stomach pain after eating

Diarrhea After Eating

November 28, 2011 by Sophie Leave a Comment

Diarrhea after eating is a common ailment and one that usually isn’t serious, most will suffer from this uncomfortable ailment at least a few times a year. So how do we determine if we have diarrhea? Well it’s quite simple really, diarrhea normally manifests itself through loose watery stools and very often an upset stomach or painful stomach cramps. People are often embarrassed by the fact they might be suffering from diarrhea but it’s such a common complaint that no embarrassment is necessary. yes it can come at the most inappropriate time, as when you have to go, you literally have to go, but take heart in the fact that you’re not the first and certainly wont be the last to suffer from diarrhea.

Diarrhea after eating common causes

Let’s look at some of the more common and not so common causes of contracting diarrhea. The common cause of contracting diarrhea is through a virus that infects the bowel, commonly known by the name stomach flu. Diarrhea may also be caused by a bacteria infection that is responsible for most cases of food poisoning. Allergies and foods disruptive to the digestive system. Over consumption of alcohol and certain reactions to medications, Abuse of laxatives is also a common cause.

Common Symptoms of Diarrhea After Eating

Abdominal pain and Stomach Cramps

Very Watery and Runny Stools

Food That Hasn’t Properly Digested Within The Stool

High Temperature And loss Of Some Weight

Common And Helpful Treatment Of Diarrhea

If you have recently suffered a mild case of diarrhea after eating, there are some common treatments available from across the counter of your local drug store or pharmacy. Drug stores will have their own branded treatments for diarrhea, but here are a few branded one so you know what to look for.

Bloating and cramping, yet more symptoms you can do with out.

Imodium

Imodium is a diarrhea remedy that helps with the calming of the system using Loperamide for a slowing of the muscle with in the gut.

The picture below is a common antidiarrheal medication that can be purchased from most drug stores.

Other at home treatments can consist of regular water intake in between meals. Avoiding foods that are high in fiber and the avoidance of solid foods for the length of the diarrhea infection. Try to make an effort to eat foods that are low in fiber, these food types consist of, Chicken, Turkey Noodles Peanut butter. Try and avoid foods that are high in fat, for that reason make sure the turkey and chicken are skinless. Yoghurt is also another beneficial food Or other active culture food types that are available in most supermarkets nowadays.

Rectal Discomfort From Diarrhea After Eating

The rectal region Can obviously become sore after constant visits to the toilet. Burning sensation and desire to itch the area can be experienced due to the inflammation of the rectum. A warm shower and drying of the inflamed area using items such as soft kitchen towel can often relieve the discomfort. Petroleum Jelly can sometimes be applied to the rectal area to relieve the discomfort too. However, apply a small portion at a time in case you take a reaction to the jelly. Unfortunately the discomfort is something you’ll need to put up with until your body begins to recover.

Diarrhea treatment can usually be as simple as making small adjustments to your diet and keeping notes of what foods adversely affect you.

Extended diarrhea and it’s effect upon the body

Due to the loss of water and nutrients which is a common effect of diarrhea after eating due to the infection. There are some more serious complications that can be observed after prolonged diarrhea. These can include but not up to, dehydration and darkening of the urine. Pounding headaches and increased pulse rate. Confusion and the feeling of being irritated very easily.

if you feel you are suffering from any of the above, then you should waste no time in contacting your local doctor. If you know of a young child or the elderly or infirm who are suffering from prolonged exposure to diarrhea, then contact a local doctor or relative on their behalf. Long term diarrhea can be potentially very serious due to dehydrative effects on the body, resulting in an imbalance of electrolytes.

With all the above said, Please try and don’t worry too much. Diarrhea after eating as it’s normally a Mild illness that most fit and healthy people can recover from no problem. If you follow some of the advice above and are currently in good health, you will more than likely pull through with no long term or permanent health issues,

Sophie.

Stomach Pain After Eating Causes And Prevention

November 22, 2011 by Sophie Leave a Comment

Though it can be quite worrying, stomach pain after eating is a very common complaint and happens to most of us at one time or another. Yes it can be quite uncomfortable and yes at times can be quite painful too, but the majority of time it’s nothing serious and you can usually rest easy. With that said, you’re probably wondering what cause’s this pain and discomfort? Well there can be a variety of reasons, some of these we will cover in the forthcoming paragraphs below. However do keep in mind that sometimes these reasons may only be diagnosed with a visit to your local physician, and if you’re are unsure or feeling particularly unwell, stop reading this and get yourself to your local health clinic.

Common Causes

Wind or possibly gas?

Yes I knows this is normally a topic of much laughter, but it’s no laughing matter when you’re the one in discomfort. Wind is a common problem and is literally caused by swallowing air when we eat and air digested within the foods we eat. Trapped wind is usually a minor discomfort and is normally accompanied by symptoms like feeling bloated. You can take solace that this bloated feeling is usually a temporary discomfort. Everybody reacts differently to all sorts of food and drink, but there are a number of food and drinks in particular that seem to crop up more often than others.

Foods normally associated with wind and gas pains are Beans, Products that use milk, cucumbers (yes cucumbers!) fizzy drinks and soya products. If you are a heavy consumer of these items, it’s maybe time to reconsider them and how you cook them when including them in your diet. You may also consider that other symptoms of abdominal pain can be caused by: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Gastric ulcer Symptoms, Stomach Flu. I mention these other symptoms not to frighten you, but just that you are made aware.

Overeating

Well overeating is as simple as it sounds, you’ve ate to much or usually you’ve eaten to fast, and this can certainly cause problems within the digestive system. Overeating may also be caused by having your meals at all sort of different times or skipping meals. As a result when you do get a chance to eat, you end up eating far too much in one sitting, and as a consequence end up with a really dicky tummy or even stomach cramps. Try and keep your meals spaced evenly and at regular intervals. If you do manage to follow the advice I have given regarding overeating and are still experiencing pain after eating, please consult a Doctor.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose Intolerance is as exactly as it sounds, it’s the inability to absorb lactose. People susceptible to lactose intolerance will suffer the pain associated with it when consuming dairy products such as milk. This pain normally manifests itself in symptoms such as: Wind and gas pains, swollen stomach, bloated feeling, and sometime even the dreaded diarrhea. A simple way of self diagnosis of lactose intolerance is to try and not consume dairy products for at least a few days, then consume at least two glasses of milk. If shortly thereafter you develop stomach pains or Diarrhea, then it’s more than likely you suffer from lactose intolerance. Make an appointment with your local physician and he will run a couple of tests to either confirm this or help you get to the root of your underlying problem.

Food Allergy

Food allergies are normally found when you’re a toddler and a s a result if you have a food allergy, you more than likely know about it, however that may always not be the case as more and more, other ingredients are now added to meals that can be bought locally in the supermarket that we wouldn’t add had we made the food ourselves. This is why you should always read the ingredients of the foods you buy when shopping. Common foods associated with allergies are peanuts, shellfish, fish (I myself have a particular problem with salmon) and wheat. Symptoms are apparent fairly quick and those associated with allergies may include: Itching, Hives, stomach cramps, Breathing difficulties, sneezing and bloating after eating. The only real way of treating allergic reactions to foods, is simply to make sure you avoid these foods. If you feel you may have suffered an allergic reaction, please consult your local physician, as the reaction next time may not be a small one, some people are know too and have gone into anaphylactic shock.

Food poisoning from eating out at restaurants can be a particularly unpleasant experience.

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is a relatively common ailment and be caused by a myriad of things, from people not washing their hands before eating to under cooked food. Food that has been left out the fridge too long then not cooked thoroughly. Fruits and vegetables that weren’t washed properly before consumption. Raw fish and chicken not kept at proper temperature are a common culprit, as well as untreated water. Symptoms of food poisoning include but not up to: nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain after eating, Diarrhea after eating, stomach cramps. The good news is that most people recover from food poisoning with in a few days.

You should also make sure you keep your fluid level up, as a common problem associated with food poisoning, is diarrhea after eating the infected food. You should also make sure you avoid milk when drinking fluids as the body may have a temporary intolerance too lactose. Simple ways of avoiding food poisoning include making sure you wash your hands and all utensils properly before preparing food. Making sure any meats and fish are refrigerated properly and kept at correct temperature. These two tips alone will ensure a major reduction in catching food poisoning.

Preventative measures

This may seem common sense but it’s amazing the things we forget in our day to day lives, especially in this modern age of hustle and bustle, so I’m going to provide a few tips on preventing yourself ending up with stomach ache after eating. I hope you find them useful.

Always make sure you wash your hands and all cutlery and utensils you will be using before cooking.
Wash all vegetables and fruit thoroughly before consuming.
Smell your food before you eat it, smell is one of our greatest senses and it can serve you well especially when dealing with foods that may be a bit iffy.
Look at your food before consuming, does it look a bit mouldy, does the colour appear off? Does it look like it’s spoiled?
When reheating food, make sure you cook it thoroughly. When keeping leftovers, don’t let them sit at room temperature, make sure you refrigerate them as soon as possible to avoid bacteria growing.
When purchasing foods, always make sure you check the sell by date or best before.

Treating Stomach Pain

Like I said at the start off the article, most people will experience stomach pain after eating food at one point or another, that’s life I’m afraid. Barring there being some underlying condition you’re not aware of. There are a few things you can do to relieve yourself of the pain and discomfort.

Drink plenty of water, try and avoid eating any solid food or dairy products for at least a couple hours, as this may potentially worsen the pain and discomfort. Try to relax and and avoid anything that may cause you to fell anxious, abdominal pain and anxiety are sometimes related. Avoid high acidity drinks like freshly squeezed orange juice, at least until you feel better. If you have some antacids or tums that are nearby take a few, please keep in mind if these make the problem worse, consult a doctor immediately.

Persistent Pain After Eating

If you have adhere to some of the tips provided above but still have consistent stomach pain after eating. Then I would advise you to consult your local physician or nearby health clinic. Stomach cramps and stomach ache after eating may seem like a minor problem, but they could be masking something more serious such as chronic constipation or irritable bowel syndrome, maybe even a stomach ulcer. So please don’t leave persistent abdominal pain too long. The fact that it’s persistent should be the warning sign.

Please take care of yourselves,

Sophie.

Bloating After Eating

November 10, 2011 by Sophie 1 Comment

Common Symptoms

Bloating is a very common problem. Normally a pain is felt within the abdomen, this pain can manifest itself anywhere within the abdominal region, and has at times been mistaken for a heart attack by some people suffering the pain. This is usually due to the pain being in the region people report feeling pain before a cardiac arrest. However the pain from bloating normally starts with stomach cramp and sharp pains.

Bloating is sometimes accompanied by belching, though uncomfortable, belching actually helps release trapped air in the gut, thus relieving the bloating too. You may have a slight distension of the stomach due to trapped wind too, though quite painful, it should only be temporary. You may experience some gas/wind after eating, this too is quite natural and nothing to worry about, it’s just your body reacting to the bloating. 80% of all adults suffer from bloating at one point or another, so your not alone.

Bloating Causes

Bloating after eating can happen for a number of reasons. Obstruction of the bowels can directly contribute to bloating. Menstruation/period can also be a contributing factor in woman suffering bloating. Crohn’s disease, a disease responsible for inflammation of the bowels is another common contributor. The main reason for bloating though is your diet.

Lack of fiber within your diet, fiber helps keep you regular as a result of the bodies inability to digest fiber. As a result, help air pass through the system.

Eating foods high in fat. Gulping food down. Not taking the time to eat meals appropriately and eating them while on the move.

While there are Foods that are often associate with wind or gas, there are also foods associated with bloating. these include the classics and not so well known:

Cabbage
cauliflower
Red Meat
Cucumber
Dairy Product
Excessive alcohol
Wheat and Nuts

Constipation while certainly a painful experience in it’s own right has the misfortune of also being responsible for many a case of bloating as well. Constipation whilst stopping defecating also stops the movement of gas too. The unfortunate thing is if constipation is responsible for you being bloated, you’ll have to find the cause of the constipation, as constipation is not a disease, it’s a symptom.

Irritable bowel syndrome is also a common cause of bloating , while the exact cause of IBS is unknown, including more fiber in your diet has been known to help, due to the ease at which stools and gas can be passed.

Food allergies and bloating after eating can be a common sign that you may be eating something you are allergic too but are unaware that allergy is in food, this is why you must always read the ingredients of any foods you buy, especially if you have known allergies.

Aerophagia : The foods normally associated with this are chewing gum and fizzy drinks. Smoking has been noted as being a primary cause too. This has been know too have been treated successfully with hiccup treatment Thorazine.

Heartburn has been very closely related to bloating. Heartburn has no known cure but there are a couple of preventative measures you can take. Quit smoking could help for a start. Alcohol consumption and a poor diet are related. Keeping your meals to manageable portions i.e. no overeating at one sitting. Try and relax for a while after meals, let the meal digest, excessive bending or exercise has been know to cause heartburn after meals, and heartburn is related to bloating and distension. Heartburn has also been linked to constipation.

Home Remedies for Prevention of Bloating

Fortunately there are a number of things you can do after a meal if you experience bloating after eating. After giving the meal time to settle you could always take a brisk walk, this has been known to help encourage movement of the bowels. If the problem persists, very light exercise you may help too. The biggest remedy for treating bloating at home though is prevention

Try and include fiber in your diet, this will help with passing stools on a regular basis and as a result discourage the build up of gas.

Take regular exercise to encourage bowel movement.

Overeating. try and make sure you eat your meals at regular intervals, this has two positives for you.

1. you can portion your meals responsibly, ensuring you are not eating too much in any one sitting. thus not gorging yourself.

2. Regular meals will ensure your bowels are active over a lengthier period of time, this will also increase metabolic activity and keep blood sugar levels stable. Regular meals can easily be achieved by planning ahead.

Treating With Medicines

There are some counter treatments that appear to have had some success with people who are prone to bloating.

Digest Gold is an over the counter medicine that use’s a digestive enzyme formula to help the digestion of protein and fats. If you’re having a meal high in fat, one tablet before your meal is advisable. Some people have experienced very good results using it, especially in regards to dairy products and bread.

Ultimate flora critical care is another over the counter remedy. This product encourages regular visits to the toilet and seems particularly popular with older consumers.

When To Visit The Doctor

Persistent bloating and stomach pain after eating is obviously a cause for concern. There are a number of other related illness’s and disease’s that can be related and are an underlying cause. These range anywhere from visceral fat, intestinal parasites, celiac disease and many more. As I have mentioned in other posts, I’m not trying to frighten you with mentioning the above disease’s, Just making you aware. However take heart in what I said at the beginning of this post, most of you will just experience bloating as much as the rest of us, and while yes it’s an inconvenience, it’s normally just that.

Sophie

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