Diarrhea in Utah
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Find a ProviderWhat is diarrhea?
Diarrhea is the occurrence of loose, watery stools that tend to happen more often than typical bowel movements. Experiencing loose stools three times a day or more puts your symptoms in the category of diarrhea. Usually, diarrhea lasts for only a short period of time, but diarrhea for a longer duration can signal a much more serious cause. Diarrhea can often be treated at home. The most vital thing to do is to consume plenty of fluids to replace the fluids being lost during watery bowel movements. You might also include toast, rice, applesauce, and bananas in your diet. In the event that you suspect you could have a virus or bacteria, antiviral or antibiotic medication can be prescribed. Additionally, you can use nonprescription medications with your physician's oversight. However, there are some diseases, conditions, and cancers that manifest themselves as diarrhea. Such conditions include colon cancer, Crohn's disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Conditions such as these are why it is important to avoid self-diagnosing and to consult a doctor if severe diarrhea develops. Please know that you are not alone and you can receive help for diarrhea in Utah. You can connect with a local GI specialist through Utah Gastroenterology.
What causes diarrhea?
Diarrhea is a very common digestive health symptom and may be caused by any number of relatively minor factors. Nearly all of us have suffered from watery and loose bowel movements as a result of eating some improperly prepared food, during stressful times in our lives, or after starting a new medication. But diarrhea can, in some situations, let you know that something of greater consequence is going on within your body. Below is a list of possible conditions or habits with the potential to precipitate diarrhea:
- Artificial sweeteners
- Runner's diarrhea
- Abuse of alcohol
- Fructose (difficulty digesting it)
- Parasites or bacteria from contaminated food or water
- Surgery (sometimes abdominal and gallbladder removal surgeries can cause diarrhea)
- Radiation therapy
- Abuse of laxatives
- Some cancers
- Viral infection
- Malabsorption (trouble absorbing certain nutrients)
- Intolerance to lactose
- Overactive thyroid
At what point should I visit a gastroenterologist for diarrhea?
We urge you to reach out to a GI specialist at Utah Gastroenterology without delay if your diarrhea reaches a severe stage. A few hallmarks of severe diarrhea could include:
- Diarrhea accompanied by a fever
- Diarrhea that goes on for greater than 48 hours
- Dark urine and diarrhea
- Severe stomach pain
- Vomiting accompanied by diarrhea
- Diarrhea after travel to a foreign country
If any of the above issues occur, it is vital that you contract professional evaluation. It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your health. If you think that you should talk to a gastroenterologist in regard to diarrhea, please do not hesitate to do so. Our specialists offer treatment for diarrhea in Utah.
Diarrhea could be a symptom of something serious
Diarrhea is such a common symptom that you might not think much of it when it occurs, but it can sometimes be an indicator of a much more serious health condition. If you a member of your family have been experiencing frequent diarrhea in combination with other troubling GI symptoms, we suggest scheduling a visit with a gastroenterologist to look more closely at your symptoms. You can connect with a gastroenterologist at Utah Gastroenterology. If you are experiencing worrisome GI symptoms or need treatment for diarrhea in Utah, reach out to our facility to get in touch with an expert right away.
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