A stomach bug can bring anyone to their knees. Since the symptoms can last a few days, it’s essential to know how to take care of yourself until you’re better. Knowing a few home remedies will ensure that you don’t suffer from side effects like dehydration while you’re sick.
RELATED: There’s a Drug-Resistant Stomach Bug: Should You Be Worried?
As a result of the vomiting and diarrhea that comes with a stomach bug, you might lose a lot of water. If you don’t find a way to replace the fluids you lose, it can lead to dehydration – which is likely to result in a trip to the doctor.
To avoid this, drink clear liquids like water and broth. Rehydration liquids will also be helpful. Some people get good results from calming teas such as peppermint and ginger. It’s best to stay away from drinks that can make your symptoms worse like caffeinated ones and strong tea.
Studies show that peppermint and turmeric are great for soothing the symptoms of a stomach bug because they decrease inflammation.
You can use them to make teas, which will also be helpful for replacing your lost fluids. Alternatively, you can suck on peppermint sweets while resting.
Fluids aren’t the only thing you need to replace when you’re dealing with a stomach bug. Your body needs nutrients to fight its way back to health.
The trick is to choose what you eat wisely. Bland foods like toast, rice, bananas, and applesauce have been shown to keep you nourished without irritating your stomach.
If you’re up to it, some doctors recommend probiotics like yogurt. On the other hand, stay away from heavy dairy products, greasy foods, and anything that’s spicy.
It might help to know that eating or drinking isn’t the only way to soothe your symptoms. Using a heating pad on your stomach may ease the abdominal cramps from the bug. If you opt for this, don’t use it for longer than 20-30 minutes at a time.
Apple cider vinegar is purported to have several benefits for the digestive system. In fact, some people report using it to soothe nausea, vomiting, and heartburn when fighting a stomach bug. You can take a teaspoon of this solution by itself or mix it into a cup of water.
RELATED: There’s a Drug-Resistant Stomach Bug: Should You Be Worried?
Typically, the symptoms of a stomach bug can include vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, stomach cramps, headache, and fever. Unfortunately, these symptoms can also indicate something wrong – especially if you’ve been dealing with them for longer than two weeks.
Persistent issues like bloating, constipation, nausea, pain, heartburn, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding while using the restroom can be signs that you have a digestive disorder.
These disorders can range from mild to severe and cover a variety of possible illnesses. You may be dealing with lactose intolerance, a food allergy, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
If your symptoms occur after you eat certain foods or when you’re under stress, then you could also have a digestive disorder. Though using natural remedies can help you deal with the symptoms, it’s best to see a doctor so they can treat the underlying condition.
A stomach bug can take its toll on you so it pays to know what will help. If you notice that the symptoms keep coming back, though, you could actually have a digestive disorder. It’s true that these problems aren’t always severe but they have the potential to get worse so you should see a doctor for a check-up as soon as possible.
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