Actor Mumtaz has been hospitalized due to irritable bowel syndrome. 1947-born Mumtaz Askari Madhvani was Bollywood's highest-paid actress during the 1960s and 1970s.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a disorder of the large intestine. It is also known as spastic colon, irritable colon, mucous colitis, and spastic colitis.
On the severity of the disease, many experts say that only a small number of people with IBS have severe signs and symptoms. Even then this disorder impacts the daily life of an individual to a large extent.
"The severity of the disorder varies from person to person. Some people experience symptoms that come and go and are just mildly annoying. Others have such severe daily bowel problems that IBS affects their ability to work, sleep and enjoy life. In addition, symptoms may change over time. A person may have severe symptoms for several weeks and then feel well for months or even years," says a Harvard Medical School report.
Tips to avoid irritable bowel syndrome
Contrary to what many think, IBS does not lead to colon cancer, but many people are never cured of it. Dealing with IBS needs lifelong management.
As per a 2020 research study, IBS is one of the most common disorders of gut-brain interaction, estimated to affect around 1 in 10 people globally. Though the prevalence rates appear to differ between countries, the magnitude of the effect of IBS, in terms of cost and quality of life, seems comparable around the world.
What causes IBS in people?
While a number of reasons cause IBS, the most common ones are food intolerance and bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract.
People who are allergic to certain foods do not realize it and when it affects their gut health they take it to be some other gut-related issue. Many food elements like gluten cause allergies. It is very important to know what you are eating when you are having gut issues.
Flatulence is a common sign of IBS and foods that cause gas after being eaten should be avoided.
Foods like beans, cabbages, milk products, high-fat food, deep-fried food, caffeine, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners should be avoided if one has IBS.
Experts also warn against the consumption of foods rich in fiber.
Avoid taking sugar-free chewing gums, say experts at John Hopkins, as many sugar-free gums are made with artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol and xylitol, which have been shown to cause diarrhea. In addition, chewing gum leads to more swallowed air and gassiness.
Change in the microbiome of the gut system is another factor that increases the risk of IBS. Our gut contains good bacteria and when there is an infection it disturbs the overall health of the gut.
Stress is also another factor causing IBS. Research studies have found that strong emotions like stress trigger the brain to send pain signals to the gut that can cause the colons to react.
Post her retirement from acting, in the early 1990s, Mumtaz is currently living with her family. She is married to businessman Mayur Madhvani and has two daughters.
Signs and symptoms of IBS
IBS includes a group of symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel movements which can be diarrhea or constipation, or sometimes both. Weight loss is another big sign of IBS.
Researchers have linked IBS with associated lifestyle changes, fast living, and psychological stress associated with reduced T regulatory cell response.
