There are so many factors that can cause diarrhea regardless of age. Sometimes the type of food that we eat causes this condition. It may be also caused by medications and the most common is due to the use of laxatives. People who are constipated resort to over the counter laxatives but some of these have side effects that can cause diarrhea. Treating constipation will help avoid the occurrence of hemorrhoids or making it worst due to hard stool during a bowel movement. It can even cause bleeding and pain. But diarrhea can also harm your hemorrhoids if it is not properly treated.

For younger people especially children and infants, this condition should be monitored carefully since it can be a life threatening health condition. The immediate concern is to avoid dehydration. There are already many reported cases of deaths associated with diarrhea. Dehydration leads to an imbalance of electrolytes in the body which can lead to other serious health problems and death. The signs that a person is already dehydrated include the following; dry skin, less frequent urination, thirst, fatigue, light headedness and dark colored urine.

For children and infants, parents should be very observant on the condition of their child. The common signs are dryness of the mouth and tongue, absence of tears when crying, and not urinating for 3 hours or more. The more serious symptoms are high fever, feeling of listlessness or irritability, and sunken abdomen, eyes and cheeks. If the skin does not flatten when pinched and released is another sign that the child is suffering from too much dehydration.

Those people who are under a weight management program or is taking some medications for weight loss can also suffer from frequent diarrhea. An ingredient in chewing gum and is said to help lose weight can also cause diarrhea. People who take products with sorbitol usually complain of diarrhea. The symptoms will disappear once they stop taking the weight loss product.

But it is important to know that the increase in the number of bowel movements per day can’t be automatically blamed to diarrhea. The looseness of the stool should not be the only basis in determining if a person is suffering from this condition. There are also other health conditions which show similar symptoms with diarrhea. These are incontinence of stool, rectal urgency, incomplete evacuation and bowel movements immediately after eating a meal.

Health experts say that the normal bowel movement per day is up to 3 times. In excess of 3, it can be a sign that you are already having diarrhea. However, for people who has one normal bowel movement per day and it suddenly increases to 2 or 3 times per day is also considered a sign of diarrhea. The looseness of the stool can sometimes trick us that we have the condition. Always check the food that you eat. Eating foods rich in fiber can help loosen the stools and you may experience frequent urge to do a bowel movement. But this is not a major concern since the body is just eliminating toxins that were accumulated in your body especially in the colon. A person who has a looser stool but still within the normal range of consistency is experiencing relative diarrhea.

A patient who frequently suffers from diarrhea suggests a BRATTY diet. It’s an acronym which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, tea, toast, and yogurt. Another suggests eating coconut macaroons. Though there are many available treatments for diarrhea, it is still best to consult a doctor about your situation. Please bear in mind that any abnormality in the bowel movement, constipation or diarrhea, can lead to complications such as making your hemorrhoids become painful and irritated.

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