Digestive Care

Constipation is when your bowel motions are hard to pass, often with straining and difficulty, and if it involves a change in your normal bowel frequency. Sometimes this condition is transient, and usually resolves by itself within a few days. It could be caused by dietary change, or changes in the daily routine such as shift work, stress or changing jobs . Our pharmacy has a range of natural products that can keep your bowel frequency regular even in the midst of these changes. Maintaining proper hydration, adding more fibre into your diet, and being physically active can also reduce the chances of getting constipation.

However, if constipation lasts for more than 4 days, laxatives can be taken to ease your discomfort in passing. Once the constipation has cleared up, stop taking the laxatives as they can cause dependence if used regularly.

When to see the doctor:

• Constipation for more than a week
• Blood or slime on stools
• Alternating constipation and diarrhoea
• Concurrent abdominal pain

Chronic diarrhoea that lasts for more than a week may indicate a more serious issue. You have to see your doctor in such cases. Don’t forget to maintain proper hydration and electrolyte intake to counteract the loss of water and electrolytes through your bowel movements.

See your doctor as well if:

• You have returned from recent travel abroad
• You have diarrhoea with severe abdominal pain
• You are taking long-term laxatives, unless prescribed by the doctor
• Showing sings of dehydration
• Symptoms do not improve with time or where symptoms get worse
• Blood in stools
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Heartburn is described as a burning sensation in the lower chest. Food intake can trigger heatburn, and the pain may be agravated by lying down or bending. This is due to the stomach contents leaking out of the stomach back into the oesophagus, also known as reflux, where it causes irritation and the pain due to its acidic nature. Sometimes smoking, alcohol, chocolate or coffee intake can trigger reflux as well. Antacids can quickly provide relief from heartburn, and acid-suppressing medications (proton-pump inhibitors and H2 blockers) provide long-term relief from hyperacidity.

When to see the doctor:

• Sudden onset of intense pain not responding to over the counter medications. It could be due to a more serious condition, such as food poisoning or acute pancreatitis.
• Pain unrelated to meals
• Blood in stools
• Unexplained weight loss
• Vomiting for more than 1-2 days
• Diarrhoea or constipation for more than 1 week
• Dysuria
• Symptoms aggravated by exercise, or the pain radiates to arm, neck or jaw