A stress-related intestinal disorder helped bundle Prime Minister Shinzo Abe out of office, but many others put up with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome without seeking medical treatment.
After announcing his resignation on Sept. 12, Abe slipped from public view into a hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with functional gastrointestinal disorders.
The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, include feelings of indigestion in the upper abdomen, stomachaches and diarrhea.