While everyone has diarrhea occasionally, if you have diarrhea that lasts for more than four weeks, it could be a sign of an intestinal disorder. The team at Digestive Disease Care offers expert diagnosis and treatment for diarrhea at their New York offices in Babylon, Lake Success, East Setauket, Mineola, and Jericho in Long Island, and Forest Hills and Jamaica in Queens. If you're concerned about diarrhea or have abnormal or painful bowel movements, call Digestive Disease Care or schedule a consultation online today.
Diarrhea occurs when you have frequent, loose, watery stools. Diarrhea is usually temporary, lasting a day or two before going away on its own. Some of the common causes of diarrhea include:
Chronic diarrhea is often due to more serious conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.
In addition to loose stools, you might have abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, or bloating. Diarrhea can also increase your risk of dehydration.
You should call Digestive Disease Care if you have diarrhea that lasts for more than two days, and also seek medical attention if you have dehydration symptoms like excessive thirst, infrequent urination, and lightheadedness. Other signs you should talk to a doctor about diarrhea include severe abdominal pain or bloody or black stools.
The team at Digestive Disease Care offers comprehensive testing to identify the cause of your diarrhea. Some of the tests, including stool analysis, blood tests, colonoscopy, and imaging studies like MRIs and CT scans.
They also review your medical history and lifestyle to identify other factors that could contribute to your condition. For example, if you've recently traveled, you could have picked up a bug during your journey.
After diagnosing the cause of your diarrhea, the physicians at Digestive Disease Care provide personalized treatment plans depending on the cause of your diarrhea and the severity of your symptoms. In most cases, they recommend drinking more water, or they provide a fluid replacement.
The team may prescribe medication to help your body fight off an infection. They might also recommend dietary changes such as cutting out dairy products if you're lactose intolerant or avoiding foods that trigger your allergies.
If you have a more serious gastrointestinal condition like IBS or IBD, the team can prescribe medicine and other treatments to regulate your condition and reduce your symptoms.
If you've had diarrhea for more than two consecutive days, call Digestive Disease Care or make an appointment online today.
