Sunday, April 17, 2011

Diarrhea Treatment for Elders

Diarrhea may be caused because of wrong eating habits, mental stress and inflammation or the infection. There are some drugs known to be another causative factor. These are iron and digitalis. Among the elder people, it is severer and can put life at a threat, so it must be treated the moment it affects a person.

How to cure?
Usually the underlying cause is considered and then treatment process begins. The correction of the problem that is disturbing will in turn help get rid of the disorder. Consider these important things:
  • Reduced dietary intake
  • Restricted foods
  • Medications
  • Infection removal
  • Lifestyle improvement
Reduced dietary intake
The best way to address the issue is to let the entire system take rest by not giving the stomach do the task of digestion. How can this be achieved? Simply by minimizing food portions as much as possible. Since, there is more burden than the capacity of tummy; it results in various related illnesses. In severe cases, the physician also recommends to remain at fast for longer hours and take only water or certain fluids. This practice will not only keep the function go well but also provide relief sooner than expected.

Restricted foods
The next step towards improving any digestive disorder is to have only those foods that do not aggravate the situation. These can be yogurt, bananas, apples, whole grain cereals such as oatmeal, digestive biscuits, bread, buns; meat, fiber-containing foods, rice, broth, fluids and certain pulses. Herbal teas cooked with raspberry leaves, chamomile or blackberry leaves are an excellent home remedy. These are also commercially prepared in coarse powdered form but not so effective as pure ones are, because there are preservative, artificial flavorings and colors lavishly added into them. On the other hand, the edibles having laxative effects to treat constipation are completely prohibited for the patients. Prevention is better than cure, so avoid taking the disturbing foods in excess to remain safe from the disease in the first place. After it somehow occurs, still the same rule can be followed. Careless diet plan leads to many other serious ailments, so it should be well-balanced.

Medications
There are certain drugs specifically manufactured to decrease intestinal motility. Paregoric is one of them and is an opium derivative. Another commonly prescribed is Lomotil that is widely available. Loperamide can also be taken in appropriate dosage. Metamucil is also popular and provides bulk to the stool making it less watery and thin in consistency. Since adults can tolerate such strong medicines, these can be safely given to them but under a continuous supervision of an expert doctor or gastroenterologist. To get the maximum benefit out of these formulae, it is better to take any of these, one hour or at least half an hour before a meal time. A combination of more than one should be made only if the physician prescribes, as there are some side-effects.

Infection removal
If the diarrhea has occurred due to a viral infection, this must be treated and the problem will fizzle out gradually. Seek help from a certified pathologist or a physician to make sure s/he makes the right diagnosis and suggests the most effective treatment procedures to minimize or completely take the infection away. Same can be done with any inflammatory incidences. Antibiotics are given in the form of pills or syrup to the affected individuals.

Lifestyle improvement
No doubt, living a stress-free healthy life is the most inexpensive treatment ever. When under depression, there are certain hormones that are activated and start working the way they are not supposed to, leading to considerable malfunctioning and disruptions in the smooth mechanism.

Just consider these factors and the disorder will be in complete order. The disease will be converted into ease.

Related Stories: