What causes lots of gas and loose stools?

Excess gas is often a symptom of chronic intestinal conditions, such as diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Small bowel bacterial overgrowth. An increase or change in the bacteria in the small intestine can cause excess gas, diarrhea and weight loss.
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What can I take for gas and loose stools?

Imodium is a common over-the-counter anti-diarrheal used to slow down the stool, and it's recommended by gastroenterologists because it's a multi-symptom relief pill. Not only does it tackle diarrhea with the loperamide, but it also relieves any gas and bloating with the simethicone, which is also found in Gas-X.
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What causes excessive bowel gas?

Excess upper intestinal gas can result from swallowing more than a usual amount of air, overeating, smoking or chewing gum. Excess lower intestinal gas can be caused by eating too much of certain foods, by the inability to fully digest certain foods or by a disruption in the bacteria normally found in the colon.
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When should I be concerned about loose stools?

Diarrhea lasts more than two days without improvement. Excessive thirst, dry mouth or skin, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, or dark-colored urine, which could indicate dehydration. Severe abdominal or rectal pain. Bloody or black stools.
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Is it normal to have very loose stools everyday?

Although common, chronic diarrhea is definitely not normal and is a sign of a problem. When diarrhea occurs frequently for more than two weeks, you might be dealing with a bowel disease. Here are conditions that can cause chronic diarrhea. Ongoing infections from bacteria and parasites.
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10 Causes of Loose Stools: How to treat and home care? - Dr. Rajasekhar M R | Doctors' Circle



Why are my stools loose every day?

Common causes include from foods – especially if something was spoiled or tainted – but GI viruses, food allergies and medication side-effects can also cause them. Some chronic conditions like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome can also lead to ongoing diarrhea.
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When should I be concerned about excessive gas?

While gas is normal, there are times when it could be a red flag for a serious health issue. If gas occurs more frequently than usual, or if it's accompanied by other symptoms, like abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, or bloody stools, you should speak with your doctor.
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How do you stop excessive bowel gas?

Making lifestyle changes may help reduce or relieve excess gas and gas pain.
  1. Try smaller portions. ...
  2. Eat slowly, chew your food thoroughly and don't gulp. ...
  3. Avoid chewing gum, sucking on hard candies and drinking through a straw. ...
  4. Check your dentures. ...
  5. Don't smoke. ...
  6. Exercise.
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How do I stop excessive gas in my stomach?

To prevent excess gas, it may help to: Eliminate certain foods. Common gas-causing offenders include beans, peas, lentils, cabbage, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, whole-grain foods, mushrooms, certain fruits, and beer and other carbonated drinks. Try removing one food at a time to see if your gas improves.
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What is the difference between loose stool and diarrhea?

While it can be hard to distinguish between the two, the main determinant is how many loose stools you have in a day. Three or more loose stools per day is considered to be diarrhea, whereas less is not. Both loose stools and diarrhea can be accompanied by symptoms of pain, cramping, and other GI discomfort.
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What foods causes gas and diarrhea?

The following can cause loose stools or make them worse.
  • Sugar. Sugars stimulate the gut to put out water and electrolytes, which loosen bowel movements. ...
  • Dairy foods. ...
  • FODMAPs. ...
  • Gluten. ...
  • Fried or fatty foods. ...
  • Spicy foods. ...
  • Caffeine. ...
  • Image: 5432action/Getty Images.
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How do you test for IBS?

There's no test for IBS, but you might need some tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. The GP may arrange: a blood test to check for problems like coeliac disease. tests on a sample of your poo to check for infections and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
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Do probiotics help with gas?

Prebiotics and probiotics

Probiotics help eliminate or decrease common gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, reflux and even nausea/vomiting. These foods help fill your gut with healthy bacteria that will assist in the healthy breakdown of the food you eat.
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What foods reduce gas?

Foods that could help reduce gas
  • lean meats and proteins.
  • apple cider vinegar.
  • chamomile tea.
  • eggs.
  • fish.
  • some vegetables, such as lettuce and zucchini.
  • certain fruits, including tomatoes, grapes, and melons.
  • rice.
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Why do older people fart more?

The anal sphincter weakens

This is simply a result of aging, resulting in less ability to hold in flatulence when we need to. “This is especially true in older women who have had multiple vaginal deliveries,” Houghton says.
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What is the most common cause of loose stools?

The most common causes of acute and persistent diarrhea are infections, travelers' diarrhea, and side effects of medicines. Viral infections. Many viruses cause diarrhea, including norovirus link and rotavirus link. Viral gastroenteritis is a common cause of acute diarrhea.
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What illnesses cause loose stools?

What causes diarrhoea?
  • a virus – such as norovirus or rotavirus.
  • bacteria – such as campylobacter and Escherichia (E. coli), which are often picked up from contaminated food.
  • a parasite – such as the parasite that causes giardiasis, which is spread in contaminated water.
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What cancers cause diarrhea?

Certain cancers can cause diarrhea. These include neuroendocrine tumors, colon cancer, lymphoma, medullary thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer.
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Why do I have gas all the time no matter what I eat?

Excessive gas is commonly caused by swallowing extra air or eating certain foods. However, it can also indicate an underlying health condition such as a food intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or something more serious.
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What is the best probiotic for excessive gas?

Recommended probiotic strains that have been well researched for bloating include:
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM. ...
  • Bifidobacterium lactis HN019. ...
  • Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07. ...
  • Lactobacillus plantarum LP299v. ...
  • Bifidobacterium infantis 35624. ...
  • Bacillus Coagulans. ...
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856.
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What are the signs you need probiotics?

What Are the Signs You Need Probiotics?
  • Brain fog, decline in memory, or cognitive dysfunction.
  • Abdominal pain, stool changes, or excess gas and bloating.
  • Chronic fatigue and sleep disturbances.
  • Mood disturbances, depression, or anxiety.
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What are red flags for IBS?

“Like IBS, people with IBD can suffer from diarrhoea and abdominal pain but the red flags we look out for are blood in the stool, unintentional weight loss, waking up in the middle of the night with pain or needing to go to the toilet urgently and unexplained mineral and vitamin deficiencies.
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What is the best medication for IBS?

Medications specifically for IBS
  • Alosetron (Lotronex). Alosetron is designed to relax the colon and slow the movement of waste through the lower bowel. ...
  • Eluxadoline (Viberzi). ...
  • Rifaximin (Xifaxan). ...
  • Lubiprostone (Amitiza). ...
  • Linaclotide (Linzess).
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