What causes severe stomach cramps and diarrhea?

Ah, the sweet sound of your stomach growling. It means food is near (or not so near if you’re still at work). However, what happens when those innocent grumbles turn into painful twists accompanied by diarrhea? It’s time to investigate the culprit behind this regretful situation.

Let’s Get Technical: Understanding What Causes Gastrointestinal Distress

Digestion begins from the first bite we take with our teeth right up until it comes out the other end as feces. Numerous organs come together in perfect harmony to break down food so that it can be used as energy for our daily functions. Some things can disrupt this intricate process leading to infection or inflammation of our digestive system; this includes viruses, bacteria like E.coli and Salmonella, parasites picked up from contaminated water or uncooked meat (please make sure anything raw meets temperatures high enough to kill these pesky critters), illnesses such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis (more on inflammatory bowel diseases below).

But before you go pointing fingers at last night’s dinner date (they didn’t seem too bad) hear me out–stress may also play an essential role in disrupting your gut’s natural moods (sorry disgruntled coworkers screaming about deadlines).

Stress Response:

Crunch time exam week‌ ‌in college ‌is notorious for students running‌ ‌to their nearest commode every hour instead of hitting books; some call it stress diarrhea while others refer to it as bowel panic attacks – either way no one escapes its wrath (oh wait I just did – my diploma remains untouched but thanks anxiety!)

Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands during times of stress which helps control blood sugar levels and metabolism among other things; but most importantly for our case it also causes a spike in stress levels which can heighten symptoms of inflammation (yup not just your head that’s throbbing, but your insides too). This immune response leads to gastrointestinal problems like bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea (oh the joys!)

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Another cause of severe cramps + diarrhea includes inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), where chronic inflammation leads to impaired function within our small and large intestines. Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis are examples of such conditions- they manifest differently based on their location within the gut but share similar symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea ‌and rectal bleeding.

Now comes the part we’ve all been waiting for- how‌ ‌do we tell what’s causing distress? It boils down to an accurate diagnosis – so be sure to consult with your healthcare provider when you’re experiencing any of these signs or have prolonged bouts.

Symptoms &‌ ‌Diagnosis

First things first: know what you’re dealing with by keeping track of your symptoms’ onset, duration and frequency indicators , this helps give a clear picture (especially important while explaining it to medical professionals). Tell them everything – severity level, 0 masks running around basking in life’s joy while 10 means being afraid‌ ‌to leave bathroom) color changes (we want brown not black folks!) smell, eyes watering bad fumes aren’t cute) etc. Use notes/ apps/scribbles or whatever fits you (spy pen perhaps?) Keeping track makes spotting patterns easier for finding conditions connected with certain trigger foods/times/stressors

Your doctor may perform various tests depending on their observations during physical examination which holds particular attention given family history/risk factors as well . Here are some commonly used methods:

Blood Tests:

Blood samples show makers indicating possible infections present amounts of inflammation. A blood analysis is critical in diagnosing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Stool Sample:

Looking for traces of parasites, bacteria or infections through a stool sample examination can be done to identify the root cause.

Endoscopy/Colonoscopy

A flexible tube inserted via mouth/nose sounds like an adventure in itself being used to inspect our digestive system (too bad no treasure map just security camera footage). This endoscope allows physicians to view your gut lining from inside which can reveal patterns of inflammation/ulcers leading up to accurate diagnosis, it may also detect cancerous masses or polyps forming within this region.

Biopsy

During endoscopies, biopsy samples are taken at various points along the digestive tract by removing small pieces of tissue; they’re studied under a microscope looking for cell structure changes present that showcase any potential diseases or illnesses threatening health status(don’t worry wee bits don’t impact use post-procedure).

Prevention &‌ ‌Treatment

Prevention beats cure every time! Taking necessary precautions firstly mitigates risks giving us mental peace albeit not immune but ever prepared!

Wash Hands – Basic hygiene kicks off list stay clean amidst germ-prone environments.

Safe Practices In Food Handling – Cook food completely/heating leftovers thoroughly reduces risk involving parasite transmission ensuring safety measures employed while storing goods remains paramount (no cross-contamination).

Reducing Stress – Find ways lowering stress levels in stressful situations whether using breathing exercises redirecting thoughts away problematic scenarios find what works best you on video games mediations relief apps etc!

Hydration Benefits – Maintaining proper hydration supports body functioning including digestion optimal kidney function so drink enough water!

Medical Consultation – Don’t hesitate if severe distress symptoms seem consistent do consults before minor instances lead complex/severe gastrointestinal hazards needing more invasive medical interventions.

Foods Plays Part- Monitoring triggered intolerances/allergies helps avoid situations leading gastrointestinal distress try keeping journal/frequent patterns.

Treatment of GI Distress Discomforts

There are various treatment plans depending on the underlying cause for your gut’s discomfort. Some include:

Medication – depending on diagnosis, medication may be prescribed to reduce inflammation or calm stomach lining with antispasmodics/anti-diarrheal substances helping ease abdominal cramps

IV Rehydration /electrolyte add-ons: Severe cases when dehydration and electrolytes imbalance due to GI issues warrants admittance it be life-saving measures comprising medical care adequate observation provided.

Dietary Changes: It can change rapidly – high fiber low-fat diet as in diverticulitis lower grasy milky products helps alleviate symptoms but different treatments apply eg people tackling Inflammatory Bowel Diseases require specialized nutritionists’ help find appropriate balances to improve conditions beware fad diets or acai berry healing– no miracle cure!

Take‌ ‌Home Message
Our digestive system is intricate and prone to disturbances that cause severe stomach cramps and diarrhea; understanding the symptoms, preventative measures & seeking professional healthcare presents vital cues towards healthier lifestyles improving overall quality of health choices!

If there’s anything this article has taught us today, it’s never underestimate what happens when we let stress take over our lives at the dinner table (much like middleschoolers before exams) And when all else fails? Perhaps finding new comfort from one toilet seat… Hey at least it won’t ghost you after rejecting your heart proposal unlike Dave crush #435 (crying inside.- not visible though)

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