Therapy
The therapy of gastrointestinal problems depends very much on the causes. It is therefore not possible to apply the same therapy for every gastrointestinal problem. If the gastro-intestinal problems do not improve noticeably within two days or if the condition worsens more quickly after resting, drinking enough and eating a light diet, then a doctor should be consulted for clarification. He can recommend and prescribe appropriate medication depending on the cause.
Diagnosis
The prognosis again depends very much on the cause of the gastrointestinal problems and the success of the therapy. If the course of the disease is without complications and if suitable measures to alleviate the problems have been found, the prognosis is quite good, but in the worst case the symptoms accompany you for a long time.
Prophylaxis
As the stomach and intestinal mucosa can be brought out of balance by various processes, such as infection or the intake of antibiotics, and consequently the “good” bacteria lose mass, it can be helpful to ingest bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, which positively support the stomach and intestine. This can be done either with special tablets or in the form of probiotic yoghurt or quark dishes, provided that you have no intolerance to them. This prevents a sensitive and easily irritable stomach and intestinal mucosa.
In order to stimulate intestinal activity, foods with a high proportion of dietary fiber can be used, provided they are well tolerated. In addition, for the prophylaxis of gastrointestinal problems, foods that are not tolerated should be avoided and care should be taken to ensure that everything is sufficiently cooked so that harmful germs are not eaten. A sufficient intake of liquid has an equally positive effect on gastrointestinal problems, as does the avoidance of excessive amounts of alcohol and nicotine.
Pregnant woman in pregnancy
Gastro-intestinal problems are also a big issue in pregnancy. In the beginning, for example in the first trimester, when you may not even know that you are pregnant, nausea plays a major role. It is more likely to occur in the morning, but can generally be present at any time of the day.
The nausea can be of varying degrees of severity, for example, it can be accompanied by vomiting, and can also be aggravated by various triggers, such as strong odors or spicy tastes. Behind these gastrointestinal problems is most likely the HCG hormone, “human chorionic gonadotropin”, which is produced in increased quantities at the beginning of pregnancy to ensure the implantation of the embryo. Therefore, they do not have a pathological factor here, but can still be perceived as very unpleasant by the affected women.
If the nausea is very severe, it is best to consult your gynaecologist, who can also recommend medication against the nausea or other measures. Furthermore, constipation and flatulence are among the most common gastrointestinal problems during pregnancy. There are two explanations for this.
On the one hand, the uterus, which is getting bigger and bigger as the pregnancy progresses, presses on the intestinal loops and can thus slow down the passage of the intestinal contents. Secondly, the hormone progesterone, which plays an important role in pregnancy, is said to cause the intestinal muscles, which drive the intestinal contents forward by regularly and rhythmically contracting, to relax. In this way, more fluid can be withdrawn from the food pulp and constipation occurs.
This form of gastrointestinal problems can also be experienced as disturbing and painful. If the symptoms are more severe, it can also be helpful to consult a gynecologist. Basically, however, it can be said that these gastro-intestinal problems always show that the pregnancy is progressing well because the causative hormones seem to be working.
So there is usually no reason to worry. Simple measures can usually also provide relief. For example, care should be taken to avoid flatulent vegetables, such as cabbage, in your diet, and ideally several small portions should be eaten when you are pregnant because this seems to be better tolerated.
As a supplement, ginger, for example in the form of ginger capsules, is said to reduce nausea. First of all, if you have gastrointestinal problems, you should rest if possible and make sure that you drink enough fluids and eat small portions of a gentle diet. If you suffer from flatulence, some exercise can provide relief.
Sometimes heat can also do good and provide relief. If you notice that you cannot tolerate a food component, it is best to avoid it completely and try to see if your gastrointestinal problems get better. If there is no improvement with these measures, it is best to consult a doctor who can then use further diagnostic tools to find the causes.
