Gut Health Problems - November 2017

9
WATER ISN’T IDEAL
Plain water doesn’t help as much
as specifically-formulated products,
and sugary beverages like soda and
juice are also problematic. Rehydrating
with water alone isn’t a good idea.
Adding plain water to your system can
actually be counter-productive. Without
replacement electrolytes, additional
water will simply dilute the ones that
remain in your system. Beverages that
provide too much sugar and not enough
salt will aggravate diarrhea.
OTC MEDICATIONS CAN HELP
Time is the only sure cure for viral
gastroenteritis, so you really only need to
deal with the symptoms. Antibiotics do
nothing, which is why your doctor won’t
prescribe them in situations like this.
Simple diarrhea may respond well to overthe-counter
products (like Pepto-Bismol)
that contain bismuth subsalicylate. Other
antidiarrheal medicines can be helpful,
but they should be avoided if you’re
experiencing a high fever or bloody
diarrhea. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, OTC
antidiarrheal medication can aggravate
the stomach flu in these situations.
WHEN MEDICAL
ATTENTION IS NEEDED
Get in touch with your doctor immediately
if you see blood in your diarrhea or
vomit. Simple diarrhea is not cause
for alarm, but you should contact a
healthcare professional if your diarrhea
is accompanied by confusion, extreme
lethargy, or other altered mental states.
Be on the lookout for a lack of urination
or dark and concentrated urine, as these
are signs that dehydration is becoming
serious. Reach out to a doctor if your
symptoms don’t improve after three days,
you’re vomiting too frequently to take
liquids, or your oral temperature goes
above 101.5 Fahrenheit.
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November 2017