Diarrhea in runners

Runner's diarrhea is also known as colitis or runner's diarrhea. This condition tends to occur mainly in people who regularly run long distances (more than 3 miles or more at a given time).
Diarrhea can cause frequent joggers to want to have a bowel movement during and immediately after a run. If you experience diarrhea while jogging, you should see your doctor as soon as possible to determine the specific cause and effective management of the disease.

When jogging with diarrhea, you often experience the following common symptoms:
Nausea Gas Acid reflux Cramps Symptoms of diarrhea in runners usually begin to occur during exercise your workout and can continue to last for several hours after a run. Diarrhea that occurs when jogging should not last more than 24 hours. If you have diarrhea while running and have liquid bowel movements that don't stop, this could be a sign of another underlying medical condition.

To prevent and control diarrhea when running, you can apply some of the following treatments:
Lifestyle and diet changes: Most diarrhea is treated in Runners often relate to diet, especially the foods they consume in the hours or days before jogging. In addition, you also need to consider what you should wear when jogging, because clothing that is too tight can put pressure around the abdomen, restricting blood flow to the digestive tract and causing symptoms of diarrhea. get worse.
Over-the-counter treatments: Over-the-counter treatments, such as loperamide (Imodium) or bismuth salicylate (Pepto Bismol), may be another good option to help you stop diarrhea. flow after jogging. However, you need to take these medications very carefully, as taking them on an empty stomach can not only make your condition worse, but also make your symptoms worse.
Treat other underlying health conditions: You also need to determine if you have lactose intolerance, or have underlying medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). are not. People with these conditions are more likely to experience diarrhea while jogging than others, say health care professionals. If you have IBS or are lactose intolerant, you should make changes to your diet to control and improve your symptoms.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to treat diarrhea in runners is to address their pre-run eating habits. Certain foods can cause diarrhea, gas, and nausea while jogging. Experts recommend that, instead of eating immediately before jogging, you should eat about 2-3 hours before exercise to give the body time to digest the food.
For about 2 hours before you start jogging, you should try to avoid eating anything but quick energy-boosting snacks, such as bananas or whole-wheat toast. Avoid caffeine in any form shortly before you go for a run, as this stimulant acts as a diuretic. If you experience running diarrhea, try cutting back on your intake of artificial sweeteners, alcohol, and sugar the night before your workout.
In addition, runners with diarrhea should also use caution when using energy gel packs or supplements. Many of them contain artificial sweeteners and preservatives that can cause diarrhea. It is important that you stay hydrated before, during and after jogging. Drinking enough water can prevent dehydration and reduce symptoms of diarrhea during your workouts.

As with any other form of diarrhea, runners should watch for dehydration if diarrhea occurs. Some urgent symptoms indicate that you should see a doctor immediately, including:
Fast heartbeat Acute headache Fainting Loss of consciousness Black or bloody stools Diarrhea symptoms that last for 24 hours Hours or more Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading doctors and nurses, modern equipment and technology, but also stands out for its excellent medical examination and treatment services. , comprehensive and professional medical consultation and treatment; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space.

Reference source: healthline.com