Treating Constipation and Diarrhea

If constipation or diarrhea occurs regularly, discuss it with a doctor who can make a proper diagnosis and suggest appropriate treatment. But you might wish to try the following tips first.

For constipation, add dietary fiber (good sources include bran cereals, uncooked fruits and vegetables, and whole-grain breads) or fiber supplements such as Citrucel or Konsyl if necessary. Increase intake of water or other fluids. Also encourage the person you're caring for to add any sort of exercise possible; engaging in virtually any motion instead of being sedentary will help.

Avoid regular use of laxatives, which can hobble the body's natural system of elimination. Stool softeners may be helpful, although regular use can contribute to nutritional deficits. Urge the person you are caring for to use the toilet when the urge strikes, rather than trying to hold back. A routine may help, too.

If loose stools are a problem, add dietary fiber to produce firmer stools. Specific foods can trigger diarrhea in some people. Try eliminating caffeine, cured or smoked meats, spicy foods, alcohol, dairy products, sweeteners (particularly sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol), and fatty and greasy foods from the diet.

Diarrhea can cause dehydration — a serious health problem — so encourage the person to drink lots of water. It may help to have liquids 30 minutes before or after meals rather than with meals, though, since fluid speeds the passage of food through the digestive tract. And if dairy products frequently trigger diarrhea, trying lactase tablets or lactose-reduced or lactose-free products may help. Also, make sure a commode is handy if getting to the bathroom quickly is hard.

Source: from Caregiver’s Handbook, Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.  Use of Content | Medical Disclaimer