What To Do When Your Stomach Is Upset

Lime Or Lemon Juice Baking Soda And Water

Some studies suggest that mixing lime or lemon juice in water with a pinch of baking soda can help to relieve a variety of digestive complaints.

This mixture produces carbonic acid, which may help to reduce gas and indigestion. It may also improve liver secretion and intestinal mobility. The acidity and other nutrients in lime or lemon juice can help to digest and absorb fats and alcohol while neutralizing bile acids and reducing acidity in the stomach.

Most traditional recipes recommend mixing the following quantities:

• 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon or lime juice
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 8 oz of clean water

You’re Getting A Migraine

While sometimes, unexplained nausea and vomiting are your stomach’s way of telling you it’s in distress , other times, your stomach sends up a flare about something else entirely. According to Kristine Arthur, MD, an internist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, nausea and vomiting are ways of alerting you to oncoming migraines, by triggering “changes in the central nervous system and also the slowing of digestion.”

If the nausea is sudden, and you aren’t experiencing other symptoms of food poisoning, don’t be surprised if a debilitating headache is right around the corner. And for more hints that you have might have a medical issue, check out 40 Subtle Signs Your Body Is Telling You Something’s Seriously Wrong.

How To Control Your Anxiety Upset Stomach

Stomach upset can really put a damper on your ability to live a happy life. Ideally, you’ll need to treat your anxiety to experience a calmer stomach.

Even though anxiety is causing your stomach to feel sick, many of the symptoms can be reduced with various medications. You should always consult with a doctor before taking medication and do not want to rely on medication to cure your upset stomach. However, many people have had success with basic medications that calm the stomach. Common examples include:

• Tums
• Pepto-Bismol
• Rolaids

Eating healthier can also help. Remember that your anxiety is affecting your gut, but it’s not causing the symptoms all on its own. What’s in your stomach has an effect on the severity of the symptoms as well. Eating healthier – especially on days you expect to experience anxiety – can be very helpful. Drinking water may also be useful since water is gentle on the stomach.

You may also try distracting yourself. While your upset stomach may be severe, anxiety causes a tendency to focus on the experience, which causes further anxiety and exacerbates the severity of the stomach pain. A positive distraction, like a funny TV show, can actually make a big difference in the way you experience your upset stomach.

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You Have An Infection In Your Gi Tract

If you’ve been experiencing watery stool, abdominal pain or cramping, and nausea or vomiting, your stomach may be trying to tell you that you have a gastrointestinal infection.

“Gastrointestinal infections are either viral, bacterial, or happen because of a parasite,” Bedford says. “Inflammation occurs in the stomach and intestines and can lead to symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.” So what should you do to mitigate some of that infection’s worst effects? “Staying hydrated is optimal treatment for gastrointestinal infections because you may lose a lot of fluid,” notes Bedford. And for more helpful information, .

How To Help Prevent Upset Stomach In Dogs

To help your dog maintain a healthy gut, consider giving them a prebiotic and probiotic, Dr. Aronson says. There are both prebiotics and probiotics that are made specifically for dogs, some of which are available over the counter. Be sure to ask your veterinarian if they have a particular brand recommendation.

Always talk to your veterinarian first to find out the best course of action.

Featured Image: Shutterstock/Igor Normann

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Your Stomach Is Sensitive To Coffees Acids

Our digestive systems run on acids. Theyre the fuel of the machine that breaks down what we consume. Weve got to have them!

However, too much gastric acid can be a problem, causing some not-so-fun symptoms.

Most of these issues manifest in the form of bloating, belching, and general discomfort. Though considered mild symptoms, theyre quite annoying.

Many articles out there claim that drinking coffee can lead to acid reflux, an involuntary series of muscle movements that send gastric acid up into the esophagus. However, this connection has long been disproven .

If you find yourself with similar discomforts when you drink acidic drinks like fruit juice or alcohol, its worth cutting out acidic foods and drinks for a few days to see if you notice a difference.

If acid seems to be the issue, heres what you can do to still enjoy your coffee:

• Find low-acidity, stomach friendly coffees. If it seems youre only slightly sensitive but you still want to try reducing acids, opt for coffee beans that are known to be lower on the acidity scale. Coffees grown at low altitudes typically have lower acid levels.

• Cold brew. Cold brewing coffee in cold water reduces the acid levels of the final drink as much as 66%. Once youve brewed the concentrate, you can still cut it with hot water to enjoy a hot mug like normal.

Get Your Grind On With A FREE Manual Coffee Grinder?

Its the caffeine that really upsets most stomachs.

How Long Will Indigestion Last

Indigestion might go way as soon as you change your diet and habits. If you do take medication for your upset stomach, only do so with your healthcare providers approval. Some medications, especially acid reducers, can have long-term side effects. These may include an increased risk of infections or low levels of important nutrients.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Get Rid Of Gas In Your Stomach

Pectin Supplements Can Prevent Diarrhea And Dysbiosis

When a stomach bug or foodborne illness causes diarrhea, pectin supplements can help speed up recovery.

Pectin is a type of plant fiber found in high quantities in apples and citrus fruits. Its often isolated from these fruits and sold as its own food product or supplement .

Pectin is not digested by humans, so it stays within the intestinal tract where its very effective at firming stools and preventing diarrhea .

In fact, one study found that 82% of sick children taking daily pectin supplements recovered from their diarrhea within 4 days, compared to only 23% of children not taking pectin supplements .

Pectin also relieves stomach upset by promoting the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract.

Sometimes, people develop uncomfortable symptoms of gas, bloating or abdominal pain due to an imbalance of bacteria in their intestines.

This can happen for a variety of reasons, but is especially common after gut infections, after taking antibiotics or during periods of high stress (

49 ).

While pectin supplements are effective at relieving diarrhea and promoting a healthy balance of gut bacteria, its unknown whether natural foods rich in pectin would have the same benefits. More research is needed.

Summary Pectin, a type of plant fiber found in apples and citrus fruits, may help shorten the duration of diarrhea and promote healthy gut bacteria when taken as a supplement.

Symptoms Of A Dogs Upset Stomach

If your dog has an upset stomach or an issue that makes you think they have a stomach or gastrointestinal issue, they can display some or all of the following symptoms. These symptoms are grouped by cause to show you their similarities:

• Parvovirus: dullness, fever, loss of appetite, progressing to vomiting and blood in the stool
• Intestinal inflammation: diarrhea, strain to move bowels, pain when emptying bowels, weight loss, and vomiting
• Constipation: hard, dry feces, straining to move bowels
• Bloating: restlessness, discomfort, rapid breathing, abdominal swelling, dry retching, excessive drooling
• Stomach inflammation: vomiting of bile, froth, fresh blood, or digested blood
• Cancers: vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, pale gums
• Obstruction: lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, low body temperatures, dehydration
• Ulcers: vomiting fresh or digested blood, abdominal discomfort, pale gums, dark stool with blood, decreased appetite
• Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis: sudden vomiting, bloody diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, depression
• Inflammatory bowel disease: weight loss, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen abdomen, fluid retention, watery diarrhea
• Malabsorption: weight loss and/or diarrhea

Continued

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Don’t Take Your Vitamins Or Supplements All At Once

Something you definitely want to do, Dr. Rajapaksa says, is space your supplements out so that you aren’t taking them all at the same time. While swallowing all your supplements in one go before you brush your teeth may be satisfying, Dr. Rajapaksa says you may be regretting it later. So if you’re the type of person who loves to cross stuff off a to do list, we get it, but this simple change could work wonders for your stomach.

“It is often worse to combine supplements than to space them out,” she says, adding that this is especially true if you’re taking any of the common culprits she highlighted above: vitamin C, fish oil, calcium, and iron. When in doubt, space them out.

Dog Upset Stomach Treatment

The treatment for your dogs upset stomach depends on the condition your veterinarian identifies.

Parvovirus. If they have parvovirus, they will need to be isolated from other dogs and require hospitalization. The veterinarian can give your dog intravenous fluids to rehydrate them and maintain their system’s ability to fight off the virus. Veterinarians might prescribe antibiotics to reduce any bacterial infections that result from the sickness.

Inflammation. For inflamed stomach tissue and conditions that cause a lot of vomiting, veterinarians generally prescribe short-term fasting and lots of fluid intake to make sure your dog is hydrated.

Other conditions. Bloating, cancer, and obstructions require immediate surgical procedures that can range from open surgery to less invasive procedures to remove obstructions.

On rare occasions, an ulcer might need to be removed surgically if it has caused a perforation in part of the gastrointestinal tract.

Common treatment. Vets often suggest a bland diet to treat a dog’s upset stomach. Rice and chicken, or a more specific diet, removes the irritating substances from food to help your dogs digestive system rebalance itself.

Veterinarians will treat your dogs symptoms with medication while they are determining the cause of their stomach problems. Probiotics are a common prescription for a dogs tummy troubles.

Pagination

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Common Causes Of Upset Stomach In Dogs

There are many reasons your dog may have an upset stomach, though theres one common cause: they ate something they shouldnt have, says Kathy Backus, DVM, at Holistic Veterinary Services in Kaysville, Utah.

Dogs are curious like kids theyre always putting things in their mouth, she says. Vomiting and diarrhea are signs that a dogs body is trying to expel something that shouldnt be in their system. In a healthy dog, its a protective mechanism of the body thats totally normal.

These are a few things that can trigger an upset stomach in dogs:

• Ingesting something that they shouldnt

• Bacterial imbalances within the digestive tract

• Chronic conditions such as food sensitivities

When Should I Call The Doctor

Sometimes, what seems like one problem food poisoning, for example can turn out to be something more serious, like appendicitis.

• the pain is very strong
• you’re vomiting a lot
• you already have another health condition
• the pain gets worse over time, doesn’t go away, or wakes you up from sleep

Also let the doctor know if you:

• have a fever
• have pain when you pee
• have trouble pooping or peeing
• have blood in your poop or pee
• think the belly pain is from an injury
• might be pregnant

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Signs Your Horse Is Experiencing Gastric Upset

If your horse isntfeeling great, you want to help him feel better as fast as possible. But as ahorse owner, it can be tough to know if your horse is havinggastric healthproblems because he cant tellyou. One of the most common unseen causes of pain in horses is the occurrenceof gastric ulcers, which can happen atany time.

Here are a few things to look for if you think your horse may be suffering from gastric upset.

Signs of Equine Gastric Upset

Although it can betough to tell if your horses behavior is caused by stomach ulcers, there are afew easily identifiable signs if you know what to look for. If youve noticedyour horses coat has lost its beautiful gloss, this is a definite indicatorthat something is wrong. Weight loss and changes in appetite are also signs ofstomach problems. After all, its hard to eat when your stomach hurts. Yourhorse may have also shown a change in attitude, expressing irritability orresistance. He may also start to show signs of colic.

Also, if your horsehas experienced a change in his performance during competition, such asrefusing to work or enter the arena, this could be an indication that somethingis wrong.

What Causes Stomach Ulcers?

A horse is designed to graze 24/7. Doingso keeps the stomach busy and prevents acid from reaching the upper unprotected region of the stomach, where ulcers can form. However with themodern-day horse, many experience longer periods between meals thus allowingthat acid to wreak havoc.

Is My Horse at Risk?

Stress And Stomach Pain: When Should You See A Specialist

Do you ever feel like theres a knot in your stomach when youre worried or stressed? Do nerves make you feel butterflies in your gut? If so, youre not alone.

As a gastroenterologist, a specialist in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, I help patients determine if their stomach pain is stress-related or if their symptoms are caused by a more serious condition.

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When It’s Time To Call The Doctor

When should you see a doctor about vomiting and nausea? When every treatment and home remedy for nausea and vomiting isn’t enough, it may be time to put your health needs in the hands of a doctor. Here are red flags warning you that it’s time to seek professional medical intervention:

• The sick person is less than 12 weeks old and has vomited more than one time
• The sick person shows dehydration signs
• You believe the sick person may have consumed poison
• The sick person acts confused, or has a stiff neck, rash, headache, high fever, or stomach pains
• The sick person’s vomit contains either blood or bile
• You suspect appendicitis
• The sick person is difficult to wake up
• The person has been vomiting for longer than eight hours or
• Anytime you are worried and feel a doctor’s supervision would be helpful.

• Stanford Health Care: “What Causes Chronic Nausea?”
• Nemours: “Healthy & Hydrated: Preventing Dehydration.”
• NIH: “Ginger.”

Make Sure You Arent Overdoing It

While most of the time the focus on nutrients surrounds not getting enough, getting too much of a good thing is very realand that can cause an upset stomach too . The National Institute of Health is a great resource to look up different vitamins and nutrients, detailing how to get them from food and what to keep in mind if youre using a supplement. The fact sheets include the recommended daily requirements by age and gender, signs of getting too much or not enough, and medications they may interact negatively with.

Its also important to know that supplement companies are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A report published in theJournal of the American Medical Association states that nearly 800 supplement products contain active ingredients not listed on the label. This shows just how important it is to really trust the company youre buying from. Look for supplements with labels indicating they have been tested by a third party such as the non-profit Pharmacopoeial Convention Dietary Supplement Verification Program or ConsumerLab. Also, check the ingredients list so youre aware of any fillers or other ingredients that may not agree with you. For example, some gummy vitamins contain artificial sweeteners which some may find hard to digest.

Original Article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/here-e2-80-99s-what-to-do-if-taking-vitamins-doesn-e2-80-99t-agree-with-your-stomach-according-to-a-gi-doc/ar-AAPBv8h

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Take Some Pepto Bismol

When an upset stomach is caused by eating or drinking too much or accompanies diarrhea, itâs Pepto Bismol to the rescue! Our favorite remedy is also a quick way to fix your tummy woes. Pepto Bismol soothes your discomfort with proteins that enhance the viscosity of the protective layer in the upper gastrointestinal tract to help you feel better.

Bland Carbohydrates May Be More Easily Tolerated

Bland carbohydrates like rice, oatmeal, crackers and toast are often recommended for people suffering from upset stomachs.

While this recommendation is common, there is little evidence to show that they actually help relieve symptoms.

However, many people report that these foods are easier to keep down when youre not feeling well .

While bland carbohydrates may be more palatable during an illness, its important to expand your diet again as soon as possible. Restricting your diet too much may keep you from getting enough of the vitamins and minerals your body needs in order to heal .

Summary

Many people with an upset stomach find bland carbohydrates easier to tolerate than other foods, but there is little evidence to show that they actually relieve symptoms.

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How To Calm An Anxious Stomach: The Brain

Ever wonder why you get butterflies in your stomach before doing something stressful? Or why you feel like your stomach is tied in knots after an argument? Ever had a meeting with a toilet that went longer than expected and it wasnt caused by anything you ate? Stomach problems are one of the most common symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Researchers have identified a powerful connection between the gut and the brain. Like the brain, the gut is full of nerves. It contains the largest area of nerves outside the brain with the digestive tract and the brain sharing many of the same nerve connections.

Whether its a single nerve-wracking event or chronic worry and stress over time, stress can exact a physical toll on your digestive system. When you are anxious, some of the hormones and chemicals released by your body enter your digestive tract, where they interfere with digestion. They have a negative effect on your gut flora and decrease antibody production. The resulting chemical imbalance can cause a number of gastrointestinal conditions.

Common stress-related gut symptoms and conditions include:

• indigestion
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• and peptic ulcers

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