Diarrhea in Kansas City, MO
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Find a ProviderWhat is diarrhea?
Diarrhea is characterized by loose, watery bowel movements and usually occurs more often than normal bowel movements. Having loose stools three or more times a day is considered diarrhea. In general, diarrhea only lasts for a short period of time, but persistent or ongoing diarrhea can signal a far more serious issue. Diarrhea can often be treated at home. The most essential thing one can do is to consume a plentiful amount of fluids to replace all of the fluids being lost during watery bowel movements. One can also include bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast into their diet. Should you suspect you could have a virus or bacteria, antivirals or antibiotics might be prescribed. Additionally, you can use OTC medications with your doctor's supervision. However, there are some diseases, conditions, and cancers that manifest, in part, as diarrhea. Such conditions include Crohn's disease, colon cancer, and irritable bowel syndrome. Conditions such as these are why it is important not to self-diagnose, but to meet with a physician if severe diarrhea occurs. Please understand that you are not alone and you can receive treatment for diarrhea in Kansas City, MO. You can find a local gastroenterologist through Digestive Health Specialists.
What causes diarrhea?
Diarrhea is an extremely common digestive health condition. Almost all of us have dealt with watery and loose stools as a result of eating some bad food, during stressful periods in our lives, or after starting a new medication. But diarrhea can, occasionally, tell you that something of greater severity is happening in your body. Here are some of the possible conditions or habits that can lead to diarrhea:
- Abuse of alcohol
- Surgery (sometimes surgery to remove the gallbladder or some abdominal surgeries can cause diarrhea)
- Lactose intolerance
- Artificial sweeteners in your diet
- Therapy involving radiation
- Viral infection
- Difficulty digesting fructose
- An overactive thyroid
- Laxative abuse
- Malabsorption (trouble absorbing certain nutrients)
- Runner’s diarrhea
- Some cancers/Cancer
- Bacteria and parasites from contaminated water or food
At what point should I visit a gastroenterologist for diarrhea?
When your diarrhea becomes severe, contact a GI specialist at Digestive Health Specialists with urgency. Some indicators of severe diarrhea could include:
- Diarrhea along with fever
- Diarrhea that persists longer than 48 hours
- Diarrhea and dark urine
- Intense stomach pain
- Vomiting in addition to diarrhea
- Diarrhea following travel in a foreign country
Should any of the above issues appear, it is vital that you seek professional help. It is always better to err on the side of caution. If you think that you should visit a gastrointestinal provider because of diarrhea, please contact us today. Our team offers treatment for diarrhea in Kansas City, MO.
Diarrhea could be a symptom of something serious
While most individuals will deal with occasional diarrhea at some point during their lives, it can be an indicator of a serious health condition when severe. If you or a family member are experiencing frequent diarrhea in conjunction with other troubling gastrointestinal symptoms, it could be cause for an appointment with a gastroenterologist to look more closely at your symptoms. You can find a GI provider at Digestive Health Specialists. If you are experiencing troubling gastrointestinal symptoms or need care for diarrhea in Kansas City, MO, contact our facility to be connected to an expert right away.
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Everyone was very nice,I was treated very well,,,got all the info I needed to take care of the problem
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Dr Jones is very professional and took time to listen to my concerns and his staff were very nice and did a great job.
All the nurses and doctor was very nice. I would recommend Dr. Shireman he made me feel really comfortable. Thank you
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