What Causes Diarrhea?

Find out what might be causing this frustrating and uncomfortable issue.

When diarrhea shows up, it’s often during the worst of times: while in the middle of a meeting, at the gym or on a date. Diarrhea certainly won’t wait for the most opportune time. So if you find yourself spending more time than usual in the bathroom you may be wondering what’s going on. Here are some common causes of diarrhea and when you should visit one of our Henderson and Las Vegas gastroenterologists for a proper diagnosis.

What’s going on with your GI tract? Well, it might just be:

  • Bacterial infections (E. coli; salmonella)
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Food poisoning
  • Lactose intolerance and other kinds of food allergies (e.g. celiac disease)
  • Medications (e.g. blood pressure medication)
  • Stress
  • Colitis
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Colon polyps
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • Diabetes
  • Pancreatitis
  • Diverticulitis
  • Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid)

There are so many different issues, from minor and self-limiting to chronic conditions, that could be causing your symptoms. There are some measures you can take to help ease your symptoms such as:

  • Stay hydrated (drinking water is particularly important when you have diarrhea)
  • Stay away from foods that are acidic and spicy (stick to foods that are a bit blander for the time being and slowly reincorporate other foods back into your diet)
  • Make sure to always wash your hands

In most cases, diarrhea will clear up on its own. Of course, you may also be wondering when you should turn to one of our Henderson and Las Vegas GI doctors for a proper diagnosis and treatment. If you haven’t noticed relief from your diarrhea within two day, it’s best to give us a call. We can determine whether you should come into our office for care. You should also give us a call immediately if:

  • You have a fever that’s over 101.3 degrees F
  • You have black stools
  • There is blood in the stool
  • You are experiencing signs of dehydration
  • You also have sudden or several abdominal pain

Don’t let gastrointestinal upset affect your life. If you are dealing with symptoms that you just can’t seem to tackle on your own, then call Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada in Henderson and Las Vegas. We know how to prevent, manage and treat a full spectrum of GI problems.

Contact Us

OUR LOCATIONS

Find us on the map

HOURS OF OPERATIONS

Our Regular Schedule

Las Vegas, NV Gastroenterology Doctor

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Henderson, NV Gastroenterology Doctor

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed