How To Take Care Of Your Stomach To Avoid These Diseases

Y our digestive health is directly impacted by the foods you eat and the lifestyle you live. By taking steps to improve your digestive health, you'll help your digestive system to function more efficiently, improving your overall health and sense of well-being. This makes it essential to take good care of our stomach so as to prevent stomach diseases. Let's find out how.

Heartburn

Often described as belching, regurgitating a bitter taste, or a burning sensation in the chest after eating. Heartburn becomes serious when “alarm features” such as vomiting, the problem of swallowing and weight loss are present.

Changes in lifestyle are the most commonly prescribed steps for treatment and prevention of heartburn.

Do not eat or drink three hours before going to bed. Eat three to four small meals during the day rather than a large dinner or lunch. If you are overweight, make lifestyle changes to lose and maintain a healthy weight. Quit smoking. It accentuates, aggravates and intensifies heartburn. Use antacids such as Maalox, Tums, and Rolaids as after a meal, before bed or as needed.

Gastritis

Gastritis is the inflammation of the lining of the stomach. It has many causes like excessive alcohol consumption, using pain medication for an extended period, and stress. But the most common are infectious agents, especially helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and aspirin.

Steps taken to prevent gastritis are:

Follow an anti-inflammatory diet which means avoid common aggressors such as spicy, fatty, and fried foods. Use Essential oils, such as lemongrass and lemon verbena that to helps increase resistance to H. pylori Avoid alcohol consumption. Try probiotics like yogurt. Avoid smoking and overuse of painkillers. Reduce stress by doing yoga and breathing exercises.

Dyspepsia Described as discomfort, burning, pressure, and mild pain located in the upper-mid abdomen, dyspepsia is often associated with a need to belch or burp. Dyspepsia is a functional disorder that often occurs after eating. It may be caused by an overuse of anti-inflammatory, which can ulcerate the stomach.

PREVENTION:

Do not talk while chewing. Chew food completely and eat slowly. Drink fluids after meals, rather than during. Avoid late-night eating. Avoid spicy, greasy foods. Quit smoking. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Avoid caffeine.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

GERD is a condition where stomach contents move backward or reflux from the stomach into the esophagus. GERD is diagnosed in patients who have episodes of acid reflux that cause troublesome symptoms.

PREVENTION:

Maintain a healthy weight Stop smoking Elevate the head of your bed Don't lie down after a meal Eat food slowly and chew thoroughly Avoid foods and drinks that trigger reflux Avoid tight-fitting clothing.

Chronic diarrhoea

Chronic diarrhoea is defined as frequent loose stools that last for more than 4 weeks. The most common cause of chronic diarrhoea is Irritable bowel syndrome . Another common cause is medicines including antibiotics, painkillers like Ponstan and diabetic medication (eg. Metformin).

Key measures to prevent diarrhoea include:

Access to safe drinking water Use of improved sanitation handwashing with soap exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life good personal and food hygiene health education about how infections spread rotavirus vaccination

Constipation

For 95 percent of people, constipation is a chronic problem caused by a lack of exercise, poor hydration, poor diet, and fiber deficiency. It is medically defined as a hard, dry stool, that causes straining and effort to pass. Medications prescribed for anxiety, depression, and stress can also cause constipation. Sudden onset of constipation may indicate colon cancer. If you experience any of the conditions or symptoms listed above, consult with your doctor to ensure your symptoms aren’t related to something more serious.

Prevention:

Include plenty of high-fiber foods in your diet, including beans, vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals, and bran. Eat fewer foods with low amounts of fiber such as processed foods, and dairy and meat products. Drink plenty of fluids. Stay as active as possible and try to get regular exercise.

Diverticulitis

Abnormal bulges called diverticula somewhere in the wall of their intestinal tract. Yet only 20 percent will ever experience a complication like inflammation of a pouch, a tear, or an abscess.Doctors have long advised people with diverticula to avoid nuts, corn, and popcorn for fear those foods would get lodged in a pouch during digestion and wreak havoc.

To help prevent diverticulitis:

Exercise regularly. Exercise promotes normal bowel function and reduces pressure inside your colon. Eat more fiber. A high-fiber diet decreases the risk of diverticulitis. Drink plenty of fluids. Fiber works by absorbing water and increasing the soft, bulky waste in your colon.

There are good and bad bacteria in our bodies. The good bacteria or the gut helps us digest food better, build up a strong immune system, regulate the digestive system, and maintain health. It also determines the absorption of vital nutrients in our body. If the good bacteria in the body are taken care of, the body functionalities are improved helping us stay healthier. Looking after your gut can not only help you to keep various stomach diseases at bay but also help you to increase mental efficiency . How do you take care of your stomach?