Out and About – Week of April 18th

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter weekend. As a child, Easter was always a special time for me. Easter was when I received a new pair of shoes, plus anything else I needed in order to look my best for Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is still special, not only from a religious point of view, but also because of the fantastic Easter dinner that goes with it.

Like Thanksgiving, Easter is one of those times when we might over indulge when it comes to eating. As a result, we might experience tummy aches. We all have these issues from time to time. In most cases we need not worry about them. However, there are a few gastrointestinal symptoms we shouldn’t ignore. Here are ten of them:

Prolonged diarrhea. If this persists for more than a day and is accompanied with a fever, cough, or loss of taste and smell, you should get yourself tested for COVID-19. If you test negative, it might be a signal for another type of infection, so checking with your doctor might be a good idea.
Blood in your stool. If this appears, you should see a doctor without delay.
Severe cramps after eating. This is a warning sign of a possible bowel obstruction, which requires immediate medical treatment.
Difficulty swallowing. This could also be serious. It might be an infection, an ulcer, or a sore or scar tissue. The best thing to do is check with a gastroenterologist.
Unexplained weight loss. Losing weight when you haven’t changed your exercise routine or your diet. This could be a symptom of several serious illnesses, including cancer. If you have dropped five percent or more of your body weight within six to twelve months, you should, of course, see your doctor.
Chronic or prolonged constipation. Constipation is defined as having three or fewer bowel movements per week. If constipation lasts longer than seven days, seek medical attention.
Sudden, strong abdominal pain. A sharp pain that doesn’t let up can indicate acute appendicitis. Muscle cramps and other issues may also cause a sharp pain. If you’re an athlete and over do it, you could very easily experience a pulled muscle. Again, see a doctor if the pain escalates.
Frequent, severe heartburn. Occasional heartburn is common with older adults and can be treated with Tums or another over-the-counter medication.. If the heartburn is more frequent and worsening, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Swollen abdomen. After eating a large meal, it’s common to feel a bit bloated. If you notice your belly puffing out and seems larger in size, and if these symptoms persist, you may have excess fluid or gas forming in your small intestines as a result of inflammation, bacteria overgrowth or a gastrointestinal disease.
Feeling full after eating very little. You may have gastroparesis, which is a condition in which food stays in the stomach longer than it should. This might be a long-term side effect of COVID-19.
A few words of wisdom:

Do not become what you cannot stand.
Chop your own wood; it will warm you twice.
Congressman Pipp lost the election. Babies he kissed had no protection. To win, use BURMA SHAVE

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman