No matter who you are, your lifestyle, or your health condition, you're bound to have a bout of diarrhea at some time in your life. It can be very inconvenient, embarrassing, and often unpleasant when it happens. Statistics show that in the United States alone, diarrhea is the second most common physical ailment that people suffer. Still, there are ways to avoid most cases of diarrhea with just a few practical suggestions. First, you need to understand what causes diarrhea and what you can do about it

Bacteria:

One of the most common causes of diarrhea is everyday bacteria. In most cases, bacteria is harmful but an introduction of some strains can cause quite a bit of turmoil in your digestive system. These are most often found in many of the foods we eat like raw meat, shellfish, eggs, and unpasteurized milk. Food contamination is most often as a result of improper storage of these foods or consuming them after they have gone bad. To avoid consuming food contaminated by bacteria make sure that you store your food properly, avoid leaving it out at room temperature for an extended period of time and cook everything thoroughly to kill off any harmful bacteria that may have found its way into your food supply.

Viruses:

In learning what causes diarrhea you'll find that viruses can also bring it on. Many viruses are highly contagious and can easily travel from contaminated sources to your intestinal tract. To avoid this type of infection it is important to practice safe hygiene by not sharing drinks, foods, or utensils when eating. You also want to make sure that you wash your hands often when handling foods of any kind. Keep all areas where food is prepared as clean as possible and you'll reduce your risk of developing diarrhea.

Contaminated Water:

Sometimes referred to as Traveler's Diarrhea, many develop diarrhea from drinking contaminated water while vacationing in different countries. This often happens when visiting developing countries. To avoid this type of diarrhea, always make sure that you drink clean water. If you're not sure of the source make sure that you stick to bottled water, even for simple things like brushing your teeth.

Chronic Diarrhea:

In most cases, diarrhea goes away after only a few days, sometimes after only a few hours. However, there are some cases when diarrhea can linger for days or weeks, which could put your overall health in danger. These cases of chronic diarrhea could be the result of a more serious condition that will require medical attention.

Many of these cases could be caused by medications used to treat other conditions, an allergy or intolerance to certain foods, or an inflammatory disease like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Celiac disease, Diabetes, Hyperthyroidism, Addison's Disease, or Chronic Pancreatitis.

Once you've identified what causes diarrhea in your particular case, it is important for you to start treatment immediately. By keeping yourself hydrated to replace lost fluids, watching what you eat, and avoiding those trigger foods, you may be able to get rid of the problem without seeking additional medical help. However, if the condition continues to linger, you need to seek help right away.