<p>Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving premier, said on Friday he was resigning because of poor health, ending a stint at the helm of the world's third-biggest economy during which he sought to revive growth and bolster its defences.</p>.<p>Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and two recent hospital visits within a week had fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, premier, in September 2021.</p>.<p>He has spoken of struggling with the disease since junior high school. A flare-up in 2007 forced him to quit as prime minister.</p>.<p>Here are the details of the disease:</p>.<p><strong>What is it?</strong></p>.<p>Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause ulcers in the lining of the colon and rectum. Symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, weight loss and fatigue.</p>.<p>The cause is unknown, but both heredity and immune system malfunctions, in which the immune system attacks cells in the digestive tract, are believed to play a role. Diet and stress can aggravate the condition.</p>.<p>Complications may include an increased risk of colon cancer, clots in blood vessels, and a perforated colon.</p>.<p><strong>What is the treatment?</strong></p>.<p>Ulcerative colitis is incurable. While moderate to severe cases are treated with corticosteroids, this is not a long-term treatment as side effects can include bone loss, high blood pressure and weight gain.</p>.<p>A type of medication called 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is the standard treatment, including Asacol, which Abe has said he started taking in 2009, when it was approved in Japan. It had been available overseas before that.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/japans-pm-shinzo-abe-says-hes-resigning-for-health-reasons-879070.html" target="_blank"> Shinzo Abe announces resignation as Japan PM</a></strong></p>.<p>"If this drug Asacol had taken more time to appear on the market in Japan, it's quite possible that I would not be where I am today," Abe said in a 2013 speech.</p>.<p>"For that very reason, I consider it both my role and my fate to restore and enrich the lives of patients suffering from intractable illnesses."</p>.<p>Side effects from the medicine, also known as mesalamine, can include nausea, headaches or vomiting. Rarely, it can worsen ulcerative colitis symptoms.</p>.<p>Other treatments include immunosuppressant drugs that require careful supervision and are usually only used if patients do not respond to other treatments.</p>.<p>The most drastic treatment is the surgical removal of the colon.</p>.<p><strong>How does it affect the quality of life?</strong></p>.<p>If kept under control, ulcerative colitis has minimal impact on daily activities between flare-ups, which can be caused by stress.</p>.<p>Some patients have frequent colonoscopies, such as every six months, to check for cancer. Abe undergoes a comprehensive physical exam twice a year.</p>.<p>In 2017, Abe said his treatment was fuelling his appetite, adding, "I now must worry about issues I once thought were completely unrelated to me, including gaining visceral fat, worrying about body fat, and my cholesterol level. I hit the upper limits on tests for each of these issues." </p>
<p>Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving premier, said on Friday he was resigning because of poor health, ending a stint at the helm of the world's third-biggest economy during which he sought to revive growth and bolster its defences.</p>.<p>Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and two recent hospital visits within a week had fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, premier, in September 2021.</p>.<p>He has spoken of struggling with the disease since junior high school. A flare-up in 2007 forced him to quit as prime minister.</p>.<p>Here are the details of the disease:</p>.<p><strong>What is it?</strong></p>.<p>Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause ulcers in the lining of the colon and rectum. Symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, weight loss and fatigue.</p>.<p>The cause is unknown, but both heredity and immune system malfunctions, in which the immune system attacks cells in the digestive tract, are believed to play a role. Diet and stress can aggravate the condition.</p>.<p>Complications may include an increased risk of colon cancer, clots in blood vessels, and a perforated colon.</p>.<p><strong>What is the treatment?</strong></p>.<p>Ulcerative colitis is incurable. While moderate to severe cases are treated with corticosteroids, this is not a long-term treatment as side effects can include bone loss, high blood pressure and weight gain.</p>.<p>A type of medication called 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is the standard treatment, including Asacol, which Abe has said he started taking in 2009, when it was approved in Japan. It had been available overseas before that.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/japans-pm-shinzo-abe-says-hes-resigning-for-health-reasons-879070.html" target="_blank"> Shinzo Abe announces resignation as Japan PM</a></strong></p>.<p>"If this drug Asacol had taken more time to appear on the market in Japan, it's quite possible that I would not be where I am today," Abe said in a 2013 speech.</p>.<p>"For that very reason, I consider it both my role and my fate to restore and enrich the lives of patients suffering from intractable illnesses."</p>.<p>Side effects from the medicine, also known as mesalamine, can include nausea, headaches or vomiting. Rarely, it can worsen ulcerative colitis symptoms.</p>.<p>Other treatments include immunosuppressant drugs that require careful supervision and are usually only used if patients do not respond to other treatments.</p>.<p>The most drastic treatment is the surgical removal of the colon.</p>.<p><strong>How does it affect the quality of life?</strong></p>.<p>If kept under control, ulcerative colitis has minimal impact on daily activities between flare-ups, which can be caused by stress.</p>.<p>Some patients have frequent colonoscopies, such as every six months, to check for cancer. Abe undergoes a comprehensive physical exam twice a year.</p>.<p>In 2017, Abe said his treatment was fuelling his appetite, adding, "I now must worry about issues I once thought were completely unrelated to me, including gaining visceral fat, worrying about body fat, and my cholesterol level. I hit the upper limits on tests for each of these issues." </p>