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How Stress Can Affect Digestive Health

Stress and anxiety can aggravate diarrhea and other digestive health conditions.38,4

Depression

How to deal with stress

We all experience stress now and again. Diarrhea can be a symptom of stress, which could make life more difficult for you.38 So, it may be best to first deal with the causes of your stress.

  •  Create time to relax and recharge .3 If you feel stressed out, give yourself a break.

  •  Get enough sleep.7   We all perform better when we’re properly rested.

  •  Share your problems. 7  You know what they say about a problem shared? If you let people around you know what you’re going through, you’ll feel better for having talked to someone and they might even be able to help.

  •  Exercise.7,36  A great way to de-stress and keep your overall digestive system healthy is by exercising several times a week. 

1. Diarrhea. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Web site. http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-dise...Open link in new window. NIH publication 11-2749. January 2011. Updated November 25, 2013. Accessed November 11, 2015.

2. Nutrition strategies for managing diarrhea. International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Web site. http://www.iffgd.org/site/gi-disorders/functional-gi-disorders/diarrhea/...Open link in new window. March 31, 2014. Accessed November 11, 2015.

3. Schiller LR, Santa Ana CA, Morawski SG, Fordtran JS. Mechanism of the antidiarrheal effect of loperamide. http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(84)80161-4/pdfOpen link in new window. Gastroenterology. 1984;86(6):1475-1480.

4. Anxiety: symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic Web site. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/dx.... December 31, 2015. Accessed March 21, 2016.

7. Managing stress. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. https://www.cdc.gov/features/copingwithstress/index.html Reviewed May 21, 2012. Updated December 19, 2012. Accessed November 11, 2015.

36. Digestive health. Harvard Health Publications Web site. http://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/digestive-healthw. Accessed November 19, 2015.

38. Mertz H. Stress and the gut. UNC Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders Web site. http://www.med.unc.edu/ibs/files/educational-gi-handouts/Stress%20and%20.... Accessed March 24, 2016.

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