Intestinal disorders can be expected during the summer, especially when vacationing. Factors such as improper diet, aperitifs, and indulging in large meals, including restaurant visits, can disrupt healthy eating habits. Let’s explore the most common gastrointestinal disorders in summer and how to address them.
Bloating
After a meal, it is not uncommon to experience a sensation of abdominal bloating, like a balloon in your belly. This feeling arises due to the accumulation of air in the intestines.
To alleviate bloating, reducing the intake of fermentable foods and those that can exacerbate discomfort is advisable. These include:
- Legumes
- Pizza
- Carbonated drinks
If the bloating becomes particularly bothersome or challenging to manage, over-the-counter anti-spasmodic drugs can regulate the intestinal muscles. Natural remedies like herbal teas made with fennel, ginger, cinnamon, or anti-flatulence medications containing simethicone can relieve symptoms.
Constipation
While on vacation, dietary rules often take a backseat, and it is easy to neglect fruits and vegetables in favor of high-fat and carbohydrate-rich foods like fried dishes, bread, pizza, and sandwiches. Consequently, the intestines may be affected, leading to various problems, including constipation.
To address this issue, it is essential to restore healthier eating habits promptly and reintroduce fruits and vegetables regularly. Increasing water intake is also beneficial for restoring proper intestinal transit. Including prunes or other fiber-rich foods in the diet can be helpful. If these measures don’t resolve the problem, seeking advice from a pharmacist for laxatives or probiotics, which are live microorganisms that promote balanced intestinal activity, would be recommended.
Consultation with a specialist may be necessary if these strategies prove ineffective.
Diarrhea
Vacation diarrhea can have several causes, ranging from poorly preserved foods to icy beverages or experiencing temperature changes between air-conditioned environments and the outdoors. In cases of acute attacks, medications containing loperamide can be beneficial. At the same time, sporadic episodes may be managed with astringent medications, including those based on plant extracts like lemon and passion flower. These can be combined with milk enzymes and potassium and magnesium supplements to replenish lost fluids and minerals.
Poor Digestion
Eating large meals hastily often leads to poor digestion. To counteract this annoying effect, avoiding overindulging in fried foods, cured meats, and fatty dishes is advisable, as they can exacerbate symptoms. If limiting portions isn’t feasible, maintaining an upright posture during meals is essential to prevent diaphragm compression, which can interfere with proper digestive function. Following a hefty meal, opting for a lukewarm digestive herbal tea and keeping the subsequent meal light can be beneficial.
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux manifests as a burning sensation behind the sternum and acid regurgitation in the mouth, resulting from stomach acid in the esophagus. This condition can be linked to anatomical factors such as hiatal hernia or impaired cardiac valve function, which separates the esophagus from the stomach. Sufferers should avoid highly acidic foods like carbonated drinks, wine, tomatoes, chocolate, coffee, mint, and citrus.
Pharmacists may suggest acidity medications or alginates to alleviate symptoms and neutralize acid. However, if the disorder persists, seeking a referral to a specialist is crucial.
