5 Steps To Prevent Digestive Problems As You Age

Certain medications, lack of physical activity, or a poor diet can influence your stomach problems. The stomach problems you had as a child could evolve into a long list of digestive complications as you age.

They are quite annoying, but the good news is that, for example, reflux and constipation can be treated. Oftentimes, simple lifestyle changes can make a difference.

Cleveland Clinic gastroenterologist Maged Rizk explained that “many older adults are obsessed with their gastrointestinal problems. The gastrointestinal tract ages at the same time as our body. (So) I tell patients not to be bothered by it. "

According to the expert, medicines, inactivity, and even gravity can contribute to digestive problems in an aging person. And to give you an idea, here are some factors that could affect you and the symptoms they cause:

• Multiple Medications: These can cause a wide variety of gastrointestinal problems, including constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and peptic ulcer.
• Inactivity and dehydration: This problem is more common as you age and can also make constipation worse.
• Severity: Over time the diaphragm can sink, causing low support in the area where the esophagus meets the stomach, called a hiatal hernia. It usually causes heartburn and reflux. Medication usually helps, but surgery is sometimes necessary.
• Weakness in the sphincter: sedentary life and chronic constipation: all these can contribute to the appearance of hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in the lower gastrointestinal tract, and which are very common in older adults.

How Diet

Influences Your eating habits are likely to. In fact, you may no longer have the interest or energy to prepare a balanced, high-fiber meal or cut out fresh fruits and vegetables, especially if you eat alone. In other words, at a certain point, food is no longer as pleasant and delicious as it used to be.

"When we are little we have most of our taste buds, but these gradually shrink as we get older," said Dr. Rizk.

Consequently, the person adopts a poorly balanced diet, which can cause iron and vitamin deficiencies, including B12, and result in digestive problems.

Eat a healthy diet

Add fiber to your meals, including raw vegetables, fruits, and lots of grains. Reduce your salt intake. Avoid white foods, such as bread, rice, or potatoes. During the day, drink water or other decaffeinated and non-alcoholic beverages so your urine is almost clean. Eat a variety of proteins, such as beans, fish, and lean meats.

Avoid foods that can cause heartburn or reflux

For some people, dairy products are the ones that cause the biggest stomach problems, while for others it may be gluten. It is different for everyone, so you need to create an elimination diet if you are not sure which foods are causing you problems. Ideally, you should talk to your doctor so that together they can determine what causes you an allergy or intolerance.

Consider using probiotics

Probiotics are supplements that contain “good” bacteria that are very helpful. Similarly, you should not take them for diarrhea, unless it is after a specific infection. Probiotics are also included in yogurts (check packaging) and in fermented products, such as sauerkraut and kombucha.

Check your medications

Over-the-counter and prescription medications can cause digestive problems. Talk to your doctor about possible secondary problems and ask about substitutes for medicines that cause diarrhea, nausea, and constipation, among other problems.

Stay Active

Exercise and physical activity offer many health benefits, such as preventing constipation. Spending 150 minutes of exercise a week can get you on the path to a healthy life.

Among these routines, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends dedicating two days a week to muscle stretching exercises, so get out there and keep moving, because your stomach is going to thank you.

Aging can bring you some difficulties, "but with these steps, you can continue to improve digestion and limit stomach problems," said Dr. Rizk.