to eat when you are ill. Avoid certain food products which may be your favourite but it is good to be avoided in order to stop your irritable bowel symptoms from aggravating. These symptoms could be bloating, gas, cramping, diarrhoea or constipation and sometimes you can see both that characterize irritable bowel syndrome. Food to be avoided include; red meat, dairy products, fatty and fried foods, coffee, alcohol, carbonated beverages, solid chocolate, and artificial sweeteners.

Food to be avoided:

Alcohol
Red meats
Caffeine (found in tea, coffee and soda)
Aerated drinks or Carbonated drinks (like soda)
Chocolate
Wheat
Food high in fat
Dairy products
Fried foods
Citrus fruits
Gluten (a protein found in barley, wheat and rye)
Artificial sweeteners (things like sorbitol)

Take simple and healthy food. Avoid above food as they are irritating or stimulating to the bowel. Drink plenty of water and eat food rich in fiber such as fresh fruits, vegetables, variety of beans such as lima beans and kidney beans, cereals and whole grain bread. Improve your digestive condition by eating all that is healthy for you.

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What causes IBS?

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

The cause for Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not clear. It is thought that it may be linked to overactivity of part of the gut. The area of overactivity in the gut may determine whether constipation or diarrhoea develops. Again, the cause of overactivity in parts of the gut is not clear. One or more of the following may play a part.

Overactivity of the nerves or muscles of the gut. It is not known why this may occur. It may have something to do with overactivity of messages sent from the brain to the gut. Stress or emotional upset may play a role. About half of people with IBS can relate the start of symptoms to a stressful event in their life. Symptoms tend to become worse during times of stress or anxiety.

Intolerance to certain foods may play a part in some cases. However, this is thought to be only in a small number of cases.

How can IBS be managed?

Many people are reassured that their condition is IBS bowel syndrome, and not something more serious such as colitis. Simply understanding about this syndrome IBS may help people feel less anxious about the condition, which may ease the severity of symptoms. Symptoms often settle for long periods without any treatment. In some cases, symptoms are mild and do not require treatment.

Studies on this and treatment with prebiotics may show benefits in reducing abdominal pain and bloating, ease bowel movements and improve stool consistency in those diagnosed with IBS.

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What is Crohn’s Disease

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Crohn’s disease is basically a condition that causes gastrointestinal tract  inflammation (gut). The gut consists of the stomach, oesophagus and small and large intestine.

It most commonly occurs at the lower end of the small intestine, also known as the ileum, it can affect any part of the gut. Roughly one in 1,500 people in the UK suffer from  this disease and the condition affects slightly more women than men. It can develop at any age, but usually starts between the ages of 15 and 40.

What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of Crohns disease appears when the wall of the affected part of the gut becomes inflamed. The inflammation can cause one or more of the following symptoms:
•  pain – each individual experiences different levels of pain. Where the pain occurs depends on which part of the gut is affected. The condition usually occurs at the lower end of the small intestine (ileum), and so the pain will often be on the lower right side of the abdomen
•  ulcers – these are raw areas of the gut wall that may bleed. If ulcers do occur, this may lead to blood in the stools (faeces). Mouth ulcers are also a common symptom.
•  diarrhoea - can vary from mild to severe, and may contain mucus, pus or blood. Experiencing a frequent need to go to the toilet, but a lack of anything to pass (tenesmus) is common
•  feeling generally unwell - fever and extreme tiredness
•  loss of appetite and weight
•  anaemia - can occur if you lose a lot of blood
•  anal fissures and rectal bleeding - the skin of the anus may become cracked (anal fissures), bleed and be painful

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Protecting against travellers diarrhoea!

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

What is Traveller’s Diarrhoea?
Traveller’s diarrhoea (TD) is a condition characterised by a marked increase in the frequency of unformed bowel movements and is commonly accompanied by abdominal cramps, urgency, nausea, bloating, vomiting and fever.
 
Episodes of TD usually begin abruptly, and occur during travel or soon after returning home. The onset of TD is usually within the first week of travel, but can occur at any time during the visit and even after returning home.
    
TD typically results in four to five (sometimes more) loose or watery stools per day. The average duration of diarrhoea is three or four days but about 10% of the cases persist longer than a week, approximately 15% of cases experience vomiting, and up to 10% have diarrhoea accompanied by fever or bloody stools, or both.

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Find Out The Causes of IBS!

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

What causes IBS?
The cause is not clear. It is thought that it may be linked to overactivity of part of the gut. The area of overactivity in the gut may determine whether constipation or diarrhoea develops. Again, the cause of overactivity in parts of the gut is not clear. One or more of the following may play a part:

Overactivity of the nerves or muscles of the gut. It is not known why this may occur. It may be linked to overactivity of messages sent from the brain to the gut. Stress or emotional upset may play a role. About half of people with IBS can relate the start of symptoms to a stressful event in their life. Symptoms tend to become worse during times of stress or anxiety.

Infection and bacteria in the gut. IBS is not caused by an ongoing gut infection. However, in about 1 in 6 cases, the onset of symptoms seems to follow a bout of gastroenteritis (a gut infection which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting).

Intolerance to certain foods may play a part in some cases. However, this is thought to be only in a small number of cases.

How can IBS be managed?
Recent research has shown that a prebiotic supplement (galactooligosaccharide) is proven to improve the symptoms of IBS.  This supplement is not destroyed, digested or absorbed in the stomach or small intestine and therefore reaches the colon intact to selectively target and feed the body’s immunity boosting bifidobacteria while reducing harmful bacteria, all of which helps to reduce the symptoms of IBS.

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