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Help with Diarrhea

Diarrhea is classified as more than three loose, liquid stools in a single day. It can be: Acute (occurring suddenly and lasting briefly), Chronic (long-term), or Recurring (occurring in recurrent episodes). Diarrhea depletes your body of fluids and electrolytes, and if you lose too much fluid you can become dehydrated. It is particularly harmful for babies, young children, and elderly people.

There are many known causes of diarrhea, including intolerance to food or medicine, chemotherapy, chronic diseases, bacterial infections, viral infections, parasitic infections, fungal infections, and many more. Risk factors include traveling to a developing country where the water and food supply may be contaminated, having a severely weakened immune system, such as with AIDS or after an organ transplant, and taking certain medications.

Symptoms include frequent, loose, liquid stools, abdominal pain, cramping, urgent need to defecate, blood and/or mucus in stool, fever, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and pains, weight loss, and malnutrition. Buy Low Drugs Canadian pharmacy online makes it affordable to treat your diarrhea with medications that can ease the pain. We are a full service Rx drug store and ready to answer any question you may have... just contact us.

If a medical condition is causing your diarrhea, treating it may help relieve the condition too. General treatment recommendations include drinking lots of fluids. Plain water will not replace the electrolytes lost through diarrhea so consider drinking broth, fruit juices, sports drinks, and specially balanced rehydration solutions. Some doctors suggest that you consume only clear fluids during the most severe phase of  the condition. Avoid the following foods: very spicy foods, fatty foods, greasy foods, high-fiber foods, dairy products, and caffeinated drinks. When you're ready to eat, start with bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Progress to simple, bland foods such as crackers, potatoes, plain chicken, and carrots. Use a hot-water bottle or heating pad on your abdomen to relieve cramps and pain.

Depending on why you have diarrhea, your doctor may recommend medications, such as: Bismuth subsalicylate, Codeine phosphate, Loperamide hydrochloride, Paregoric, Anticholinergic medications, Psyllium or methylcellulose compounds, and Kaolin or pectin products.

To reduce your chance of getting diarrhea:

• Practice good handwashing.
• Practice safe food preparation and food storage.
• If you've got diarrhea, don't prepare food for others.
• Drink bottled water, especially when traveling.
• Use bottled water when brushing your teeth.
• Avoid drinks that contain ice.
• Don't eat food purchased from street vendors.
• Don't eat raw vegetables or fruits (all produce should be peeled and/or cooked).
• Make sure meats are cooked thoroughly.
• Eat only pasteurized dairy products.
• If you eat seafood, make sure it's very hot.