Bloated, Tired, And Uncomfortable? This Hidden Gut Issue Might Be To Blame

Persistent bloating and digestive discomfort may signal Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a common yet underdiagnosed gastrointestinal disorder. We got in touch with an expert who explains the role of diet, stress, and gut-brain interaction in IBS symptoms. Early diagnosis and lifestyle changes, and stress management, can significantly improve quality of life.

We’ve all had those moments—feeling overly full after a meal, unbuttoning the jeans to relieve a tight belly, or trying to handle a sudden burst of gas discreetly. Most of us blame it on a rich lunch, but when these symptoms become a routine part of life, it may be more than just indigestion. Experts say that persistent bloating, cramping, and irregular bowel movements could point to a more chronic condition: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

IBS is a common gastrointestinal disorder that affects the large intestine and can significantly impact quality of life. Despite affecting an estimated 10-15 per cent of the global population, IBS remains underdiagnosed, largely because its symptoms are similar to everyday digestive discomforts.

“IBS is not just about an upset stomach—it’s a chronic condition that stems from a complex interaction between the brain and the gut,” explains Dr Imran Shaikh, Consultant GI, HPB Surgeon and GI Oncosurgeon at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central. “Patients often report a combination of symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and changes in bowel habits such as constipation, diarrhoea, or both.”

Unlike other digestive disorders, IBS doesn’t cause permanent damage to the intestines. However, the persistence and unpredictability of its symptoms can make day-to-day life challenging. A key feature of IBS is symptom fluctuation based on meals and emotional stress, with many patients experiencing relief after a bowel movement.

What Causes IBS?

The exact cause of IBS remains unclear, but experts agree it’s multifactorial. The gut-brain axis—a communication network linking the central nervous system to the digestive tract—plays a crucial role.

“IBS is often the result of miscommunication between the brain and the gut. Factors like stress, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, and dietary triggers can aggravate symptoms,” Dr Shaikh shares.

Common triggers include high-fat foods, dairy, artificial sweeteners, and gas-producing vegetables like broccoli or cabbage. Stress, too, is a known factor, making IBS not just a digestive disorder but a psychosomatic one.

Risks and Impact

While IBS isn’t life-threatening, it can seriously affect mental health and productivity. “Many patients experience emotional distress due to the unpredictability of their symptoms, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal,” adds Dr Shaikh.

Moreover, IBS can result in significant economic costs due to missed workdays and frequent doctor visits. Without proper diagnosis and management, patients often undergo unnecessary tests and treatments.

How To Manage IBS?

The good news is that IBS can be managed effectively through a combination of dietary and lifestyle changes.

“Following a low FODMAP diet—which limits fermentable carbs that feed gut bacteria—has shown significant symptom relief for many,” says Dr Shaikh. “In addition, incorporating stress management techniques like mindfulness, yoga, or cognitive behavioural therapy can make a meaningful difference.”

In some cases, medications such as antispasmodics, laxatives, or antidepressants may be prescribed, depending on the dominant symptoms.

When to Seek Help

If you frequently battle bloating, irregular stools, or abdominal discomfort, it’s worth seeking medical advice. Early diagnosis and intervention can prevent the condition from affecting your physical and emotional well-being.

“A healthy gut is not just about digestion—it’s fundamental to overall health,” Dr Shaikh explains. “Don’t ignore what your gut is trying to tell you.”

For those experiencing ongoing digestive issues, IBS may not just be an inconvenience—it could be the clue to a deeper, treatable condition.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Frothy urine: Could it be a sign of kidney disease? Here’s what you should know

Making healthier lifestyle choices to keep your kidneys as healthy as possible is essential to overall health. Your kidneys filter all the blood in your body every 30 minutes. They remove toxins, excess fluid and waste products besides many other crucial functions. These amazing organs work normally without any problems most of the time, but they can be damaged and may not work as well as they should. This is known as chronic kidney disease.

Kidney disease is a major public health concern, affecting anyone at any age. However, most people know very little about this chronic condition. Kidney disease, if detected early, can be treatable for some people. If kidney disease goes undetected or is not managed well, it can lead to kidney failure - this is when a person would require dialysis or a transplant. On the occasion of World Kidney Day (March 12), Timesnownews.com talked to Dr Ravish IR, lead consultant, urology, Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore, who explains why kidney disease is considered a silent killer, and what individuals can do to stop the 'silent epidemic' of kidney disease.

Salome Phelamei: Why is kidney disease called a ‘silent killer’? What are the early warning signs and symptoms of kidney disease?
Dr Ravish IR: Kidneys are silent workers and once they fail, they fail silently many times. In fact, getting kidneys checked with blood and urine tests is the only way for many people to find out whether they have a kidney problem. You can have kidney damage without any symptoms. The early signs and symptoms are very subtle which include the following:

1. Passing frothy urine
2. Frequent urination at night
3. Coloured urine
4. Puffiness of face
5. Fullness in the legs

People will tend to correlate these things with many other things. So, until and unless you get screened for the problems, many times it will be missed.

Salome Phelamei: What are the best and worst foods for kidneys?
Dr Ravish IR: It is best to maintain hydration well. People with a kidney problem should avoid very high protein foods like red meats, high salt, sugary diets. If you have advanced kidney problems, you must avoid potassium-rich foods like fruits, fruit juices, coconut water, etc.

Salome Phelamei: Is it possible for a person to lead a normal life after kidney failure?
Dr Ravish IR: People with kidney problems can maintain a near-normal life if they have adequate dialysis, but best is to get a renal transplant - which is the best treatment option among all the replacement therapy available.
Here are a few tips to prevent chronic kidney disease:

• Be careful about taking over-the-counter pain killer medications
• Quit smoking, alcohol
• Exercise regularly
• Get enough sleep
• Modify the lifestyle so that blood pressure, diabetes be under control
• Reduce weight if you are overweight or obese
• If you have stones in the kidney, avoid getting recurrent infections and, maintain hydration
• If you are elderly, consult a doctor and get screening tests regularly
• Assess your risk - for example, determine whether you have a family history of diabetes, hypertension, kidney problems, etc.

If you already have a history of diabetes, hypertension, congenital kidney problems, heart issues, get screened for kidney disease. Your doctor may ask you to get a few life-saving tests done - such as assessment of kidney function, urine examination for protein, etc.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Add pumpkins to your diet if you want to lose weight

The humble pumpkin is a powerhouse of vital antioxidants and vitamins. It is low in calories and is rich in vitamin-A and flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants like lutein, xanthin and carotenes. Pumpkins are also a good source of protein, minerals and omega 3 fatty acids. It is a staple among many communities cross the world. It belongs to the squash family and can be used to make decadently rich desserts, rich and creamy soups, delectable salads and preserves. Sometimes, people even use it as a substitute for butter. You can eat the leaves and seeds too, and these come with health benefits too. This bright orange vegetable is known to offer protection from cancer, diabetes and age-related vision loss.

Who would’ve thought that the same pumpkin that is used to make the sugar-filled and calorie-rich pumpkin pie can also be used to help you reach your weight loss goal while enhancing your workout performance?

For the athletes out there looking for a healthy and organic alternative to sugary protein bars, just head on over to your nearest pumpkin patch. Since we’re nearing the fall season, it’s the perfect time of year. Pumpkins are full of nutrients that are beneficial to athletic performance and recovery. Here’s how.
Workout and Weight Loss Benefits of Pumpkins

Even though this bright orange gourd has a link to Jack-O-Lanterns and sugar-laden desserts, many people often forget that pumpkins are actually a nutritional powerhouse full of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Promotes Fullness and Strengthens Digestive Health

Fresh pumpkin contains mostly fiber. It helps you to feel satisfied after a meal and fight off food cravings by keeping you fuller longer. Feelings of fullness are especially important for those who may want to lose body fat.

Fiber is also essential for digestive and gastrointestinal health. If you are considering using pumpkin for either of these benefits, consider using canned pumpkin because it contains more fiber. The difference in fiber between fresh pumpkin and canned pumpkin is due to the fact that canned pumpkin is much more concentrated and has less water content than fresh pumpkin.

Helps Build and Maintain Strong Bones

Pumpkin is also an exceptional source of vitamin A. It is a fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that helps build strong bones and regulates the development of cells. Just half a cup of cooked pumpkin offers up over 100 per cent of your recommended intake of vitamin A. This will help keep your eyesight sharp and bones strong.

Supports Muscle Growth

After you use pumpkins for your pumpkin carvings, make sure you save the seeds because they’re very useful for muscle building. Not only are pumpkin seeds a wonderful source of zinc, which is a micro-nutrient responsible for cell metabolism and immunity, they also contain magnesium, an important co-factor for ATP energy production that creates glucose.

Glucose is our body’s source of energy during exercise because we’re more efficient at converting it to energy. Pumpkins provide us with the fuel we need to exercise, and more fuel means we can perform at a higher level for a longer period which helps build muscle.

Prevents Sore Muscles and Burn Out

When we have a good workout, we lose electrolytes. These are useful for restoring our electrolytes after hard workouts since they have electrolytes like calcium, magnesium and potassium. Low potassium levels can cause cramping and early onset fatigue. The good thing is, just one cup has 564 milligrams of potassium. This is 100 milligrams more than the amount of potassium in a banana. It can prevent sore muscles and burn out during your workout.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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Weight Gain Or Tumour?

A California man is on the mend after having a 77-pound tumor removed from his abdomen that he thought was “just” a beer belly.

The man eventually went to the doctor this summer to get checked out. His friends teased him about his beer belly, even though he didn’t drink beer, and his stomach and weight didn’t seem to change when he exercised even though his arms were getting thinner, according to a news release from the hospital, where he sought care. His stomach was also hard.

He was eventually diagnosed with a retroperitoneal liposarcoma, a cancer that starts in the fat cells at the back of the abdomen. He eventually had the tumor removed in a complicated six-hour operation, and a week later, he was more than 100 pounds lighter.

He is hardly the first person to write off his unexplained weight gain only to later find out that it was due to a tumor. In May, an Alabama woman had a 50-pound ovarian cyst removed that she initially thought was just due to weight gain, according to report. The internet is filled with stories like these. 

So, how can someone know if their weight gain is due to dietary or other issues versus a tumor? “It is not always easy,” says a cancer specialist. “But some clues that this might be something different than just [regular] weight gain is that the weight gain is asymmetric or happening very fast.”

This kind of tumor usually doesn’t cause pain, “but patients can notice a change in their bowel habits (usually more sluggish) and feeling full more quickly,” the Dr. says. “Also when lying down, they might notice feeling uncomfortable in certain positions or having a sensation of fullness on one side.” A person’s clothes may also not fit the way they used to and may be tighter on one side than the other, she says. “It is possible that if a tumor is large, it may cause pressure on the blood vessels to the legs and there can be fluid retention of the legs. One should be concerned especially if there is swelling in one leg and not the other,” she adds.

“There’s no way in terms of symptoms to definitively say ‘This is due to cancer and this is not,’”  a surgical oncologist says. “Any unexplained change in weight should be checked out.”

Of course, there could be many other reasons why you’re gaining weight, including a thyroid condition, so it doesn’t hurt to check in with your primary care physician for a workup if you’ve noticed ongoing unexplained weight gain. “I would also seek medical attention if you feel the weight is going on one side and not the other, or you notice you are feeling full more quickly and truly are eating less food but continue to gain weight,” the Dr. says. “The challenge is that many of these tumors can be slow growing, so changes may not be obvious.”

Regardless, if you notice that something might be off, “don’t let things with your body that seem odd to you go by,” the Dr. advises.

It is always best to seek medical advise the moment we notice something abnormal in us, may be food or bowel movements, can be speech, trouble swallowing. feeling full eating little, blood in urine/ stools , sudden blurred vision, and so on.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Appetite hormone doesn’t work in obese people

A hormone that involves regulation of appetite, loses its ability to help obese people feel full after a meal, but continues to suppress hunger in people suffering from type 1 diabetes, according to a study. 

The primary role of glucagon, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, is to signal the body to release stored glucose when blood sugar falls too low. But growing evidence suggests the hormone also may play a role in controlling food intake and feelings of fullness, or satiation, through signaling the body to reduce levels of other appetite hormones like ghrelin. 

Lead author , said that once a person becomes obese, glucagon no longer induces feelings of fullness. 

The prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study investigated glucagon levels and appetite among 11 obese people, 13 people with type 1 diabetes and 13 lean people. 

Participants received injections of either glucagon or a placebo. Researchers then measured participants' appetites using a satiety scale as well as levels of the appetite hormone ghrelin. 

Feelings of fullness did not differ between obese study participants who received glucagon injections and those who were given the placebo. In comparison, participants who were lean or had type 1 diabetes reported feeling significantly more full after receiving glucagon. The response to the hormone was detectable in this population, even 24 hours after it was administered. 

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