Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IT capital

mental stress

gastroenterologist

Vydehi Hospital

Apart from traffic stress, techies have a new hardware problem:Already infamous for its intolerable traffic, Whitefield, the hub of the, is now becoming the disease capital as well. Techies have not onlybut also physiological stress. Hospitals surrounding the area say that at least 40 per cent of the people are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition most prevalent, and predominantly a lifestyle disorder.Take for instance 28-year-old Avinash (name changed), whose work was so demanding that he was often relying on junk and packaged food at his desk. But finally, he decided to see a doctor because every time he ate, he had the need to visit the toilet afterwards. When he went to see a doctor and got all the tests done, everything turned out normal, but because of his poor dietary schedule, doctors advised him to relax his intestine and get a job that was less demanding. He shifted to something less demanding and his situation improved in less than six months.This is the story of most techies working in Whitefield, who, because of their sedentary lifestyle and irregular diet, are increasingly ending up in hospital. Dr Rupesh Kalyan, consultant medical, Narayana Multi Speciality Hospital, says, “I see around 10-15 patients every day with this condition. This is more of a disorder rather than a disease. Most people come with very vague symptoms like having to visit the toilet soon after food and even after that, a lack of relief. It is a real nuisance. We often give them symptomatic treatments such as a change in lifestyle. Most of them rely on a diet with high carbohydrates and protein. They do not eat fruits, because of which their intake of fibre is very low.”Many also complain of extreme symptoms such as swelling in the leg and decreasing blood cell count because of which they require admission. Stress and anxiety are among the main causes of this along with poor diet. Dr Vidyasagar Ramappa, ?consultant gastroenterologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Whitefield, said, “In this part of the town, almost 60 per cent of patients who come to a gastroenterologist suffer from IBS. There are two kinds of pain. One is the pain in the upper abdomen which is commonly termed as ‘gastric’ by most patients. The second is the pain in the lower abdomen which also results in bloating. There is a sense of incomplete bowel clearance, while on the other hand, there also is a chance of frequenting the toilet. For many, it can be quiet disabling.”Dr Dinesh Kini, gastroenterologist, Sakra Hospital, said, “Exercise is the key factor which can reduce IBS to a great extent. The techie population eats all kinds of junk and does not move from their desk, which results in varied problems like bloating and constipation. At least 30 minutes of exercise everyday is essential.”While men battle irritable bowel syndrome, women have to bear the brunt of urinary tract infections. At least 15 per cent of women have urinary tract infections. This is common in women and is mainly to do with irregular sexual activities. Because of the work pressure, they are not exposed to enough fluids, which ensures bacteria get easy access to the urinary tract. Apart from this, cases of sexual dysfunction in men have been on the rise as they tend to work for more than 16 hours a day.”Many doctors also suggest a low Fodmap diet. Fodmap is an acronym for Fermentable Oligo-Di-Monosaccharides and Polyols. These are sugars found in foods. Dr D Sreenivasa, gastroenterologist,, Whitefield, who gets about seven to eight new patients every day, said, “There is no organic problem, but it is mainly to do with the way of life. High Fodmap diet includes food like broccoli, kidney beans, lentils, apple, mango, pears, mushroom, milk and milk products. Low Fodmap diet which includes grapes, tomato, corn, rice, banana and orange has often proved to be effective and is encouraged.”Small instead of heavy meals three times a dayAt least 30 minutes of exercise every dayMore intake of dietary fibre (mostly greens and fruits)Drink enough water