Diarrhea is a common type of gastrointestinal upset or infection. It causes frequent and excessive discharging of the bowels in the form of abnormally watery stools and stomach pains. If you or one of your children recently developed diarrhea, the first question you likely ask is, “Can you tell me how to stop diarrhea fast?”
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms described above, you might be affected by an acute case of diarrhea. Acute diarrhea lasts one or two weeks while you’re temporarily sick.
You also might have chronic diarrhea, which persists longer than several weeks.
Officially, you have diarrhea if you have very loose or watery stools three or more times within 24 hours.
If you’re wondering how to stop diarrhea, the good news is there are several steps you can take to naturally treat both types of diarrhea. Below you’ll learn about steps you can take to thicken your stool, rehydrate and overcome symptoms of diarrhea.
Causes and risk factors
Believe it or not, acute diarrhea can be one of your body’s best defense mechanisms against a temporary infection or virus. Although they’re uncomfortable and unpleasant to deal with, short-term diarrhea symptoms help rapidly expel harmful substances out of your gastrointestinal tract before they have a chance to cause even more trouble or complications.
Chronic diarrhea symptoms, on the other hand, are a bit different. They tend to come and go depending on other dietary and lifestyle factors.
These include the state of your immune system and the level of stress you’re dealing with.
Research shows that chronic/persistent diarrhea occurs in approximately 3 percent of people traveling to developing countries (also known as traveler’s diarrhea). Acute diarrhea is usually easy to treat without medication or serious intervention.
However, chronic diarrhea is more problematic. It can cause dehydration and nutrient deficiencies if it isn’t properly addressed.
What causes chronic diarrhea? Digestive diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) — a disorder of the small intestine — and ulcerative colitis, often cause chronic diarrhea.
Diarrhea is a natural reaction to dehydration, infection or toxins that need to be expelled from the digestive system. Examples include certain types of bacteria, parasites, food allergies or other microbes.
One of the risks associated with diarrhea is that it can make you even more dehydrated and ill if you’re already sick. This is because it makes the body lose too many water and minerals, including electrolytes like sodium, too quickly.
If you’re not already familiar with symptoms that are typical of diarrhea, here are the most common:
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- Frequent bowel movements, including going to the bathroom more than one to two times daily
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- Watery feces or “loose” stools
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- Abdominal pains, cramping and sometimes stomach bloating
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- Sometimes nausea and vomiting
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- Stomach pains and sometimes loss of appetite, trouble eating enough and/or weight loss
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- Increased thirst, due to losing more water than usual when going to the bathroom frequently
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- Sometimes symptoms of a fever depending on what’s causing diarrhea (such as an infection or illness)
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- Symptoms of dehydration, which can include weakness, brain fog, upset stomach, dizziness and blood pressure changes
The key to learning how to stop diarrhea symptoms once they’ve started and preventing them from returning in the future depends on the underlying causes of the condition. Diarrhea can develop for various reasons, including dehydration, illnesses or food poisoning.
Children, infants, adults and the elderly may all develop diarrhea for different reasons. These include difficulty digesting foods properly, leaky gut syndrome, emotional stress or not drinking enough water.
What causes watery diarrhea in adults most often? Causes and risk factors for diarrhea in adults include:
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- Bacterial infection. This can be passed from person to person or picked up from contaminated surfaces.
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- SIBO, which means that due to an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the small intestine the body can’t digest and absorb nutrients properly.
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- Food allergies, such as lactose intolerance (a type of sugar found in dairy). Experts believe that lactose intolerance is one of the most common reasons both children and adults suffer from diarrhea, especially when it’s chronic. What’s tricky about lactose intolerance is that it might not start until your adult years or emerge due to hormonal changes, like pregnancy.
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- Drinking contaminated water, which can contain parasites, bacteria, etc.
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- Food poisoning, due to eating a food contaminated with some type of harmful microbe.
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- Dehydration (not drinking enough water or losing too much water from vomiting/illnesses or other causes).
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- Poor digestion and related conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s disease.
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- Overeating or drinking lots of liquids too quickly.
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- Eating too much unripe or overripe fruit.
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- Eating too much greasy food that is difficult to digest properly.
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- Excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption, which can lead to dehydration and indigestion.
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- Emotional stress and anxiety.
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- Side effects of taking certain medications, especially antacids. Experts think that antacids are the most common cause of drug-related diarrhea because they contain magnesium, which can make stool too watery. If you take these meds to control acid reflux symptoms, it’s best to try and tackle the underlying causes of indigestion. If you must take medications, try those that don’t contain magnesium, and lower your dose. Motility medications — medications to help stimulate the intestines in order to relieve constipation — may result in diarrhea.
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- Other supplements and medications, including antibiotics, quinidine, lactulose and colchicine, can also cause diarrhea.
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- Taking too much vitamin C and magnesium in supplement form can do the same.
What is the cause of diarrhea most often in children and infants? Causes can include:
- Rotavirus, also known as viral gastroenteritis or stomach flu, which is the most common cause of diarrhea in children ages 2 and younger. However, adults can also be affected by viral gastroenteritis.Another way to stay hydrated is by drinking homemade bone broth, which is rich in nutrients like amino acids and electrolytes.
Herbal teas such as ginger, peppermint, oat bark, licorice/fennel, or pomegranate tea (non-caffeinated) can also help calm your stomach.
In addition, consuming coconut water (a natural source of electrolytes), fresh vegetable juice, or homemade fruit ice pops can be effective in increasing your fluid intake and nutrient levels. However, be cautious not to consume too much juice or liquid too quickly if it worsens your diarrhea.
To determine if you are losing too much water, monitor the color of your urine and your level of thirst. If your urine is dark yellow and you are not urinating frequently, it may indicate dehydration, so increase your water intake.
Drink enough water so that your thirst is normal and your urine is light yellow.
3. Rest and recover
Avoid excessive exercise or strenuous physical activity while dealing with diarrhea, as you may feel weak and fatigued. It is important to rest and give your body time to recover by getting adequate sleep, reducing stress, and taking it easy.
4. Consider supplements
Include certain supplements in your diet to improve gut health, aid in digestion, and soothe an upset stomach. Some beneficial supplements to try include:
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- Probiotics (50 billion units daily): Help fight infection and promote healthy gut bacteria.
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- Digestive enzymes (2 before each meal): Aid in nutrient absorption.
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- Glutamine powder (5 grams 2x daily): Supports digestive tract repair, particularly beneficial for chronic diarrhea.
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- Aloe vera juice (1/2 cup taken about 3x daily): Soothes the digestive system.
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- Raw sprouted fiber from flax and chia seeds (2–3 tablespoons daily): Helps thicken stools and reduce diarrhea frequency.
5. Use essential oils
Peppermint essential oil has been found to reduce bowel inflammation and soothe the digestive tract, alleviating loose stools. It contains active ingredients with anti-spasmodic properties that can relieve abdominal pain and improve quality of life.
Studies suggest that peppermint oil is effective in managing abdominal pain in individuals with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
Consult your doctor if diarrhea persists in infants, the elderly, underweight individuals with health issues, or if you experience severe symptoms like blood in stool, weight loss, or fever.
Watch for signs of dehydration and seek medical attention if you experience dizziness, weakness, or confusion. Stay hydrated and follow the suggested remedies to alleviate diarrhea symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
How do you control diarrhea immediately? What stops diarrhea fast?
To control diarrhea immediately, try the following:
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- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids like water, oral rehydration solutions, or clear broths to prevent dehydration.
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- Anti-diarrheal medications: Over-the-counter options like loperamide (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) can provide quick relief.
Please use the following guidelines with caution and avoid in cases of infectious diarrhea (fever, blood in stools):
– Stick to a bland diet: Begin with easily digestible foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (the BRAT diet) to give your digestive system a break.
– Avoid irritants: Cut out dairy, caffeine, fatty, or spicy foods as they can exacerbate diarrhea.How long does diarrhea typically last?
Diarrhea usually lasts for one to three days, but it can sometimes persist longer depending on the cause. Acute diarrhea usually resolves within a few days, while chronic diarrhea can last for several weeks or more, indicating a potential underlying condition.What beverages can help stop diarrhea?
– Oral rehydration solutions: Specifically designed to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.
– Clear broths: Chicken or vegetable broths can help replenish fluids without upsetting the stomach.
– Coconut water: High in potassium and beneficial for rehydration.
– Herbal teas: Chamomile or peppermint tea may help calm the digestive system. Avoid sugary, alcoholic, and caffeinated drinks as they can worsen diarrhea.What foods can help alleviate diarrhea?
Foods that can help manage diarrhea include:
– Bananas: Packed with pectin, a soluble fiber that aids in water absorption in the intestines.
– Rice: Plain white rice is easy to digest and can bulk up stool.
– Applesauce: Contains pectin and is gentle on the stomach.
– Toast: Simple carbohydrates are easy to digest and may help solidify stool.
– Boiled potatoes: Bland and starchy, they can help slow down diarrhea. Avoid high-fiber, greasy, or dairy-rich foods as they may worsen symptoms.When should you be concerned about diarrhea in adults?
It is important to seek medical attention if:
– Diarrhea lasts more than two days without improvement.
– Severe abdominal pain or cramping is experienced.
– Blood or pus is present in the stool or if the stool is black or tarry.
– Signs of dehydration are evident, such as extreme thirst, dry mouth, reduced urination, or dizziness.
– A fever above 102°F (39°C) is present.
– Diarrhea occurs after traveling to a developing country.What are the different types of diarrhea?
The four main types of diarrhea include:
1. Osmotic diarrhea: Caused by excessive water entering the bowels, often due to specific foods or sugar alcohols.
2. Secretory diarrhea: Results from the body secreting excess water into the intestines, commonly caused by infections or certain medications.
3. Exudative diarrhea: Characterized by the presence of blood or pus in the stool, often seen in conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or severe infections.
4. Motility-related diarrhea: Occurs due to the rapid movement of food through the intestines, typically associated with irritable bowel syndrome or certain surgeries.In conclusion:
– Diarrhea is a common issue characterized by loose, frequent, and watery bowel movements. It can be acute or chronic, lasting more than two to three weeks.
– Causes of diarrhea include food allergies, infections, dehydration, stress, and certain medications.
– Natural remedies for diarrhea include staying hydrated, eating bland foods, and getting adequate rest. following sentence:She carefully read the instructions before assembling the furniture.
Before putting together the furniture, she meticulously reviewed the instructions.
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