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Adopting a healthy lifestyle is strongly linked to a lower risk of irritable bowel syndrome or IBS for short, finds research published online in the journal Gut.

Of the big 5 healthy behaviours, not smoking, a high level of vigorous physical activity, and getting enough sleep were independently associated with keeping the condition at bay.

Characterised by abdominal pain, bloating, and abnormal bowel habit, IBS is thought to affect up to 1 in 10 people worldwide. Exactly what causes IBS isn’t fully understood, but disordered functioning of the gut–brain axis has a key role in the symptoms, explain the researchers.

Previously published research has linked individual lifestyle factors with a heightened risk of IBS, and the researchers wanted to find out if a combination of these factors might ward off the condition.

They therefore looked at the big 5 healthy behaviours-never smoking; at least 7 hours of sleep every night; a high level of vigorous physical activity every week; a high quality balanced diet every day; and moderate alcohol intake-among middle aged participants (average age 55) of the UK Biobank.

The final analysis included 64,286 people, just over half of whom (55%) were women, and who had completed at least two 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires.

During an average monitoring period of just over 12.5 years, 961 (1.5%) cases of IBS were recorded.

Of the total sample, 7604 (12%) said they didn’t do any of the 5 healthy lifestyle behaviours, while 20,662 (32%) reported one; 21,901 (34%) reported two; and 14,101 (22%) reported 3 to 5 behaviours at the start of the monitoring period.

After accounting for potentially influential factors, the higher the number of healthy behaviours, the lower was the risk of IBS.

One behaviour was associated with a 21% lower risk, while 2 were associated with a 36% lower risk; and 3 to 5 were associated with a 42% lower risk.

Although of a smaller size than when combined, 3 healthy behaviours were independently associated with a lower risk of IBS: never smoking (14% lower); high level of physical activity (17% lower); and a good night’s sleep (27% lower).

Further in depth analysis showed that these associations were independent of age, sex, employment status, residential area, gut infection, family history of IBS or other lifestyle choices.

This is an observational study, and as such, can’t establish cause, added to which it relied on self-report, which may not always be accurate and older people, so may not be applicable to younger age groups. Nor was it possible to account for any lifestyle changes over time during the monitoring period.

Nevertheless, the researchers point out: “Although lifestyle modification is recommended as a means of managing IBS symptoms, its potential role in preventing the onset of the condition has not been given due attention.”

And they conclude: “IBS has a complex aetiology, involving biological, genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors. Our findings underscore the value of lifestyle modification in the primary prevention of IBS and suggest that healthy lifestyle choices could significantly attenuate the effects of aetiological factors on the incidence of IBS.”

Reference:

Ho FF, Sun H, Zheng H, et alAssociation of healthy lifestyle behaviours with incident irritable bowel syndrome: a large population-based prospective cohort studyGut Published Online First: 20 February 2024. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-331254.

New Delhi: The drug major AstraZeneca has got approval from the Subject Expert Committee SEC functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to conduct the clinical trial of the anti-cancer drug Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd, DS-1062a) 100mg/vial and Durvalumab (MEDI4736) 500mg/vial (50mg/mL).

Around 8,000 resident doctors across the State of Maharashtra have commenced their pan-Maharashtra indefinite strike, as their demands regarding hostel accommodation and stipend hike have not been fulfilled despite written assurance from the Government authorities.

For the full story, check out the link given below:

Mass Hadtaal: 8000 Plus Maha Resident Doctors On Strike Demanding Stipend Hike, Hostel Accommodation

Seoul: South Korean hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients, while thousands of trainee doctors have been boycotting work for three days in protest against government plans to raise the admission quota for medical universities, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Thursday, citing medical sources.

On Tuesday, South Korean junior doctors launched a mass protest as more than 1,000 doctors from Seoul’s five largest hospitals reportedly handed in their resignations and refused to come to work. The crisis erupted over the government’s policy to address the shortage of medical personnel by increasing the number of students admitted to medical schools.  

Also Read:Over 1100 experts decide to boycott medical journal Nutrients, its publisher MDPI

As of Wednesday night, a total of 9,275 trainee doctors, or 74.4%, have submitted their resignations, while 8,024 of them have left their jobs, the news agency reported, citing Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo.  

The health ministry has received some 150 complaints related to the mass resignations, the official added.  

“The power of doctors does not come from collective action,” Park was quoted as saying by Yonhap as telling reporters, calling on the trainees to return to their patients and urging the protesters to join negotiations with authorities.  

The work of operating rooms has been cut in half, while the number of surgeries has dropped by 50% at Severance Hospital in central Seoul and by 30% at St. Mary’s Hospital and Asan Medical Centre, medical sources said. 

Over 6,110 doctors have been ordered to return to work and continue their services, but interns have ignored the government’s order, Yonhap reported on Wednesday.

The Korean Intern Resident Association, which unites South Korean trainee doctors, has called the government’s plan “ridiculous” and urged authorities to abandon it.