Caregiving and Digestive Diseases

When it comes to caregiving and digestive diseases, you can start helping a loved one cope by encouraging them to seek treatment as soon as symptoms appear. Immediate treatment can help in relieving as much discomfort as possible and help ensure the best possible outcome.

A balanced diet with adequate calories plays an important role in digestive system health. Diarrhea, vomiting, poor absorption of nutrients, and side effects of drug treatment all may lead to malnutrition. Encourage your loved one to eat small meals throughout the day to help lessen any symptoms and minimize the risk of malnutrition. If the symptoms do not get better after a few days or if they are very severe, call a doctor to ensure that your loved one receives proper evaluation and treatment.

If your loved one begins to show signs of a more serious illness (for example, losing weight quickly, having repeated bouts of vomiting or diarrhea, or having abdominal, chest or throat pain), call your doctor immediately.

Reviewed by a doctor in The Cleveland Clinic Digestive Disease Center.