{"id":469,"date":"2019-01-16T15:33:37","date_gmt":"2019-01-16T15:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/doctorprabhjot.com\/?p=469"},"modified":"2019-12-05T07:14:39","modified_gmt":"2019-12-05T07:14:39","slug":"that-gut-feeling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doctorprabhjot.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/16\/that-gut-feeling\/","title":{"rendered":"That Gut Feeling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Published on Women’s Weekly<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Find out what\u2019s troubling your tummy \u2013 it could change your life! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s face it \u2013 bowel habits do not make the most palatable topic for conversation. But how many of us have a worrying abdominal pain, rectal bleeding or changes in our bowel habits that we have chosen to ignore? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With colorectal cancer being the third most common cancer in women and the highest in Asia, we can no longer ignore these signs. Ageing, increasing affluence and risk factors \u2013 such as the western diet, obesity and smoking \u2013 do not help the case either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there is gastric or stomach\ncancer. Although gastric cancer in Asia\nis decreasing due to the eradication of\nthe H Pylori bacteria (this bacteria is\nlinked to gastric cancer), Asia still has\namongst the highest rates in the world.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn increased risk of stomach cancer is associated with diets containing large amounts of smoked foods, salted fish and meat, and pickled foods. On the other hand, eating fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamins A and C can lower the risk of stomach cancer,\u201d says Dr Prabhjot Singh Sidhu, consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Ara Damansara Medical Centre<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Less scary but equally problematic\nare common gastrointestinal problems\nthat occur more often among women\ncompared to their male counterparts.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is because women have a longer gut transit time, which basically\nmeans everything moves slower from\nthe start to the end of the digestive\nsystem,\u201d explains Dr Prabhjot.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The slow transit means that women\nare more likely to suffer from chronic\nconstipation than men, he adds. It also\nmeans they are more likely to experience\nnausea, bloating and gastritis than men.\nThe situation tends to worsen with age.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe slow gut transit also fluctuates with the menstrual cycle (which is worse in perimenstrual and perimenopausal phases), especially during pregnancy, due to hormonal changes. The delayed process also affects gallbladder function, leading to the increased likelihood of gallstones, although this is not the only reason for gallstones,\u201d says Dr Prabhjot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not Just Wind<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, says Dr Prabhjot, studies\nshow that women seek medical attention\nfor Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) three\nto five times more often than men. IBS\nmakes the GI tract sensitive to irritants,\nsuch as bowel gas and other elements\nthat otherwise do not bother anyone.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many facets to IBS itself, but the fact that women already have a GI tract that is much more sensitive to pressure changes compared to men only makes it worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or reflux? Women produce less stomach acid than men. \u201cIn addition, the \u2018valve\u2019 at the end of the oesophagus tends to also close more tightly in women, which offers more protection from damage caused by any refluxate. However, when reflux happens, women tend to suffer more unpleasant symptoms due to their increased sensitivity to corrosive elements,\u201d explains Dr Prabhjot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To top it off, women\u2019s colons are\n10cm longer than men\u2019s, which just\nmeans there is \u201cmore to go wrong\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are many theories out there, but the general view is that the woman\u2019s body needs to make more space for her reproductive organs. This means that the colon has to compromise or get out of the way. Just wait until the baby comes and demands more space! This complicates gastrointestinal conditions because the path leading to the exit is now more congested,\u201d says Dr Prabhjot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not all doom and gloom though,\u201d he adds. \u201cUnderstanding how women differ from men allows doctors to manage their conditions more effectively.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not Just Food<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we eat plays an important role in\nintestinal health. For instance, consuming\ncabbage can cause bloating while spicy\nfoods and an irregular diet can cause\ngastritis. Those with celiac disease get\nloose stools if they eat white bread.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it would be overly simplistic\nto think that a change of diet can reverse\ncancer or underlying medical conditions\nsuch as a polyp or stomach ulcers.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLeft untreated, gastrointestinal conditions not only cause distress and affect your quality of life, but can even be life-threatening, such as in the case of cancer,\u201d cautions Dr Prabhjot. He advises seeking medical attention when something seems out of the norm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet your doctor take your history and conduct a physical examination, and perhaps do internal investigations such as gastroscopy or colonoscopy,\u201d he says. \u201cOnly when all forms of the disease are ruled out, then diet and other factors will be considered.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naturally, stress also plays a part in\ngastrointestinal health. The brain and\nthe gut are connected through a very\ncomplex system. Having good gut flora\naffects mood and overall health, which\nis why it is important to have a balanced\ndiet and regular meals.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStudies also show that the microbiota of men and women are affected differently, even when fed the same diet. Hormonal changes in women are one of the main factors,\u201d says Dr Prabhjot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nutritional requirements also change with age. For instance, a 30-year-old woman would need to be aware of potential deficiencies in iron, folate, vitamin D, calcium and iodine, whereas an older woman should be careful about deficiencies in B12, calcium, vitamin D, fibre, omega-3 and zinc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tests for Gut Health<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gastroscopy (upper GI endoscopy): <\/strong>
\u2022 Takes about four minutes
\u2022 Minimal or no discomfort
\u2022 No sedation is needed most of the time but is available if requested <\/td><\/tr>
Conventional Gastroscopy: <\/strong>
\u2022 Done via the mouth
\u2022 Done lying down with mouth open and mouth guard in place <\/td><\/tr>
Transnasal Gastroscopy: <\/strong>
\u2022 Done via the nose, with an ultra-thin endoscope inserted into the nose
\u2022 You will sit up looking at the same screen as your doctor in real-time
\u2022 More comfortable than a conventional gastroscopy <\/td><\/tr>
Colonoscopy (lower GI endoscopy) <\/strong>
\u2022 Takes about 10 to 20 minutes
\u2022 Sedation is not necessary but is available upon request
\u2022 The bowel preparation prior to the procedure requires you to drink 2 litres of water mixed with bowel prep the night before
\u2022 Slight discomfort is felt from the air insufflations that is needed to visualise the bowel wall but is easily relieved by passing wind <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warning signs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The intestinal tract may be somewhat of a mystery, but Dr Prabhjot\u2019s advice is simple \u2013 trust your gut! This means recognising changes in your body and getting it checked out by a specialist if you sense that something is wrong or you have a family history of risk factors. <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Do not ignore these signs:\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n