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How to Manage Frequent Diarrhea

If you suffer from frequent diarrhea, know that by making small everyday changes to your diet and lifestyle you can ease your next occurrence.2

Small changes can make a big difference

There are a number of reasons why you may be experiencing more frequent occurrences of diarrhea – from the food you choose to eat to the amount of stress in your life. It can also be caused by other things, such as taking certain antibiotics. Consult your healthcare professional if you think your diarrhea may be caused by medications you are taking.22,30,38

Longer-lasting or persistently recurrent diarrhea might indicate an underlying medical condition, so you should talk to your healthcare professional.30

In this section you’ll find tips and advice on helpful things you can do to help manage your diarrhea.

Know your triggers

Your triggers might be certain foods, drinks or eating habits, or even stress.30,38,1 Keep an eye on your diet (write a food diary if you’re still trying to identify trigger foods) and consider taking steps to reduce your stress level if you feel that it may be the trigger for your diarrhea.2

1. Diarrhea. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Web site. http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-dise.... NIH publication 11-2749. January 2011. Updated November 25, 2013. Accessed November 11, 2015.

2. Nutrition strategies for managing diarrhea. International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Web site. http://www.iffgd.org/site/gi-disorders/functional-gi-disorders/diarrhea/.... March 31, 2014. Accessed November 11, 2015.

22. Toney RC, Wallace D, Sekhon S, Agrawal RM. Medication induced constipation and diarrhea. Pract Gastroenterol. 2008;32(5):12-28.

30. Ochoa B, Surawicz CM. Diarrheal diseases—acute and chronic. American College of Gastroenterology Web site. http://patients.gi.org/topics/diarrhea-acute-and-chronic/#tabs2. October 2002. Updated December 2012. Accessed March 23, 2016.

38. Mertz H. Stress and the gut. UNC Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders Web site. http://www.med.unc.edu/ibs/files/educational-gi-handouts/Stress%20and%20.... Accessed March 24, 2016.

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