Being constipated after a stomach flu is a typical symptom that can cause distress. Nevertheless, there are lots of actions you can take to eliminate this condition. Gastroenteritis is the medical name for the diarrhea and vomiting normally titled “stomach flu”. This condition can make you feel terrible, however it has absolutely nothing to do with the influenza.
Gastroenteritis is typically triggered by a bacterial or viral infection, and results in irritation and inflammation within the stomach and intestines. After a bout of stomach flu, bloated feelingsmay take place and you might establish constipation.
Why Do You Have Constipation After Stomach Flu?
Gastroenteritis is typically characterized by loose, watery stools and vomiting, although patients may also struggle with headaches, cramps, stomach pain, nausea, and fever. Vomiting and diarrhea dehydrate you and remove nutrients from your body, and you may not feel like consuming much either. After the infection has cleared, your body will take some time to return to normal. The dehydration, disturbances in gut bacteria, poor nutrition, stress, and certain anti-diarrheal medications and painkillers after the diarrhea experienced during stomach flu can all add to the development of constipation. You might likewise feel gassy after stomach flu. Drinking great deals of water and pulpy orange juice, and consuming a lot of fruit and flaxseed, might help you to recover.
How to Deal with Constipation and Bloating After Stomach Flu
1. Eat Yogurts or Other Probiotics
Various different types of bacteria reside in the bowel and are essential for keeping a healthy digestive system. However, a bout of diarrhea can disturb these bacteria, and it may take a while for things to get back to normal. To assist restore the bacterial balance after diarrhea, try probiotic supplements or live-culture yoghurt consisting of Saccharomyces boulardii or among the Lactobacilli species. Re-establishing the normal bacterial flora can also assist to alleviate any constipation that takes place after the diarrhea.
2. Walk Around After Eating
Increasing the quantity of exercise you take can help to promote bowel movement; patients with an inactive lifestyle typically suffer from constipation. For that reason, although you may be feeling weak after your stomach flu, it is important to get moving, taking short walks and even defending a while, particularly after meals. However, bear in mind that your body is still recovering from the diarrhea, so take it easy to start with, building up the quantity of exercise with time.
3. Drink Lots of Water
After stomach flu, you will likely be dehydrated from diarrhea and vomiting. You will need to drink a lot of water to rehydrate yourself, but did you know that this can also assist ease any subsequent constipation? Water softens and includes weight to the stools, so that they’re travelled through the colon more easily, and it stimulates defecation. Attempt drinking six to 8 glasses of warm water first thing in the early morning to get your bowel going. Nevertheless, make certain you stick to water, and avoid carbonated, caffeinated, and sweet beverages.
4. Take Olive Oil
Olive oil promotes bowel activity and softens the stools, making it a terrific solution and preventative procedure for constipation. Try taking a tablespoon of olive oil when you get out of bed, or other time you have not eaten for a while. This is because you’ll see the best results when you take olive oil on an empty stomach. If you like, you can mix the olive oil with a tablespoon of lemon juice to lighten the flavor.
5. Drink Lemon Juice
This lemon juice can also act upon its own as a treatment for constipation after stomach influenza. The citric acid in the lemons not only acts as a bowel stimulant, it can likewise flush out any toxins or undigested food that might have collected inside the colon. Lemon juice tastes rather strong, so try blending the juice of one lemon in a cup of warm water for additional fluid, and drinking this mixture as soon as a day.
6. Eat Plenty of Fiber
Fiber is the most crucial nutrient in the diet for avoiding constipation. It can not be absorbed, so serves as a sponge in the colon, and takes in water, which softens and adds bulk to the stool, helping promote bowel movements. Foods full of fiber include fruit, veggies, beans and pulses, whole-grain cereals, and nuts. Attempt to avoid refined sugars and heavily processed foods. You’ll have to combine a fiber-rich diet with lots of water for the very best results.
What About Bloating, Cramping and Gas After Stomach Flu?
The insufficient defecation and the accumulation of undigested food in the intestinal tract during constipation after stomach influenza can cause excess gas, due to the build-up of hazardous gas-producing bacteria. This may result in bloating and cramps.
If you feel gassy after stomach flu, choose boring foods. Avoid any food that may irritate your gastrointestinal system or is challenging to digest. Caffeine, nicotine, dairy items, and fried, fatty, spicy or extremely skilled food can all make your diarrhea even worse, and cause moderate nausea. You must likewise cut down your consumption of high-fiber and gas-forming foods, such as broccoli and onion. Remember that after the infection has been cleared from your system, your gastrointestinal tract still requires time to heal from stomach flu. Bloated experiences may take a while to disappear.
