Diarrhea is the butt of many jokes in many comedy movies. Yes, that bad pun was intended. Diarrhea in a comedy is good for a laugh, but if you happen to have diarrhea in real life it isn’t a laughing matter. While diarrhea is very common and not usually not very serious at all it can quite uncomfortable. Diarrhea sometimes comes at the worse time such as when you’re on vacation. You end up staying in your hotel bathroom instead of out in the town enjoying your vacation.
Many people travelling to foreign countries may have experienced Montezuma’s revenge , or commonly known as travel diarrhea. Having diarrhea on a trip can potentially end up ruining a well planned trip. It’s estimated that nearly 10 million international travelers develop traveler’s diarrhea every year. Infectious agents and bacteria are the primary cause of developing diarrhea while traveling. People most likely get diarrhea by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. While traveling there are things you can do to avoid diarrhea such as only drinking bottled water.
While diarrhea is a very common problem for travelers it is just as common for those who stay at home. There are many causes of diabetes. Some medications can cause diarrhea. The most common medication that causes diarrhea is antibiotics. When you take antibiotics it destroys both good and bad bacteria, which can alter the natural balance of bacteria in your intestines. This can lead to an infection with bacteria called Clostiridium difficile that causes diarrhea. Any medication you take will list diarrhea as one of its side effects, so it should be considered before you take it.
Intolerance to certain things in our food can cause diarrhea. A common cause of diarrhea is lactose intolerance. Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt contain a sugar called lactose. People who are lactose intolerant have difficulty adjusting lactose and may experience diarrhea after eating dairy products. For most people your body makes an enzyme that helps to digest lactose. People who are lactose intolerant lack the ability to produce this enzyme. For most people the production of this enzymes declines as we age, so there’s an increased risk of diarrhea due to lactose intolerance as we age. Another thing in our diet that may cause diarrhea is fructose and artificial sweeteners. Some people just have trouble digesting these sugars and they may suffer from diarrhea when they’re ingested.
In many third world countries diarrhea is a serious problem that can lead to dehydration and even death. Fortunately, in first world countries such as the United States diarrhea is not a serious health concern. At most it’s an inconvenience that will make you spend more time on your porcelain throne than you’d like.