Why corporate execs face so many gut issues and what they can do about it

A high stress job, the ever-changing dynamics of the corporate world, the fast food culture and the lack or inability to exercise have all resulted in most corporate professionals having a wide range of gut issues. These challenge not only the seasoned pros but also the newbies on the job. Gut issues have their highs and lows, as the job profile and stress levels change over time. Working and thriving in the corporate sector needs tremendous guts. But, how does one save one's own gut to deal with the corporate world rigour, when one's natural gut (read: intestines) is playing up.

So, what are these gut issues that plague the modern-day corporate professional? 

There is significant inter-individual variability. The most common symptoms usually are heartburn, acidity, bloating with altered bowel habits. The stomach normally releases fluid, which is acidic in nature to help digest food entering it, purify it and prepare it for transit to the intestines. The lining of the stomach is usually covered with a protective layer preventing the acid from injuring it. But that is not the case with the food pipe or oesophagus, which usually is filled with saliva or alkaline liquid, hence when acid comes up into contact with the food pipe it causes reflux or heartburn or ulcers. With stress, sedentary lifestyles, irregular eating 

timings and the tendency to eat quick junk food, the acid production increases and the delicate balance between the acid and the protective lining of the stomach tends to be disturbed, leading to a feeling of 'acidity'. 

Next we should be aware that there is a direct link between the brain and the gut called as the gut-brain axis with cross signaling from both sides that allows us to eat food when we are hungry and stop eating when we are full as well as be motivated to eat food we like because of its taste, smell or presentation, again stress and irregular eating timings play the spoilsport here and can lead to a host of symptoms, such as bloating, acidity or altered bowel habits with both diarrhea and constipation causing  illnesses including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS) . Just a word of caution here is that do no pass of a benign symptom like altered bowel habits, acidity or blood in stools by self-medication for too long before consulting a specialist as you could be harbouring something sinister.

A sedentary stressful lifestyle, job stress, the lack of exercise and unhealthy food can also lead to another major problem affecting people in their 20's 30's and 40's called Obesity. The deposition of excess fat is the precursor to almost every other lifestyle disease, be it diabetes, hypertension, gout, sleep apnea, arthritis or infertility both in men and women. A host of cancers are also linked to obesity.

These problems can usually be solved by adhering to the basics; stress less, leave the dining table with the stomach still a little hungry, eat your last meal before sunset, drink plenty of water, don't overcook your food, get enough sleep and, most importantly, exercise. Avoiding junk fast food, smoking, alcohol, sweetened beverages, sodas, and managing stress at work in a better manner can all help ease the onset of most of the gut problems.