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Irritable bowel syndrome
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Irritable bowel syndrome
About
Treatments
About
Long-term disorder that affects the stomach and intestines
Symptoms may include abdominal pain, constipation alternating with diarrhea and abdominal bloating
Cause unknown
Cannot be spread from person to person
Affects males and females
Can occur at any age
May be mild to severe
Treatments
Avoid skipping meals
Eat several small meals every day
Limit intake of dairy foods
Drink plenty of fluids (especially water)
Exercise regularly
Reduce stress
To decrease belching, eat and drink slowly, avoid fizzy drinks and limit alcohol, gum and hard candy
Quit smoking
FOR DIARRHEA
Drink plenty of fluids (especially water)
Home oral rehydration solution (ORS):
Six (6) level teaspoons of Sugar
Half (1/2) level teaspoon of Salt
1 L (5 cupful’s) of clean drinking or boiled water and then cooled
Eat the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Apple sauce, Toast)
If accompanied by nausea, suck on small pieces of ice (not small enough to choke on!)
Avoid strenuous exercise
Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicines (refer to manufacturer’s recommendation for dosage):
Loperamide
Bismuth subsalicylate
FOR CONSTIPATION
Eat more fiber (1 tablespoon of raw bran with plenty of water at each meal)
Increase exercise (30 minutes per day)
Drink plenty of fluids (especially water)
Over-the-counter laxative medicines (refer to manufacturer’s recommendations for dosage):
Bulk forming laxatives
Stool softeners (emollient laxatives)
Lubricant laxatives
Stimulant laxatives
Saline laxatives
Enemas and suppositories
FOR FLATULENCE
Avoid foods that are known to increase bloating, such as fizzy drinks, hard candy, fruits, starches, certain vegetables or whole wheat products
Over-the-counter anti-flatulent medicines (refer to manufacturer’s recommendations for dosage):
Simethicone
Calcium carbonate/simethicone
Aluminum hydroxide/magnesium
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