THE STAR, TUESDAY 28 JULY 2015

special

NORTHERN HEALTHCARE

Affordable,
accessible,
advanced

THE STAR, TUESDAY 28 JULY 2015

2 northern healthcare

By THERESA BELLE
MALAYSIAS reputation as a haven for
travel, nature and shopping enthusiasts is
now known worldwide, but its portfolio has
grown in recent years to also include
medical tourism.
Realising the potential for increased
investments and growth within this sector,
the Government set up the Malaysia
Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) 10 years
ago under the Health Ministry to promote
the country as a destination for world-class
healthcare services.
This council works with the Association
of Private Hospitals of Malaysia and
Malaysian Dental Association, among
others, to develop programmes to upgrade
and promote local healthcare offerings.
Statistics from the MHTC show an
encouraging rise in the number of
healthcare travellers, with the total number
of medical tourists leaping 37.6% from
641,000 in 2011 to 882,000 last year.
This generated a total medical tourism
revenue of RM730mil last year; this revenue
has been steadily rising in the past decade.
Of this years amount, more than half
were reported to seek healthcare services in
Penang.
The medical tourism boom can be largely
attributed to the combined efforts of public
and private sectors.
While states such as Penang offer various
investment opportunities to foreign and
local private parties alike, federal and state
governments maintain their position as
major forces in developing the states
healthcare facilities and human capital.
The Federal Government also encourages
public-private partnerships, which face
increased demands to accommodate
the growing need for trained medical

In recent years, Malaysia has become a prime destination for medical tourism.

Beyond medical borders

professionals and top-notch hospitals in the
country catering to medical tourists.
This blend of healthcare and tourism has
quickly become such a force to be reckoned
with economically that the Government is
banking on it to expand by 15% annually
until 2020, at which point it will be worth
approximately RM2bil.
This is reflected in the 11th Malaysia Plan
(11MP), which recognises the key role of the
Healthcare National Economic Area in the
Economic Transformation Programme.

International attention
The earliest medical tourists came from
Indonesia, where healthcare facilities were
not as readily available.
The similarities in communication and
culture as well as geographical proximity
made Malaysia the prime choice for
Indonesians.
In recent years, the country has continued
to attract clients from all over the world,
especially neighbouring Asian countries, the
Middle East and East Africa.
Middle-class citizens in certain countries
in these regions now have the financial
means to afford quality healthcare, but
lack the resources and services in their
homeland which brings them to Malaysian
shores.
Citizens of medically advanced countries
in Australasia, the Americas and Europe, on

the other hand, display a growing interest

in services in Malaysia that are costly back
home and are typically not covered by
health insurance, such as dental and
cosmetic surgery.
The northern region of Malaysia,
especially Penang, has been a major player
in the healthcare tourism scene.
People flock to the north for all sorts
of medical procedures, from corrective
surgeries to minimally invasive cardiac
bypasses.
As people all around the world take
control of their well-being, they began to
seek the best options for quality healthcare.
The South-East Asian region is much
more accessible today, so people are able to
go beyond borders in this search.
On top of that, the healthcare sectors
constant expansion and innovation
supplement its growth for instance,
Malaysias Halal Industry Development
Corporation is now in the midst of
developing halal vaccines for meningitis,
hepatitis and meningococcal.
This is a good fit, given the countrys
position as a global halal industry leader.
Meningitis vaccinations are a field of
focus as they are required by Muslims
going to perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia. This
project accrued US$100mil (RM381mil) in
investments from a Saudi corporation.

>> SEE PAGE 3

Why the northern region of Malaysia?

Shorter waiting lists for treatment and surgery ensure timely treatment
Top-notch facilities and amenities at affordable rates
Similar medical technology to the United States and United Kingdom available for
use at lower prices
Offers the best of western and eastern medicine, using traditional and modern
medicine complementarily for optimum results
Medical institutions and professionals uphold first-class standards to provide
excellent services
Healthcare sector backed by government with consistent policies and laws
Ease of communication as English is widely spoken
Safe, accessible and beautiful holiday spots suitable for rest and relaxation

THE STAR, TUESDAY 28 JULY 2015

INTERNATIONAL Specialist Eye

Centre (ISEC) Penang is the first
major ISEC branch outside Kuala
Lumpur and was established in
2013 on Jalan Burma, George
Town.
The centre specialises in
comprehensive eye healthcare
and substantial investments
and resources have been put
into the state-of-the-art eye
centre to help deliver quality eye
care at an affordable price to
patients.
ISEC Penang serves the
northern part of Malaysia as
well as neighbouring countries,
including Indonesia, Thailand
and Singapore.
Dr Alan Ang, Dr Tsiang Ung
and Dr Adrian Tey make up the
team of internationally trained
and highly experienced
specialist doctors at the centre.
All three doctors obtained
their undergraduate medical
education from prestigious
universities in the United
Kingdom.
Subsequently, they each
underwent ophthalmology
training at leading teaching
hospitals in the UK.
Dr Ang graduated from Belfast
University and underwent
vitreoretinal fellowships in
Cambridge and Oxford.
Dr Tsiang, a graduate of
Southampton University, did her

northern healthcare 3

Top care for the eye

Dr Alan Ang.

Dr Tsiang Ung.

Dr Adrian Tey.

paediatric ophthalmology
fellowship in Manchester, and
oculoplastic and strabismology
fellowships in Sheffield.
After graduating from
Aberdeen University, Dr Tey
underwent corneal, external eye
diseases and refractive surgery
fellowships in Newcastle and
Liverpool.
Dr Tey also obtained subspecialist training in glaucoma
management while in Liverpool.
Between them, they have

accumulated more than 40 years of

ophthalmic experience and have
performed thousands of eye
procedures.
Due to the sub-specialist training
of these doctors, ISEC Penang has
been able to provide high-quality

care in managing complex eye

conditions and performing
specialised eye operations.
Notable complex surgeries include
the return of sight to patients with
tractional retinal detachment due to
severe diabetes and the removal of

Going for gold

>> FROM PAGE 2
Malaysia was named the
Destination of the Year at the
IMTJ Medical Travel Awards in
April a great feat for any
country, what more a developing
nation.
Chief executive officer of
MHTC Sherene Azli lauds this as
a great achievement for the
country and also recognises it as
a sign of greater things to come.
In an interview with Global
Health and Travel magazine, she
said, We are confident that our
advantage in areas such as
cardiology, fertility, dentistry,
opthalmology, orthopaedics and
neurology will still attract
patients, but are also looking to
bring in the wellness component
as a complementary service.
Penang is named as one of the
healthcare focus areas under the
11MP, along with Malacca and
Johor Baru.
Thanks to its highly accessible
location (Penang is linked to all
major South-East Asian cities by
air) and long-existing reputation
as a popular historical island,
this northern gem is filled with
expatriates who visit not just for
business and leisure, but medical
reasons too.
Another advantage in Penang
is the ready pool of Malaysian
medical graduates who are able
to fill the positions of doctors,
nurses, technicians and
physiotherapists, among others,
in new and improved facilities.
The presence of medical
institutes such as Penang
Medical Collage in the north is
able to grow the local talent pool,
further spurring development of
the local healthcare industry.
At the end of the day,

education and specialisation will

continue to be the main pillars
supporting the growth of
medical tourism in the country.
In fact, former president of the
Malaysian Medical Association
Datuk Dr N. K. S. Tharmaseelan
suggested in an interview with
The Establishment Post that
Malaysia must identify a niche
so that it may further streamline
growth and attract those within
a specific target market.
He said that geriatrics could
be Malaysias niche to meet the
potential demands of a fastageing Asian population.
Malaysian Healthcare
Travel Council registered
medical providers in the
northern region

Darul Makmur
Medical Centre
Sdn Bhd
Fatimah Hospital
Gleneagles Medical
Centre Penang
Hospital Lam Wah Ee
Island Hospital
Kedah Medical Centre
KPJ Ipoh Specialist
Hospital
KPJ Penang Specialist
Hospital
Mount Miriam
Hospital
Optimax Eye
Specialist Hospital
Pantai Hospital
Penang
Penang Adventist
Hospital
Perdana Specialist
Hospital
Pusat Pakar
Amanjaya (Amanjaya
Specialist Centre)

congenital cataracts to restore sight

in babies.
The first advanced corneal
transplantations performed in the
northern region, which involved a
patient requiring an anterior
lamellar graft (DALK) and another
patient requiring a posterior
lamellar graft (DSEK), were carried
out successfully and have since
continued to be effectively
performed on other patients at
ISEC Penang.
An advanced glaucoma surgery
that uses filtration tubes has also
been successfully performed.
By providing multiple subspecialists, ISEC Penang aims to be a
one-stop eye centre for patients with
multiple pathological conditions of
the eye and provide world-class eye
healthcare.

n For more information,

call 04-228 8802 or e-mail
enquiries@isecpenang.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 28 JULY 2015

4 northern healthcare

Passage to good health

ALLERGIC rhinitis is an
inflammation of the nasal passages
of the nose caused by an allergic
reaction to substances present in
the environment, such as dust mites
and pollutants.
The three primary symptoms of
allergic rhinitis are sneezing, nasal
blockage and mucous discharge or a
runny nose. As allergy-prone noses
become inflamed and blocked,
sinusitis can develop.
Allergies result from an
individuals immune system being
over-reactive.
In this hypersensitive state, the
body mistakes harmless substances
present in the environment for
germs and mounts an attack against
them.
Unless the hypersensitive state of
the immune system is addressed,
nasal allergies are likely to develop
into more serious conditions such as
asthma.
A 23-year-long study published in

Allergy & Asthma Proceedings 2002

reported that one in every three
people with allergic rhinitis (nasal
allergies) goes on to develop
asthma.
As asthma is generally permanent
by the time of diagnosis, early
recognition and treatment of nasal
allergies is crucial to help reduce
the prevalence and severity of this
condition.
Nasal allergies also often co-exist
with other conditions such as
chronic sinusitis, middle ear
infections, airway infections, sleep
disorders, snoring, nasal polyposis
and asthma.
Chronic sinusitis is caused by a
long-term sinus inflammation of
about 12 weeks or more that keeps
recurring despite treatment.
Sinusitis is prevalent in about 3.5
million individuals in Malaysia.
Globally, about half of rhinosinusitis
cases are caused by nasal allergies.
Most anti-allergy medicines

provide only symptomatic relief

while the immune system is left
hypersensitive to continue its
inflammatory onslaught.
Natural alternatives such as
vitamin C, echinacea and fish oils
only prevent secondary microbial
infections instead of addressing the
primary issue concerning the
immune system.
There has been considerable
research carried out on
phytomedicines (plant medicines) to
help manage allergies.
In particular, researchers at the
Ruder Boskovic Institute in Croatia
have discovered that an activated
Astragalus root extract known as
Lectranal possesses immuneregulating actions to calm the
hypersensitive immune system,
preventing allergies from being
triggered in the first place.
Unlike existing antihistamine,
decongestant or steroid sprays,
which block allergy symptoms after

they have occurred,

Lectranal works
by modulating
the immune
system to
differentiate
between what
is harmful
and harmless
in the
environment.
By doing so, the immune
system learns how to respond
discriminately and optimally.
The acclaimed phytomedicine
journal, Phytotherapy, published
a study in 2010 on the use of
Lectranal, which showed that
treatment with Lectranal
resulted in an overall
improvement of nasal allergies
by more than 70% after at least
six weeks of treatment at a dose
of one capsule twice daily.
Owing to its novel mechanism
of action at the root of allergies,

Lectranal has the potential to

interfere with the natural course
of the disease.
Lectranal presents an
opportunity to prevent allergies
from worsening and avoid the
development of new ones.
This article is brought to you
by the Nuvaceuticals Division of
Nuvanta Sdn Bhd.

n For more information,

call 03-5636 3758 or e-mail
pharmacist@nuvanta.com

Hi-tech equipment
in medical care
MALAYSIA has become one of
the best destinations for medical
tourism, generating an estimated
revenue of RM730mil last year.
Excellent medical services and
state-of-the-art equipment are
not only providing a quicker
turnaround time for test results
but safer and more accurate
medical treatments.
To provide comprehensive
medical services, hospitals
are investing in the best
medical equipment, including
computerised medical imaging.

Whole-body scanners
Computed tomography (CT)
and magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) scanners are widely used
not only to produce high-quality
pictures of organs, soft tissue,
bone and other internal body
structures, but also to examine
the density of each organ and
provide doctors with detailed
information that is useful in
determining the best treatments
for patients.
New CT machines are able to
take a higher number of twodimensional pictures (slices) of
the human body to produce
detailed three-dimensional
images of the patients anatomy.
64-slice or 128-slice CT
scanners may still be used in
many medical institutions but
some hospitals have taken
advantage of current
technological advancements by
upgrading to 640-slice CT
scanners.
This is a massive technological
leap from the four-slice
multislice CT (MSCT-4) machines
and the latest developments
enable faster and more accurate
CT examinations with reduced
radiation exposure to patients.
A positron emission
tomography (PET) scan is an

examination method that uses

gamma radiation to create threedimensional, colour images of
the functional processes in the
human body.
While CT or MRI scans
examine the size and shape of
body organs and tissue, PET
scans look at the functions of
those organs.
Some hospitals have also
introduced combined PET-CT
machines in the field of oncology
or cancer management, enabling
early detection of cancers and
spread of tumours.
The 3T MRI machine is
another technological innovation
available in hospitals.
Compared to the industry
standard of a 1.5T MRI machine,
the 3T offers better capabilities
in identifying and characterising
diseases in screening, diagnosis,
surgery planning, therapy
monitoring and check-ups.
The machine enables
specialists to conduct more
neurological studies and less
invasive neurosurgical works
on patients, especially in
operations involving the brain,
musculoskeletal system and
spine.

Mammogram and
urology
Digital mammogram machines
are being introduced in many
hospitals as they provide new
image dimensions and faster
detection.
While the older machines
have long been used as tools
to diagnose breast cancer,
these new digital machines
provide high-quality images
and more accurate results
that can be generated within
seconds.

>> SEE PAGE 7

THE STAR, TUESDAY 28 JULY 2015

northern healthcare 5

Restoring optimal well-being

IF your usually strong, easy-going
and good-tempered male partner
has become easily irritated, suffers
from mood swings, complains of
fatigue, seems depressed and has
lost interest in sex, he may be
experiencing symptoms of a
testosterone deficiency, often
referred to as andropause.
Andropause is defined as a
gradual decline of testosterone
levels in men.
Testosterone is the male sex
hormone that is responsible for
typical male characteristics such as
facial, pubic and body hair as well
as muscle development.
This hormone helps maintain
sex drive, sperm production and
bone health. As a man gets older,
his testosterone levels slowly start
to decline.
Two Malaysian studies The
2003 PJ Mens Health Study and The
2006 Subang and Kelana Jaya Mens
Health Research found that an
average 20% of men above the age
of 40 experience testosterone
deficiency.
A man is deficient in
testosterone if his testosterone
level is lower than 11nmol/L or
350ng/dL.
Even in otherwise healthy men,
testosterone levels decrease with
age, typically at a rate of about 1%
to 1.5% per year after the age of

Testosterone deficiency is linked

to metabolic syndrome and
conditions such as hypertension,
hyperlipidaemia, diabetes and
obesity.
If you have any of these medical
conditions, you may be at risk of
low testosterone levels.

Natural remedy
There are natural remedies
available to alleviate the
symptoms of andropause.
40. That may not sound like much,
but over time, the decline can have
unpleasant consequences in some
men.
The American Urological
Association reported that:
l One in every five men lacks
sexual desire
l One in every nine men does not
experience pleasure during sexual
intercourse
l One in every four men has low
testosterone levels and low libido
l A mans sexual activity declines
with age
Men who have low libido, low
arousal, decreased energy levels
and who seem depressed or bored

of their romantic relationship may

be experiencing low testosterone
levels.
Signs and symptoms of
andropause:
l Low libido (sex drive)
l Decreased erectile quality
l Decreased lean body mass
l Lack of muscle bulk and
strength
l Increased abdominal fat
l Diminished physical or work
performance
l Bone loss and osteoporosis
l Hair loss or decreased body hair
l Changes in mood (irritability,
depression, anger, mood swings)
l Enlarged breasts
l Low or zero sperm count

Testofen is a unique fenugreek

(Trigonella foenum-graecum)
extract, standardised to 50%
Fenuside and patented and
owned by Gencor Pacific
Group Inc, United States.
Testofen has the ability to
enhance libido and improve
muscle mass, properties not seen
in any other currently available
non-standardised fenugreek
extracts.
The companys research on
Testofen demonstrated both
androgenic (increase of male
functions) and anabolic
(increase in muscle tone and
strength) properties in the
extract, thus displaying
testosterone-like activities.
In 2009, a double-blind,
randomised, placebo-controlled
clinical study was conducted
on 60 healthy men aged 25 to
52 in Australia.
Using a standardised

formulation containing Testofen as

a major ingredient for six weeks,
the study showed that 85.2% of
individuals in the Testofen group
experienced an overall positive
effect on the physiological aspects
of libido.
The study was published in
Phytotherapy in 2011.
The active group also
experienced a statistically
significant increase in sexual
function and performance.
In addition, the studys
participants reported an increase
in muscle strength, energy levels
and well-being.
In traditional Chinese medicine,
there are several types of ginseng
commonly used for their health
benefits, with each type having
unique healing properties.
For example, Asian or Korean
ginseng (Panax ginseng) has
heating properties, which help
improve blood circulation to the
extremities.
Panax ginseng appears to
be effective in the treatment
of erectile dysfunction as
reported in a study published
in Journal of Psychopharmacology
in 2005.

n For more information,

call 1300 881 712 or e-mail
ask-prime@cambert.com.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 28 JULY 2015

6 northern healthcare

Treating diabetic eye disease

These include:
l Patients need to perform frequent visits
to an eye clinic for injections and follow-up
in the first year
l There is a significant financial burden
associated with anti-VEGF treatment
l The treatment prevents significant
visual loss caused by diabetic macular
oedema

DIABETES is one of the conditions referred to

as a metabolic syndrome (other conditions
include obesity, hypertension and
hypercholesterolaemia).
It is a systemic disorder where the
fundamental problem is the bodys inability
to utilise the sugar released from the foods
consumed. This is due to the lack of insulin
(Type 1 diabetes) or insulin resistance (Type
2 diabetes).
Consequently, sugar is not absorbed and
stays in the bloodstream, which causes
negative effects on organs in the body.

Diabetes and the eye

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness
among working adults. Diabetics are at risk
of having eye-related problems, the main
ones being cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic
retinopathy.
Diabetic maculopathy is a subset of
diabetic retinopathy where the disease
occurs in the macula (the most important
part of our retina responsible for central
vision).
This leads to rapid vision loss and as many

as 20% of individuals with diabetes will have

visual loss due to diabetic maculopathy.
Fortunately, there is a treatment for
diabetic macular oedema. Since the advent
of anti-VEGF (anti-vascular endothelial
growth factor) agents, ophthalmologists have
been using anti-VEGF injections to treat
diabetic macular oedema.
Three years after the approval of antiVEGF ranibizumab (Lucentis) in the
treatment of diabetic macular oedema, there
are now more options and information to
guide treatment regimes and improve

outcomes for patients.

A study published in the New England
Journal of Medicine this year showed
the effects of three anti-VEGF agents
(bevacizumab, ranibizumab and aflibercept)
that were used to treat a large cohort of
patients with diabetic macular oedema over
a period of one year.
The effects of the three anti-VEGF agents
were compared over a one-year period. The
results showed that all three drugs, with
frequent injections (an average of eight),
benefited patients vision.
More information about each agent will be
revealed as results from the subsequent
years of this study are reported.
The results of this study have significant
implications on the treatment of patients
with diabetic macular oedema.

Ethical standards require patients to be

made aware of available treatment options
and the risks and benefits associated with
each anti-VEGF agent.
Always have a thorough discussion with
an ophthalmologist to understand what you
need to treat your eye condition and seek a
second opinion if possible.
Lee Eye Centre is a Health Ministry
accredited Ambulatory Care Centre (ACC)
in Perak with modern eye care facilities
focused on providing same-day surgical
care as well as diagnostic and dispensary
services.
As an ACC, Lee Eye Centre enables
patients to go through their surgical
procedure and be discharged the same day,
a convenient and affordable option. The
centre has a strong track record of quality
care and positive patient outcomes.

n For more information, call 05-254 0095

or e-mail enquiry@lec.com.my

Goodbye to snoring
SNORING is one of the surprising things that
can affect a relationship. Although it is not
their fault, snorers often feel bad for
affecting the sleep quality of their loved
ones.
Richard Benson, director of Benson
Medical Services Pty Ltd based in Australia,
shares his motivation to invent Snoreben, a
medical device to help snorers.
I have alar collapse (nasal collapse),
which restricts the airflow of my nasal
passages and causes me to snore, says
Benson.
However, snoring is not limited to people
with nasal collapse. Ninety percent of people
who suffer from a deviated septum or
trauma to the nose caused by accidents
snore as well.
To treat his snoring, Benson tried various
sprays, breathing strips, an acupressure ring
and even two surgeries but to no avail.
Due to his snoring, Benson and his wife
were sleeping separately for more than five
years. Aware that their relationship would
be affected if they continued to sleep apart
from each other, he knew he had to find a
solution.
After trying treatments that didnt work, I
realised that if I wanted to ease my snoring, I
had to do it myself, he says.
With a background in aeronautical
engineering, Benson decided to apply his
knowledge to create something to help
snorers like himself.
From my conversations with doctors, I
knew that my collapsed nostrils were
restricting my breathing. Because my
nostrils collapse when I breathe in, the
solution is to somehow prop them open
when I sleep, says Benson.
Initially, he used straws to prop up his
nostrils and breathed through them, which
helped his snoring and dry mouth.
He then asked his wife, a registered nurse,
for a catheter to experiment with. Benson
tested the first draft of this device on himself.
After a few years of prototyping and sleep
tests, Snoreben was created.
Snoreben is specially designed with a
retaining clip to keep the device in the nasal
cavities while it is being used.

Richard Benson, director of Benson Medical

Services Pty Ltd, created Snoreben to help
ease snoring among affected individuals.

It is made with soft medical-grade

materials that are latex-free, making it
suitable for those allergic to latex. After a
nights usage, the device can be cleaned with
water.
Snoreben can also be used while you are
exercising or when you have a cold or
allergies. While it does not cure asthma,
Snoreben can help improve the process of
breathing for an asthmatic.
This product is not recommended for
children under the age of 12.
Because of Snoreben, my snoring isnt as
bad as before and I wake up feeling more
refreshed. This is probably due to better
airflow in my nasal passages and thus, more
oxygen nourishing my body as I sleep, says
Benson.
My wife and I can now sleep in the same
bedroom and Ive also suffered less from dry
mouth because I dont have to breathe
through my mouth in my sleep anymore.
Snoreben is available at all
HomecareShop outlets.
This article is brought to you by Pinang
Medical Supplies Sdn Bhd.

n For more information,

visit www.pinangmedical.com.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 28 JULY 2015

THE rise in obesity cases

corresponds with the increase
in the use of non-nutritive
sweeteners (NNS), commonly
known as artificial sweeteners.
NNS refers to substances that
are used as sugar replacements.
They include aspartame,
saccharin and sucralose.
While it is believed to help
people lose weight, studies show
that NNS may actually contribute
to weight gain.
When you taste something
sweet, the brain releases
dopamine, which activates the
reward centre.
The appetite-regulating
hormone leptin is also released to
inform the brain that you are full
once a certain amount of calories
has been consumed.
However, when this pathway
is activated (such as by artificial
sweeteners) but does not receive
the sufficient amount of calories
to satisfy the reward centre, your
body continues to signal that it
needs more calories, resulting in
carbohydrate cravings.
This leads to greater food
intake and weight gain, not only
in adults but also in children.
An alternative to artificial
sweeteners are low-calorie
sweeteners such as maltitol,
which allows people to enjoy a
level of sweetness in their
products that is similar to those
that contain sugar without the
consequent calories intake.
Low-calorie sweeteners also
give a feeling of satiety and keep
hunger pangs and cravings at
bay. Their low glycaemic index
means they help release energy
slowly and maintain blood sugar
level.
A study by Quilez et al
published in the Journal of Food
Science in 2007 compared the
insulin response of participants
who consumed muffins
sweetened with sugar to those

northern healthcare 7

Satisfy your sweet

tooth healthily
who consumed muffins
sweetened with maltitol.
The result showed that there
was a 30% reduction in the
insulin response of participants
who consumed the maltitolsweetened muffins.
The maltitol-muffins also
provided better satiety.
Kordels Sweetsant contains
maltitol from Sweetpearl
(manufactured by an
international French company
called Roquette) and means
sweet and healthy in French.
It is made from natural
sources cereals and maize
safe and natural sweetness
companions that you can
consume with peace of mind.
Kordels Sweetsant contains
half the calorie content (2.4 kcal)
of sugar, helping you achieve
your ideal body weight.
Maltitol has a unique
digestion pathway 30% of it is
digested in the small intestine
and 70% is fermented in the
large intestine and gives a
prebiotic effect.
Prebiotics are involved in
body weight management,
prevention of cardiovascular
diseases and reduce the risk of
colon cancer.
This information is brought to
you by Cambert (M) Sdn Bhd.

n For details, call 1300 881 712

or e-mail ask-kordels@cambert.
com.my.

Efficiency at work
> FROM PAGE 4
The introduction of 3D
laparoscopy systems allows
surgeons to perform difficult
surgical tasks more efficiently,
accurately and with greater
precision.
This surgical procedure, also
known as keyhole surgery, uses a
small tube with a light source
and camera to relay images of
the inside of the abdomen or
pelvis to a television monitor
without having to make a large
incision in the skin.
Two-dimensional laparoscopy
systems were previously used
in ablative procedures to remove
diseased organs but its use was
limited in technically difficult
cases, resulting in surgeons
having to proceed with open
surgery.
However, the flexible highresolution image sensors and
innovative optical lenses of new
3D systems allow surgeons to
conduct delicate procedures such
as dissections in proximity to
major vessels and isolation of
nerves during prostate cancer
surgery.

Additional innovations
In addition to modern

diagnostic and surgical

equipment such as digital
radiography, fluoroscopy, optical
topography and diagnostic
ultrasound systems, hospitals
are also implementing
computerised data storage
systems and inpatient meal
ordering systems.
The picture archiving and
communication system (PACS) is
a widely used medical imaging
programme that features the
ability to read data from multiple
modalities or medical equipment
(such as X-rays, ultrasounds,
mammograms and more) and
transmissions of patient
information within a secured
network.
It consists of numerous
workstations for interpreting
and reviewing images and the
ability to archive information
for easy storage and retrieval.
Another innovation is the
computerised meal ordering
system.
By minimising meal time
ordering, tabulating data for
kitchen staff and providing data
for analysis, the system not only
allows management to
understand their patients better
but also ensures the delivery of
quality food.

Kordels Sweetsant
is a low-calorie
sweetener that is an
ideal replacement
for sugar as it does
not cause sugar
spikes and helps you
manage your weight
better.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 28 JULY 2015

8 northern healthcare

Protect your heart during sleep

HAVING good-quality sleep is as important
as having good nutrition because healthy
sleep restores and nurtures your body.
Lack of physical activities and an
abundance of rich foods have led to obesity,
diabetes, heart disease and sleep-related
disorders.
Sleeping disorders can lead to serious and
life-threatening consequences and should be
addressed.

Benefits of brown rice for sleep

Nutrition has a big effect on
your quality of sleep. Consuming wholegrain
foods such as brown rice before bedtime
helps promote peaceful sleep.
This is because brown rice contains
tryptophan, an essential amino acid that
plays multiple roles in the chemistry of the
brain.
Melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone,
is produced in the brain and regulates sleep.
This hormone is secreted at night by the
pineal gland in the brain, which induces and
maintains sleep.
Tryptophan may also play a positive role
in one of the
most common sleep-related complications,
obstructive sleep apnoea.
The body uses tryptophan to produce
niacin, a B-vitamin that helps increase HDL
cholesterol (good cholesterol) and lower
LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels.
The body is incapable of producing
tryptophan. Therefore, the best way to
acquire it is to consume foods that are
rich in tryptophan such as eggs, nuts and

brown rice.
Avoid simple carbohydrates such as bread
and pasta as well as sugary food such as
cookies, cakes and pastries before bedtime
as these tend to reduce serotonin levels and
affect sleep.
In contrast, complex carbohydrates such
as oats and brown rice provide valuable
amounts of nutrients and fibre.
They help boost serotonin, which is a feel
good brain chemical associated with
calmness and positive moods.
Complex carbohydrates
are also satiating and help prevent hunger
pangs at night.
They have a low-glycaemic index, which
means that they provide a more stable
glucose level and help prevent insomnia
caused by glucose-fuelled spikes and crashes.

Cholesterol-lowering effects
One of the main causes of heart disease is
high cholesterol levels and oat beta-glucan
has been proven to reduce the level of bad
cholesterol in your body.
Tate & Lyle uses a patented process in the
preparation of PromOat beta-glucan.
It excludes the addition of chemicals,
which helps maintain its beneficial
properties.
The best source of
oat beta-glucan is the aleurone layer of the
oat bran that contains protein-rich betaglucan.
It contains the highest concentration of
beta-glucan with a high molecular weight of
approximately 2,000kDalton.

PromOat derives its beta-glucan from

the aleurone layer alone, which is free
from insoluble fibre.
As a result, PromOat is a natural
ingredient that is free from the colour,
taste and graininess often associated
with oats and commonly found in other
oat beta-glucan products.
PromOat beta-glucan can also be
paired with different ingredients for
greater health benefits.
Kordels Active Oat 35 enriched with
brown rice is a combination of PromOat
beta-glucan and brown rice.
It provides complete heart protection
by focusing on specific aspects such as
reducing cholesterol levels and
increasing the intake of heart-protective
nutrients.
Oat beta-glucan works effectively
against bad cholesterol while brown
rice provides the heart with
phytonutrients that help reduce the risk
of heart disease.
Adding brown rice to the Kordels
Active Oat 35 formula improves the
solubility of the end product without
affecting the viscosity of PromOat betaglucan or its cholesterol-lowering
properties.
Consume Kordels Active Oat 35
enriched with brown rice before
bedtime as brown rice contains tryptophan
that helps you sleep better.
While you are sleeping, the oat betaglucan continues to reduce cholesterol levels
in your body.
Thus, the Kordels Active Oat 35 enriched

with brown rice gives you a great

combination that aids good sleep and
reduces bad cholesterol level.

n For details, call 1300 881 712
or e-mail ask-kordels@cambert.com.my