Along with knowing what to eat and drink when you’re dealing with gastrointestinal woes, it’s also important to be mindful of other everyday habits to help you deal with diarrhea. Certain lifestyle measures may also offer some relief. “Simple daily habits can go a long way in preventing diarrhea and improving your overall health,” says Andrew Moore, MD, gastroenterologist at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital in Chicago.
Do
Wash your hands. Diarrhea can sometimes be transmitted by person-to-person contact or from contaminated surfaces, says Catherine Ngo, MD, a gastroenterologist at Hoag, a health system in Aliso Viejo, California. “For this reason, it’s important to wash your hands after using the restroom, before sitting down to a meal, or after touching any common surfaces that may have been contaminated by an ill person,” she says.
Handwashing can reduce episodes of diarrhea by about 30 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here’s how to wash properly:
- Wet your hands
- Apply soap
- Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds, making sure to include the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails
- Rinse with clean, running water
- Dry thoroughly
An alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60-percent alcohol can work, too.
Consider medication. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicine containing bismuth subsalicylate (like Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate) can help reduce intestinal inflammation and kill diarrhea-causing organisms. (Note that bismuth products can cause dark or black stools that look like blood.) In severe cases, a doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic to help clear the infection, Ngo says.
Consider prebiotics and probiotics. Infectious diarrhea can take a toll on your gut microbiome (the community of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, living in your digestive tract). “Diarrhea essentially wipes out your normal gut flora,” Shah says.
Prebiotics and probiotics can increase the number of good bacteria, thereby helping to restore balance. Prebiotics are a type of fiber that nourishes probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that can aid recovery.
Although you can get prebiotic and probiotic supplements, Shah says it’s best to get them from food. If you’re interested in a supplement, talk to your doctor first.
Prebiotic-rich foods include:
- Garlic
- Onions
- Bananas
- Jerusalem artichokes
- Soybeans
Probiotic-rich foods include:
- Pickles
- Kimchi
- Kombucha
- Sauerkraut
- Yogurt
Wipe gently to alleviate soreness. Gently wiping with water and unscented soap after a bowel movement may help alleviate soreness, Moore says. “You can also consider using a barrier cream like zinc oxide [such as Gold Bond Medicated Baby Powder or Calmoseptine] to help with irritation,” he says. Sitting in lukewarm water may help alleviate soreness as well.
Don’t
Use antidiarrheals without talking to a doctor. Although loperamide (Imodium), another OTC antidiarrheal medication, is sometimes recommended, Ganjhu advises against it. This is an antimotility, meaning that it stops your gastrointestinal tract from moving. Although it can slow down diarrhea, it’s better for it to come out,” she says. “It’s your body’s way of ridding itself of any toxins.”
Antidiarrheals can also have side effects such as:
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Allergic reaction
- Stomach pain
- Difficulty urinating
These medications may be appropriate, however, if diarrhea causes significant dehydration, Ngo says. Ask your doctor before trying them.
Exercise vigorously. Strenuous exercise has the potential to cause dehydration, Ganjhu says. It’s wise to avoid it until your diarrhea subsides, advises Ganjhu, who says to wait until you’re fully recovered to go back to the gym.
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