Diarrhea after eating: Why does it happen and how to prevent it?

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Posted by Master, Doctor Mai Vien Phuong - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital
Is this a typical problem? Diarrhea that occurs after you eat a meal is called postprandial diarrhea. This type of diarrhea is often sudden, and the feeling of having to go to the bathroom can be quite urgent.
Some people with postprandial diarrhea have pain with bowel movements. In most cases, this pain will go away on its own after having a bowel movement. This condition is not uncommon, but diagnosis can be difficult. That's because postprandial diarrhea is sometimes a symptom of another condition.
For example, some people only have diarrhea with irritable bowel syndrome. This is called IBS-diarrhea or IBS-D. Postprandial diarrhea can be a symptom of IBS-D.
In other cases, postprandial diarrhea occurs without a diagnosable reason.
Conditions or problems that can cause postprandial diarrhea are divided into two main categories: Short-term acute and long-lasting chronic.

1. What causes acute postprandial diarrhea?

Several conditions or problems can cause a brief episode of postprandial diarrhea. Time may cease for symptoms of postprandial diarrhea, or medication may be required. These causes include:
Viral infections : Viral infections, like stomach bugs, can cause temporary postprandial diarrhea and make your digestive tract more sensitive. Postprandial diarrhea can last for several days, even when other symptoms have subsided.
Lactose intolerance: People who are allergic to lactose, a type of sugar found in dairy products, may experience postprandial diarrhea if they eat foods containing lactose. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.
Food poisoning : The human body has a good ability to recognize that it has eaten something it should not. When detecting unhealthy foods, your body may try to get rid of them immediately. That can cause diarrhea or vomiting within minutes of eating contaminated food.
Sugar absorption: This condition is very similar to lactose intolerance. Some people's bodies cannot properly absorb sugars such as lactose and fructose. When these sugars enter the intestines, they can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems.
Toddler diarrhea: Toddlers and young children who drink a lot of juice can develop postprandial diarrhea. The high sugar in these drinks can draw water into the intestines, causing watery stools and diarrhea.
Parasites: Parasites in food can cause diarrhea after eating. The most common foodborne parasite is the tapeworm. Symptoms, including postprandial diarrhea, will last until the parasite is cleared from your body or dead.
Magnesium overdose: High magnesium intake can cause diarrhea. However, absorbing too much of this mineral is difficult unless you are taking a supplement.

2. What causes chronic postprandial diarrhea?

Chronic causes of postprandial diarrhea are conditions that may require ongoing treatment to prevent symptoms of postprandial diarrhea. These conditions include:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: IBS is a disorder that causes a wide range of gastrointestinal problems. These include diarrhea, gas, bloating, and abdominal cramps. It's not clear what causes IBS.
Celiac disease: This autoimmune condition causes damage in your intestines every time you eat gluten. Gluten is a protein most commonly found in wheat products.
Microscopic colitis: This condition causes your large intestine to become inflamed. In addition to diarrhea, symptoms include bloating and abdominal cramps. However, inflammation is not always present. That means symptoms of postprandial diarrhea may come and go. Bile Acid Absorption: The gallbladder produces bile to help break down and digest the fats in your food. If these acids are not reabsorbed properly, they can irritate your large intestine. This can lead to watery stools and diarrhea.
Cholecystectomy: People who have had their gallbladder removed may experience frequent diarrhea for the first few weeks and months after surgery. In most cases, the diarrhea will eventually stop, but some people will continue to have chronic diarrhea or postprandial diarrhea after surgery.
Dumping syndrome: This complication of weight loss surgery is uncommon, but it can be a cause of postprandial diarrhea. With this condition, your stomach empties very quickly after eating. This activates the reflex that manages bowel movements, so diarrhea may be more common.
If your doctor diagnoses you with IBS-D or postprandial diarrhea, ask if it's possible another medical condition is causing your symptoms. In some cases, a diagnosis of IBS-D may prevent some doctors from considering other conditions.

3. How to find relief?

Many conditions that cause postprandial diarrhea require medical treatment, but these four lifestyle treatments can also relieve the condition:
Avoid irritating foods: Certain foods can contribute diarrhea after eating. If you're not sure what your trigger foods are, keep a food diary. Record what you eat and when you experience postprandial diarrhea. Look for foods commonly associated with postprandial diarrhea, such as fatty, fiber, and dairy foods.
Food safety practices: Prevent bad bacteria by washing fruits and vegetables before eating, cooking meat to the right temperature, and properly refrigerating foods that need to be kept cold.
Eat small meals: Eat five to six small meals a day instead of three large meals. This can make it easier for your intestines to digest food and can reduce symptoms of postprandial diarrhea.
Reduce stress: Your mind has a lot of power over your gut. When you're stressed or anxious, you may be more likely to upset your stomach. Learning to manage stress and anxiety is not only good for your mental health, but also for the health of your digestive system.

4. When to see a doctor

Diarrhea occurs from time to time. It's usually not a serious concern. However, serious complications can occur, so check with your doctor if you experience any of the following additional symptoms:
Frequency: If diarrhea occurs several times a week for more than three week, or if you have diarrhea for three days in a row, make an appointment with your doctor.
Fever: If you have diarrhea and a fever over 102°F (38.8°C), seek medical treatment.
Pain: If you have frequent diarrhea but you start to have severe abdominal pain or rectal pain during bowel movements, talk to your doctor.
Dehydration: It is important that you stay hydrated when you have diarrhea. Drinking water or drinks with electrolytes can help you stay healthy despite diarrhea. However, if you begin to show signs of dehydration, seek medical attention. Signs of dehydration include:
Extreme thirst Confusion Muscle cramps Dark urine Color change: If you start having black, gray or bloody stools, talk to your doctor. This could be a sign of a more serious gastrointestinal problem.
There is no single tool or test that can help doctors identify and diagnose the source of postprandial diarrhea. As a result, they often recommend several treatments at a time until they find a consistently effective treatment.
When a treatment is effective, it helps your doctor understand what causes postprandial diarrhea. From there, they can continue to narrow down the potential causes and come up with a full treatment plan.
Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of doctors, modern equipment and technology, but also stands out for its examination, consulting and service services. comprehensive and professional medical treatment; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space.
Department of Endoscopy - Gastroenterology is one of the key specialties at Vinmec International General Hospital. For timely examination, advice and treatment of digestive diseases, you can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide or book an appointment on the website for service.

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References
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Celiac disease: Overview. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/home/ovc-20214625 Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Dehydration: Symptoms and causes. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/symptoms-causes/dxc-20261072 Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014). Irritable bowel syndrome: Causes. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/basics/causes/con-20024578 Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014). Irritable bowel syndrome: Definition. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20024578 Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Microscopic colitis: Overview. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/microscopic-colitis/home/ovc-20192308 Middleton SJ, et al. (2011). Post-prandial reactive hypoglycaemia and diarrhea caused by idiopathic gastric accelerated emptying: A case report. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3113993/