Simple Steps to Tackle Digestive Issues

Many people suffer silently from digestive issues like heartburn, stomach pain, ulcers, reflux and constipation. The month long period of fasting during Ramadan and heavy meals in the evening would only make such issues worse if proper care is not taken. It is not too late, however and with a few simple precautions, it might be possible to solve your digestive issues.
Dr. Ganesh Bhat Consultant, Gastroenterologist at Medeor 24×7 Hospital, Dubai said “You wouldn’t find a lot of people talking about this, but having digestive issues is very common amongst people. Some digestive diseases are severe, lasting only for short period, while others are chronic and long lasting. Common digestive diseases include Constipation, Food Intolerance, Ulcers, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Hemorrhoids and pancreatitis amongst others. Symptoms may include bloating, diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, and stomach cramps. Many factors can be attributed to these digestive disorders such as lack of a high fibre diet, eating large quantities of dairy products, frequent changes in daily routine or lot of travelling, not enough exercise and stress. “

Dr. Bhat further added that Medeor 24×7 recently conducted a week long campaign to create awareness about common digestive disorders, their symptoms and how to cure them. In case anyone has such issues, it is important to identify specific digestion problems by consulting with a gastroenterologist to help solve such issues sooner.

Before resorting to medications, try following a few simple steps like following a regular exercise regime,, sticking to a healthy diet and using techniques like yoga and meditation to reduce stress levels. According to Dr. Ganesh, it is important to avoid processed food as far as possible and follow a high-fiber diet. This will reduce the chances of having digestive issues. Fibrous food minimizes the chances of bloating, gas and diarrhea. It would be wiser to eat several smaller meals throughout the day than to eat large meals as large meals can cause sudden bowel contractions. Proper hydration is also important to ease the movement of food through the digestive tract and to prevent dehydration. Beverages like coffee and tea are diuretics and aggravate dehydration. Stress can further increase heartburn and ulcers. Combat stress with relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation.