After pain, digestive problems are the second reason why you use over-the-counter medications. We use them to relieve heartburn, flatulence and constipation. It is good to know when and what to take to help yourself and avoid unpleasant consequences.

Digestive problemscan arise at any stage of this process, which begins in the mouth. Then, through the throat and esophagus, the food goes to the stomach, where it mixes with gastric juice. Further digestion takes place in the small intestine, then the food passes through the duodenum into the large intestine in batches. Finally, the undigested residues are expelled. At any stage of digestion, problems can arise that affect how you feel. For example, when we have missing teeth, we swallow pieces of food that are too large and difficult to digest. Then there will be flatulence and a feeling of overflow, belching. Indigestion can happen to any of us. But if it occurs several times a week or is with you constantly, talk to your doctor, as it may be a symptom of gastric or duodenal ulcers, reflux oesophageal reflux, liver, gallbladder or pancreatic disease, and sometimes also neoplastic changes. However, we can deal with immediate problems by ourselves.

Remedies for flatulence

Flatulence is a consequence of fermentation processes taking place in the digestive tract and the associated gas production. The amount of gas depends on the type of food (onions, legumes and cruciferous plants puffiness, carbonated drinks, especially sweetened ones), swallowing air during fast eating or gastrointestinal disorders. The body can be supported by drinking cumin, chamomile and fennel teas. Pharmaceuticals to prevent flatulence are preparations that break large bubbles of gas in the intestines into small bubbles that are easier to get out of the gastrointestinal tract. Whenever possible, gases should not be contained. Then you will avoid pain and the feeling of overflow of the abdomen.

When bile secretion is impaired

Disturbances in the secretion of bile are manifested by abdominal pain, heartburn, belching, flatulence, impaired bowel movement and a change in its consistency. The cause of the trouble may be low bile secretion by the liver, disturbances in the work of the bile ducts or the gall bladder due to urolithiasis. With suchAilments can be recommended for immediate use drugs that protect liver cells and facilitate their regeneration, drugs that stimulate the secretion of bile (choleretic) and drugs that facilitate the release of already produced bile from the gall bladder (choleretic). The diastolic and analgesic medications recommended for abdominal pain are also helpful.

For stomach ache and heartburn

Stomach pain and heartburn are usually caused by the secretion of too much stomach acid or delayed gastric emptying of the digested food. Symptoms most often appear after a heavy meal, after alcohol abuse, and are manifested by unpleasant pressure, feeling overfilled or pain in the stomach area. Heartburn, belching, etc. appear. Such symptoms may indicate bad eating habits or damage or inflammation of the gastric and duodenal mucosa or ulcers. They may also be caused by the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. Medicines to neutralize the excess of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice or drugs that inhibit its secretion will bring relief. These drugs must not be abused. If they are effective, they can be taken for up to 6 weeks. When they do not help, treatment of the condition causing the ailments must be started. The type of medication you are taking should be checked with your pharmacist to avoid interactions with other prescribed medications. People who are constantly taking various medications should wait 2 hours between taking the main drug and the acid-reducing drug. In people prone to arrhythmias, antacids may cause bradycardia, i.e. a slower heart rate. People with diseased kidneys and liver should also exercise caution in their use.

Effective remedies for flatulence

Constipation support

If you have a bowel movement less than 3 times a week, you are constipated. Their cause is often a diet low in fiber, insufficient hydration of the body, a sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity, as well as taking (permanent or periodic) painkillers, antidepressants and aluminum preparations recommended for stomach ulcers. Another reason may be frequent refraining from bowel movements and long-term use of laxatives, which lead to laxity in the intestines. When a change in diet and a greater dose of exercise do not eliminate constipation, you can resort to measures that facilitate defecation. We always start with the mildest drugs. Medicines from this group should be used with caution, because overusing them leads to water and electrolyte disturbances, weakening of the intestines and addiction. We take measures firstswelling, which increase the volume of fecal masses in the intestine, that is, substances containing fiber, bran, pectin, etc. The treatment must be supplemented with body hydration (minimum 2 liters of fluid). Another group are fecal softeners. These include glycerin suppositories and sodium docusate. Coating agents, which include liquid paraffin, can also be used. Lactulose and macrogols are osmotic agents that facilitate the penetration of water into the lumen of the intestine and soften the fecal masses. The stimulants of the large intestine are most powerful because they stimulate the nerve ganglia in the large intestine. These preparations contain senna, buckthorn or bisacodyl, an organic chemical compound that increases the secretion of mucus in the large intestine.

What to do if you have diarrhea

Diarrhea is passing liquid stool more than 3 times a day. It may be caused by a viral intestinal infection, which disappears after 2-3 days after following a slightly digestible diet. There are also diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection. The disease is more severe and is often accompanied by fever. The basis of self-treatment in diarrhea is diet, hydration of the body (you need to drink as much as you can) and drugs that protect the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. Oral antidiarrheal preparations inhibit bowel movements, which means they extend the time the food passes through the intestines. They do not cure ailments, but they reduce symptoms - they help keep the stools easier and stop the pressure. You can also use preparations that absorb toxic substances in the intestines. With bacterial diarrhea, you should take antibacterial drugs, but if they do not bring any improvement after 2-3 days of use, you should see a doctor.

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Category:

Gastrology