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Health & Lifestyle > Healthy Eating >

Digestive Health

Education is the key to understanding good digestive health. We've assembled this guide as a quick, easy-to-use reference to help you select the appropriate digestive health product to treat your specific symptoms. It will help you understand the digestive system and how to select the appropriate digestive health medicines.

The term "Digestive Health" can be a little confusing. After all, like the digestive system itself, it covers a lot of ground: from heartburn to gas, from diarrhea to lactose intolerance, to simple "upset tummies." Some conditions cause only mild discomfort, others more severe pain. Still others are indications of more serious problems which may require the attention of your doctor. Your doctor will want to know if you have a persistent digestive health condition.

Please be sure to read all label instructions and inserts, and use all medicines only as directed. Remember that neither this chart nor the educational information in this guide is meant to substitute for a consultation with a physician.

Diarrhea

When the intestines function normally, food and fluids pass from the stomach into the small intestine and then into the colon. Cells that line the small intestine absorb the nutrients and water the body needs. Sometimes the cells become irritated and cannot properly absorb the water and nutrients from the food. When this happens, food and fluids can move through the colon too quickly. This results in what we know as diarrhea.

Heartburn and Acid Indigestion

After you eat or drink, it's normal for your stomach to produce acid to help digestion. But certain things like overeating, eating too fast, spicy or fatty foods, alcohol and tobacco can result in excess acid. That's what causes sour stomach, stomach upset (acid indigestion) or the burning sensation (heartburn) that starts in the stomach and moves up through the upper chest into the throat. In most cases, acid indigestion and heartburn can be reduced in frequency or stopped altogether by simple changes in diet, lifestyle, and the use of antacids or acid controllers. Click here to learn more. Mylanta Pepcid AC

Lactose Intolerance

Do milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese or other dairy foods cause you discomfort? You may be one of the estimated one-in-five Americans who are lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest lactose, the milk sugar found in dairy foods. Left undigested, lactose can lead to the production of gas, bloating, diarrhea and other stomach discomfort. Many lactose intolerant people have had to eliminate dairy products from their diet. Click here to learn more. LACTAID

Gas

Gas is one of the most common digestive problems that people experience. Excess gas may be felt as bloating, pressure and discomfort in the stomach and intestines. Excess gas is difficult for the body to expel because the gas bubbles get trapped in the stomach and intestines. Several factors may cause excess gas to build up in the digestive tract: air swallowing, certain foods and beverages, poor muscle tone, smoking, chewing gum, even wearing tight-fitting clothing. Click here to learn more. GasAid

Upset Tummies

Kids

Almost all children suffer from an occasional upset stomach often associated with acid indigestion or sour stomach. It is often caused by the production of excess acid in the stomach, generated by overeating, food sensitivities, viral infections or other unknown factors. Until now, parents had limited options for treating a child's upset stomach. Click here to learn more. Children's Mylanta

Infants

Gas is also very common in babies. It affects almost half of all newborns within the first two months of life. Gas bubbles can often cause discomfort, leading to crankiness and crying. Many babies suffering from gas pull their legs up, lying in a curled position in an effort to relieve the discomfort. If your baby has gas, ask your pediatrician about Infants' Mylicon® Drops. Click here to learn more. Mylicon