The humid weather during the monsoon makes your entire digestive system sluggish. Most people experience digestive issues like diarrhoea (irregular bowel movements), abdominal pain, vomiting, acidity and bloating.
Besides this, due to an increase in viruses and bacteria, many people could have gastroenteritis episodes with abdominal cramps or pain that may persist for a long time (ulcers).
“While people across all ages are experiencing Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) symptoms like heartburn or acid reflux issues, it is most commonly affected among young adults,” said Dr Saurabh Bansal, Gastrointestinal, laparoscopic cancer and Robotic Surgeon, Apollo Spectra Delhi, Nehru Enclave.
Dr Jayant Barve, Senior Gastroenterologist, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, added that gastrointestinal issues can also stem from food poisoning and stress.
“Stress triggers abdominal discomfort through the gut-brain connection. Treatment involves hydration, adjusting diet to bland options, using antacids for mild symptoms, managing stress, and seeking medical help for severe or persistent cases,” informed Dr Barve.
On the other hand, Dr Hemant Patel, Gastrologist, Zynova Shalby Multispeciality Hospital, said that abdominal pain cases rise rapidly in the monsoon due to a lack of maintenance of proper hygiene when eating food from outside.
For this reason, other GI conditions like acute gastritis, acute colitis, acute gastroenteritis, enteric fever, acute appendicitis and urinary tract infections are also quite common in the monsoon.
How to prevent gastrointestinal issues in monsoon?
According to Dr Amit Miglani, Director & HOD, Gastroenterology, Asian Hospital, Faridabad said that one should practice basic hygiene and wash one’s hands as frequently as possible.
Other than avoiding fresh fruit cuts from the street vendors, raw vegetables should be washed and boiled before consuming and avoid consuming ice from outside as they contain viruses.
Dr Saurabh Bansal further added that drinking water should be boiled to kill any bacteria or viruses present in the liquid so that it doesn’t get consumed. This could aggravate your stomach pain.
In case you have abdominal pain or suffering from intense stomach ache, Dr Miglani recommended hydrating yourself with ORS (oral rehydration therapy) or coconut water and consulting a medical professional immediately.
