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Nausea
- Causes: meds, food poisoning, sea/morning sickness, chemo, migranes, food allergies,
- Signs/symp: upset stomach, queezy
- Self-care: prevent dehydration, BRAT diet, avoid certain foods
- OTC treat: Emetrol, Bonine, Dramamine, SeaBand, Nauzene, Pepto-Bismol
- HC prov: > 2-3 days, unable to drink fluids over 24hrs
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Vomiting
- Causes: meds, food poisoning, sea/morning sickness, chemo, migranes, food allergies, bulimia
- Signs/symp: forceufl expulsion of stomach contents
- Self-care: prevent dehydration; BRAT diet; avoid certain foods
- OTC treat: anti-emetics
- HC prov: > 2-3 days, unable to drink fluids over 24 hrs, vomit red/black/green
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Diarrhea
- Causes: bacterial infection, bowel disorders, viral infections, food intolerances, parasites, rxn to meds, intestinal disorders
- Signs/symp: cramping, ab pain, fever, bloody stools
- Self-care: prevent dehydration, BRAT, add fibers gradually, avoid certain foods
- OTC treat: Loperamide, Bismuth Salts-Pepto Bismol
- HC prov: dehydration, >3 days, fever>101, blood/black in stool
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Heartburn
- Causes: NA
- Signs/symp: burning sensation near heart, regurgitation,water brash, "sour stomach", dysphagia, odynophagia
- Self-care: weight red, restict smoking/alc; avoid trigger foods, lying down, tight clothes, certain meds
- OTC treat: antacids, alginic acid, H2 receptors, proton pump inhibitors
- HC prov: chest pain, continuous N/V/D, extreme discomfort, black/bloody stools, pain/difficult swallowing
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Intestinal Gas
- Causes: several foods (carbs)
- Signs/symp: belching, bloating, flatulence
- Self-care: avoid certain foods
- OTC treat: anti-gas meds
- HC prov: NA
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Constipation
- Causes: lack of fiber, fluid, exercise; IBS, laxative abuse, lifestyle change
- Signs/symp: inability to deficate, ab pain, passing hard/dry stools, bloating, abnormal bowel
- Self-care: diet-high fiber, fluids, exercise
- OTC treat: laxatives (types)
- HC prov: sever ab discomfort, fever, nausea,> 2wk symptoms, weight loss, blood in stool/bowel changes
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IBS: Irrital Bowel Syndrome
- Causes: syndrome
- Signs/symp: lower ab pain/cramping, bloating, abnormal stool freq/consistency, headache/fatigue, depression
- Self-care: increase fiber in diet, reduce stress
- OTC treat: peppermint oil, iron supplements
- HC prov: dehydration, weight loss, fever, blood/black stool
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Constipation OTC:
Bulk Forming
- Generic/Brand: Psyllium/Metamucil
- Works: increase fecal mass to stimulate GI to push out
- Side effects: intestinal gas
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Constipation OTC:
Stimulant
- Generic/Brand: Senna/Senokot; Calcium of Sennosides/Ex-Lax; Bisacodyl/Ducolax
- Works: increases intestinal movement (unknown how)
- Side effects: BM can become dependent on laxative
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Constipation OTC:
Emollient
- Generic/Brand: Docusate calcium/Surfak; Docusate sodium/Colace
- Works: stool softeners-increases water in stool
- Side effects: not absorved into the body, diarrhea, stomach cramping
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Constipation OTC:
Lubricant
- Generic/Brand: Mineral Oil/Fleet Enema
- Works: coats stool with oil, making it moist/softer/easier to pass
- Side effects: decreases absorption of fat soluble vitamins
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Constipation OTC:
Saline
- Generic/Brand: Magnesium: Citrate/Citroma; Hydroxide/Phillips Milk; Sulfate/Fleet Ready Enema
- Works: draws water into intestine which stimulates intestine movement
- Side effects: can cause dehydration
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Constipation OTC:
Hyperosmotic
- Generic/Brand: Gylcerin/Fleet; Polyethlene Glycol/Miralax
- Works: water retention in stool, resulting in a softer stool and more freq. BMs
- Side effects: not absorved into body; rectal irritation
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What occurs if meds for constipation are taken longer than recommended?
- -diarrhea
- -vomitting
- -fluid and electrolyte imbalances
- -poor absorption of nutrients
- -dependency
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