Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister of Japan, was in heart failure after apparently being shot during a campaign speech on Friday in the city of Nara.

Abe, 67, was rushed to the hospital after he collapsed. While his current health situation is largely unclear, media reports suggest that the former Japanese Prime Minister was showing “no vital signs.”

Also Read: Officials arrest man for attempted murder after former Japan PM shot: Report

What do we know about Shinzo Abe’s health?

Shinzo Abe, who has had two stints as the Japanese PM, stepped down from the top office citing his health concerns. Before resigning in August 2020, Abe revealed that he had been suffering from ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease for many years.

He explained that his situation had worsened recently and he did not want his illness to disrupt his decision making as the Prime Minister, according to reports from BBC.

“I made a judgment I should not continue my job as a prime minister”, Abe said in 2020 while revealing that he was receiving a new treatment for the condition which had to be administered on a regular basis.

What is ulcerative colitis?

Ulcerative Colitis, a disease that Abe has had for decades, is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause ulcers in the lining of the colon and rectum, Reuters reported.

Usual symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramping, weight loss and fatigue. However, the disease can get worse for some people, which increases the risk of colon cancer, clots in blood vessels, and a perforated colon.

Also Read: Former Japan PM Shinzo Abe shot, shows ‘no vital signs’: Report

Is there a treatment?

Ulcerative colitis can be treated, but can not be cured. According to reports from Reuters, 5-aminosalicylic acid is a standard medication that is used by people who have the disease. It was approved in Japan in 2009, after which Abe started taking it.

Abe said in an address in 2013, “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. 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.”