Constipation, diarrhoea & heartburn cause for worry

NAGPUR: Prolonged lockdown, work from home (WFH) and sedentary lifestyle for months is now taking toll on the gastrointestinal health of people. Various surveys done on national level state that at least 58% of people who worked from home during the lockdown have gained excessive weight.
Doctors say they are coming across a high number of patients with abdominal problems, especially during the second lockdown.
Gastroenterologist Dr Piyush Marudwar said lockdown has led to different problems like gastroesophageal reflux disease — stomach acid flowing back into esophagus causing burning sensation in chest or stomach, sour regurgitation excessive belching etc.
“Most common reason for this is sedentary and immobile lifestyle which lockdown has brought for the people. Also, as most of the people are at home, intake of fatty food has also increased,” he said.
People are trying out new dishes — often unhealthy — and also are consuming various homemade formulas in the name of raising their immunity. As a result, the overall intake of food and calories has increased and physical activities have declined to a vast extent, said the doctor.
Gastroenterologist and hepatologist Dr Amit Agrawal said post-Covid patients are coming with acidity and Covid pancreatitis. “Due to heavy medication during Covid-19 treatment, people are suffering from these problems. Many of them are coming with vascular complications due to blood clots in intestines,” he said.
Dr Agrawal also noted that cases of pancreatitis due to excessive liquor consumption have gone down during lockdown. “Liquor is not easily accessible during this period. Parties are not happening due to physical distancing and drinking pattern has changed. Due to this, alcohol-triggered pancreatitis cases are down,” he said.
“Covid can directly damage the gastrointestinal tract and liver. This has been proved in autopsy and biopsy studies. A recent study conducted in China also showed that 23% of all Covid patients have some or other gastrointestinal issues,” said Dr Marudwar.
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, loss of appetite are common symptoms present in Covid patients, particularly in those having severe impact. The study has also shown that those suffering from gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhoea and vomiting may have worse clinical outcomes than those with respiratory symptoms. Covid vaccine can be taken by all patients with pre-existing liver and gastrointestinal problems, said the doctors.
BELLY PROBLEMS
Upper abdominal burning
Sour regurgitation
Excessive belching
Chronic cough
Irritable bowel syndrome
Abdominal bloating, cramping
Abdominal pain
Constipation, diarrhoea or both
Functional dyspepsia
WHAT DOCTORS SUGGEST
Lose weight if you are overweight or obese
Indoor exercises
Drink plenty of water
Include fruits, green leafy vegetables in diet
Avoid excessive fatty food and high calorie intake
Have positive thinking
Avoid negative news (pandemic, loss of lives)
Monitor and decrease screen time (amount of time spent on mobile, tablet, laptop) apart from your work