• 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

• 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