Do your Tummy Hurt from the Holidays?

What to Do When Your Tummy Hurts
Saturday, December 26, 2009 7:00 PM
By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph., Lifescript Pharmacist


Constipation? When your digestive system is out of whack, you don’t have to suffer. Here is a simple tip for a squelching common digestive disorder.

Bad food can cause a digestive upset. So can chronic conditions such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC).

But no matter what the cause, you can ease an assault on your gastric system. Here is a common digestive problem and ways to tackle it:

1. Constipation
Do you have fewer than three bowel movements a week? You’re officially constipated and you have plenty of company: More than 4 million Americans - mostly women and the elderly - are frequently constipated, according to the National Institutes of Health, and that can lead to bigger problems.

Constant straining can cause painful hemorrhoids and, over time, it raises the risk of developing tiny pouches in your colon that can become infected. Constipation can also be a sign of colon or colorectal cancer, but your age, weight, exercise habits, diet, ethnic background and genetics all play a part in determining your risk.

Medications and supplements that may make constipation worse:


* Allergy pills (antihistamines)

* Painkillers that contain hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine and fentanyl

* Tricyclic antidepressants

* Parkinson’s medications

* Cholesterol-reducing drugs (statins)

* Iron and calcium supplements


How to fix it
To get things moving down there, first try small lifestyle changes.

Eat more high-fiber foods, such as oatmeal, apples or prunes. Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water and get at least a half-hour of exercise every day.

Another option? Take probiotic supplements: The live bacteria will reestablish a healthy ecosystem in your gut.