Diarrhea: Dealing Day-to-Day

Diarrhea can be a symptom of many illnesses and medical conditions, or a side effect of certain medications. Diarrhea may also be the result of dietary choices. By avoiding or treating these potential causes, you can reduce your chances of developing diarrhea.

Even if you do develop diarrhea, continuing strategies to avoid or treat the cause of the diarrhea can go a long way in taking care of the condition and, therefore, the diarrhea. These strategies can help to reduce the severity, duration and frequency of the diarrhea.

Steps you may be able to take to reduce your risk of diarrhea include:

1. Avoid viral infection.

Viruses are the most common cause of infectious diarrhea. A virus may damage the lining of the small intestine, interfering with normal fluid and nutrient absorption, causing diarrhea.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children: An estimated 55,000 children are hospitalized for it each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Viral infections can spread easily.

Noroviruses cause gastroenteritis, which includes diarrhea as a primary symptom. Good hygiene can help keep you save from viral infections, although this is not foolproof.

If a virus causes severe diarrhea, antidiarrheal medication may be necessary. In such cases, it is important to drink plenty of fluids in order to prevent dehydration. However, diarrhea caused by viral infections is usually mild and short-term.

2. Avoid bacteria or parasites.

Bacteria (e.g., E. coli or salmonella) and parasites (e.g., giardia) are commonly ingested through contaminated food or water. Some bacteria and parasites release toxins that cause the intestines to secrete water and salt, adding to the fluidity of stool.

Bacterial and parasitic infections can typically be prevented by food and water safety strategies, such as thoroughly cooking food and not drinking water that may be contaminated. If these infections do occur, they may be treated with antibiotics.

3. Control intestinal disorders.

If the colon is inflamed or diseased, it may be unable to absorb fluid from food products traveling through the intestines, resulting in diarrhea. Examples of intestinal disorders that can cause diarrhea include inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease (gluten intolerance) and dysentery.

Though episodes of diarrhea may not be preventable for people with some of these conditions, following the treatment guidelines suggested by your doctor can help to reduce the severity, duration or frequency of your diarrhea episodes.

4. Control motility disorders.

Problems with the movement of stool through the digestive tract can also lead to diarrhea. When stool moves too quickly through the intestines, not enough fluids are absorbed from the stool, leading to watery, unformed bowel movements. If stool moves too slowly, it can lead to bacteria overgrowth and loose, greasy bowels.

Causes of motility disorders include an overactive thyroid, irritable bowel syndrome, scleroderma and antacids that include magnesium. Some other causes of motility disorders can be actively treated, making the diarrhea they cause rare. For others, however, treatment may be much more difficult. Regardless, diligently following the treatment suggested by your doctor can help greatly.

5. Reduce stress and anxiety.

Stress and anxiety can cause increased movement of stool through the digestive tract, causing diarrhea. Stress and anxiety can often be relieved by learning and practicing various relaxation techniques, such as special breathing techniques.

6. Be aware of surgical risks.

Various types of surgery may cause changes within the digestive tract that can lead to diarrhea. Diarrhea can be caused by dumping syndrome, a common consequence of gastric surgery. Bowel resections decrease surface area of the intestines, which limits fluid absorption and may cause diarrhea. Bacterial overgrowth as a result of Crohn's disease or intestinal surgery can cause inflammation and diarrhea. Surgery to remove the gallbladder can speed the movement of stool through the intestines, causing diarrhea, but this is usually temporary.

You can talk to your doctor about ways to combat the diarrhea that may be caused by any digestive surgeries you may have recently undergone.

7. Talk to your doctor about your medications.

There are hundreds of prescription and over-the-counter medications that can cause diarrhea. Antibiotics are the most common culprit. This is because they can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the intestines.

Diarrhea is a common side effect of medications used to treat depression, high blood pressure and cancer. Drugs and synthetic foods used to promote weight loss often cause diarrhea. Habitual use of laxatives can also cause diarrhea.

In most cases, diarrhea resolves once the antibiotic or other aggravating agent is discontinued. If your diarrhea is a side effect of a medication, your doctor may be able to suggest alternatives that may not cause diarrhea.

8. Avoid certain artificial sweeteners.

Some products used as sugar substitutes, such as sorbitol and mannitol, are not absorbed into the bloodstream and remain in the intestines, leading to loose, watery stool. Avoiding the use of these artificial sweeteners can help to prevent or reduce the development of diarrhea.

If artificial sweeteners cannot be avoided entirely, your doctor may be able to help you to determine which of these sugar substitutes is responsible for your diarrhea. In some cases, you may be better able to absorb an alternative artificial sweetener.

9. Limit caffeine and alcohol.

Caffeine and alcohol stimulate the passage of stool, which can cause it to move too quickly through the intestines, disrupting normal fluid absorption and resulting in watery stool. Avoiding these substances can help to prevent diarrhea or reduce its severity, duration and frequency.

10. Understand lactose intolerance.

People who lack an enzyme called lactase are unable to digest milk products. The undigested lactose in the intestines causes an osmotic diarrhea, where excessive fluid is drawn into the intestines. If you are lactose intolerant, you can usually avoid products containing lactose. Lactose-free or reduced-lactose varieties are available for many kinds of dairy products, including milk. Lactase is also commercially available as a supplement, and Lactaid milk has lactase.

11. Avoid ingestion of toxins.

The inadvertent ingestion of environmental toxins, such as insecticides or arsenic, can lead to diarrhea. Eating poisonous mushrooms may also cause diarrhea. Diarrhea may be among the least of the symptoms of these toxins. It is best to avoid them whenever possible.

It is not always possible to avoid diarrhea completely. But, by addressing health issues and avoiding common diarrhea triggers, episodes of diarrhea can become less frequent and more manageable.