Dysbacteriosis: causes, symptoms, treatment

Are you suffering from persistent diarrhea and constipation? Does your stomach have a regular hurricane and bloating? Do you have an unpleasant odor in your mouth? Stomach ache? It is likely that you have all the signs of dysbiosis. This ailment can be disguised as a simple digestive upset, or blamed on poor nutrition, while the body tearfully asks for help. In this article, we will consider the main signs and causes of dysbiosis, and also talk about how to treat this ailment.

What is dysbiosis

The normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is simply impossible without the microorganisms that live in the intestines. When the composition of these components of the flora changes, i.e. the balance of beneficial and harmful microorganisms is disturbed (useful becomes much less, and more harmful), this condition is called dysbiosis. This is very bad for the state of the digestive system, weakens the immune system.

The intestines are inhabited by neutral, beneficial and harmful microbes. Bacteroids, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are our friends, they promote proper digestion, protect the body from allergies, keep immunity at a high level and even seriously reduce the likelihood of cancer. They also keep bad bacteria under their control: staphylococci, Proteus, Candida, etc. When bad "troops" take over the good ones and begin to manage as they please, dysbacteriosis develops. However, this is not an independent disease and it cannot develop just like that, out of nowhere. Dysbacteriosis appears as a symptomatology for various factors. Let's look at what can lead to the development of the disease.

Dysbiosis reasons

There are many reasons why such an internal imbalance can develop. Among them:

• Oncological diseases and diabetes.
• Advanced age can provoke a violation of the intestinal microflora, which is due to age-related changes.
• Disturbed intestinal motility.
• Impaired metabolism, diseases of the endocrine system, weakened immunity.
• Infection of the body with parasites and pathogenic microorganisms.
• In some cases, dysbiosis can be triggered by acclimatization.
• Diseases of the digestive system: ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis, etc.
• Intestinal infections.
• Psychological problems can also be a reason for the development of an ailment. Constant stress and strong emotional upheaval cause the so-called stress dysbiosis.
• Improper nutrition... Regular consumption of unhealthy foods that contain preservatives and chemical additives, eating fast food, abrupt changes in the usual diet - all this and similar things have a very bad effect on intestinal health.
• While taking certain medications, especially antibiotics, iatrogenic dysbiosis develops. The same type of ailment appears after surgery.

To feel on themselves all the "charm" of dysbiosis can be quite healthy people who did not find themselves in the above list. In such cases, you need to look for reasons in your professional activities, as well as in sudden changes in nutrition.

Dysbiosis symptoms

All the symptoms that manifest themselves with dysbiosis revolve around metabolic disorders and a decrease in the protective functions of the body. The most striking signs of a lack of beneficial bacteria in the intestines are called:

• diarrhea, very rare, but constipation also occurs;
• flatulence (bloating);
• belching;
• unpleasant taste in the mouth;
• pain in the abdomen.

The above symptoms include the appearance of particles of undigested food in the feces, anemia, rapid fatigue, sleep problems, problems with appetite, feeling of nausea. Due to constant diarrhea, bowel movements can become painful, anal fissures, and itching appear. Pain during the development of dysbiosis can be different:

• Similar to contractions. In the lower abdomen, intestinal spasms are tormented - they can increase and decrease with its emptying.
• Distortional. Appear with an increase in pressure in the intestine itself. After the gas escapes and empties, the pressure decreases and the pain subsides.
• Pain in inflammatory processes in the lymph nodes. The focus of painful sensations is in the left abdomen just above the navel. After emptying, the pain may subside.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, in patients with dysbiosis, food allergies... Hypersensitivity can manifest itself in the form of itching, joint problems, and even angioedema... A person's immunity weakens, which makes him vulnerable to infectious lesions - the lungs, bronchi and other organs suffer.

The listed symptoms should last for some time, only in this case you should be alert and visit a specialist. If bloating and flatulence is observed one-time, this may indicate that something was not eaten the day before, and not about dysbiosis. With prolonged discomfort, appropriate diagnostics should be passed.

Dysbacteriosis in adults

The main stages of the disease that can be noted in adults:

• a slight increase in the number of pathogenic flora and a slight decrease in the number of beneficial microorganisms in the intestine - at this stage, the symptoms are often completely absent, or are so weakly expressed that a person does not attach serious importance to his condition;
• a significant decrease in the number of beneficial microorganisms and an increase in pathogenic microflora - at this stage, a person begins to worry about frequent diarrhea, constipation and bloating;
• active development of harmful microflora leads to inflammatory processes in the intestinal mucosa;
• the last stage, the most difficult, when beneficial bacteria in the intestine are almost completely absent, and pathogenic microorganisms are doing their best.

Treatment of dysbiosis in adults occurs in several stages. To begin with, it is necessary to eliminate the cause that led to the development of harmful microorganisms - to cure the disease, eliminate poisoning, or stop taking drugs that negatively affect the intestinal microflora. At this stage, the specialist works with the patient individually. Further, the intake of absorbents is prescribed, the same activated carbon or other similar drugs. Probiotics and prebiotics are then prescribed. Further actions are aimed at normalizing the intestines and reinforcing the result with a course of immunomodulators.

In addition to drug treatment, a person must necessarily worry about the quality of his food, otherwise the treatment will not give the desired effect. A diet for dysbiosis implies a complete exclusion from the diet of foods that cause bloating, such foods include grapes, melon, soda, legumes, alcohol, etc. It is necessary to reduce the amount of apples consumed.

But what is welcomed in the diet is boiled meat, sour milk, gray bread, herbs, onions, fresh berries. In this case, you need to eat in small portions, but more often, about seven times a day, in no case overeating or starving. A more detailed diet for the patient is established by the doctor, based on the stage of the disease and individual indicators. A little later, we will touch on the topic of how dysbiosis can be treated with folk methods, without the use of medicines.

Dysbacteriosis in children

Risk factors that can lead to the development of dysbiosis in children are delayed breastfeeding, replacement of natural feeding with artificial formula, improper and inadequate nutrition. However, as in adults, dysbiosis in children often develops as a symptom of another ailment. Therefore, provocateurs of intestinal problems can be:

• impaired intestinal motility, which appears for various reasons;
• diseases that disrupt the process of absorption in the intestine;
• allergic reactions;
• infectious diseases;
• the consequence of radiation;
• a consequence of surgical interventions;
• chronic diseases of the intestines and stomach;
• long-term, and in some cases even short-term, use of antibiotics and other medications.

As in adults, in the course of treatment it is important to eliminate the cause that led to the development of dysbiosis. Only then are the forces directed to eliminate the consequences. For infants, the doctor may prescribe a change in the milk formula; for older children, you will have to adhere to some restrictions in the diet. In no case should you self-medicate children's dysbiosis, as this can lead to even greater problems. Don't mess with the health of your kids!

Analysis for dysbiosis

To diagnose an ailment, specialists use several laboratory techniques, including: aspirate analysis, feces culture, jejunal biopsy analysis, scraping examination. To diagnose dysbiosis and make a diagnosis, you need to turn to a gastroenterologist.

Dysbiosis treatment

Medication should only be prescribed by a doctor. If there is no opportunity to consult a specialist, or you are a voluntary supporter of traditional medicine, then we offer you effective methods of treating dysbiosis without the use of pills. Remember, in order for the treatment to give positive results, you additionally need to follow the correct diet and refuse junk food.

• A very, very effective method that helps to cure dysbiosis in almost one day! The method has been tested by no one person and such miraculous properties of the drink are confirmed in practice by cured dysbiosis. Everything is prepared very simply: heat half a liter of water and add a large spoonful of sugar and natural honey, add two grams of yeast. Stir everything and leave to infuse for an hour in a warm place, but not longer (!). The mash obtained during this time must be drunk at a time, one hour before the meal. That's it, very simple and amazingly effective.
• For kids, you can use the following method. In the dairy kitchen, take kefir. Necessarily in the children's kitchen, and not in the store, since in the first case the product is thoroughly tested. In the evening, when the child is fed, washed and getting ready for bed, heat 80 grams of the cooked product until it curls up. From the resulting composition, you need to make an enema at night. In general, as a rule, one procedure is enough. Before the procedure, be sure to carefully prepare the instruments so that they are clean and sterile. Adults can also use this method, only a portion of kefir is a little more - 150-180 g.
• Dysbacteriosis is well treated with fermented milk serum. It is prepared simply - put kefir in hot water and leave for a while. The composition will begin to divide into curd and whey. This serum is an excellent remedy for the treatment of dysbiosis.
• Very quickly, the ailment is eliminated by garlic yogurt, a visible and tangible result is noticeable after a few days. A liter of natural milk must be boiled and cooled. Next, ferment the milk with crusts of gray bread, this should be allocated 24 hours. Then you need to throw a few crusts of grated garlic. The curdled milk is ready for use, it should be stored in the refrigerator.
• Strawberries are very beneficial for intestinal health. This berry promotes the reproduction of beneficial flora in the intestines, while some of the elements that this berry is rich in have a detrimental effect on pathogenic microorganisms. The treatment process is very simple and delicious. For ten days in the morning on an empty stomach, you need to eat a glass of strawberries.
• 300 g of peeled Jerusalem artichoke should be cut into cubes and immersed in a boiling glass of milk diluted with the same amount of water. Simmer until tender. After that, pour the milk into another container and boil again. Add a large spoonful of wheat flour, previously sautéed in butter. Boil until thick. Pour the topinamburs with the prepared "sauce" and stir so that the roots are not crumpled. You can add salt and herbs to taste.
• Garlic shows amazing results. An hour before meals, you need to eat a clove of garlic. If you are repelled by the smell or do not want to smell with a specific aroma, then you can cut the garlic into circles and drink it like tablets with milk or water. Before going to bed, after dinner, you also need to consume 2-3 cloves.

Prevention of dysbiosis

Since dysbiosis manifests itself in most cases as a symptom of another disease, the primary prevention should be to prevent diseases of the internal organs of the gastrointestinal tract, and also to protect the body from diseases that require long-term treatment with potent drugs, especially antibiotics. In particular, such treatment is contraindicated for pregnant women, as this can lead to the fact that the baby is already born with dysbiosis. The expectant mother should be very careful about her health, as all this will affect the health and immunity of the baby.

Never drink medicines just like that. Any cold can be cured with recipes of traditional medicine, and use pills only in the most extreme cases and only on the mandatory prescription of a competent doctor. Tablets are not candy, they cannot be drunk for any reason, for some kind of prophylaxis, and even more so those that are assigned to themselves or on the advice of friends.

Another very important factor in the prevention of dysbiosis is the organization of proper and balanced nutrition. Minimize, or rather avoid, the food offered by fast food restaurants. Don't buy junk food such as chips, soda, and other chemicals. Carefully read the composition of what you are going to buy or eat - the abundance of dyes, preservatives and other chemicals does not have the best effect on intestinal health. Do not buy fruits and vegetables that look too perfect, as in the picture - there is nothing useful in such copies, but there are more than enough nitrates, pesticides and nitrites. Their harm is not immediately noticeable, but harmful components accumulate in the body, and as the amount reaches the limit, everything is expressed in a heap of sores.

Minimize the number of bad habits, get addicted to a healthy lifestyle. Try to eat only real food, giving preference to stewing and steaming. Less dry water and more soups, less stress and more joy - then you will bypass not only colds with dysbiosis, but also more serious illnesses!