THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

special

HEALTHY LIVER
THOUGH the
liver plays a
major role in the
digestive, circulatory and
excretory system as well as
numerous metabolic and
detoxification pathways,
many Malaysians are
unaware of the importance of
their liver health.
A healthy liver ensures that
your body is able to perform at
its fullest capacity. Hence, liver
health awareness is crucial in
ensuring healthy overall
bodily functions.
Liver failure is
the seventh
most common
cause of death
from noncommunicable
diseases among
Malaysians.
An unhealthy
diet, sedentary
lifestyle and
constant stress have
negative impacts on liver
health. Though liver disease is
non-communicable, it can be
caused by viral infections.
Though there are various
diseases and conditions of the
liver, the most common among
Malaysians are hepatitis, fatty
liver disease and cancer. Of these,
the first two are mostly
preventable.

Viral infections

The
master organ

Hepatitis is one of the major

liver diseases that occur globally.
It describes an inflammation of
the liver caused by a viral
infection, autoimmune response
or damage from toxins.
Most commonly, hepatitis
refers to the infection of the
hepatitis virus. The three
common hepatitis viruses are
hepatitis A, B and C.
The hepatitis A virus is
transmitted via contaminated
food or water and most
commonly through unsanitary
practices such as an infected
person not washing hands
properly after using the toilet
and handling food after.
Patients with hepatitis A exhibit
flu-like symptoms such as fever,
headache and general weakness.
More serious symptoms such as
stomach cramps, diarrhoea and
jaundice may manifest and
hospitalisation may be required.
There is no treatment for
hepatitis A but like many viral
infections, it will run its course.
Vaccines for hepatitis A are
available and are highly
recommended for those who
travel abroad frequently. People
who have been vaccinated or
infected by hepatitis A develop a
lifelong immunity against the
virus with no long-term
consequences.

On the other hand, hepatitis B is

a lot more serious in terms of
disease transmission and long-term
consequences.
A person with acute hepatitis B
or who is a chronic carrier risks
spreading the virus to others via
blood, bodily fluids or sexual
contact.
Symptoms such as fever, nausea,
abnormal urine colouration, and
yellowing of eyes and skin are
common symptoms for those
with hepatitis B.
Individuals who are at risk of
contracting hepatitis B include
babies born to mothers who are
hepatitis B carriers, those who
have multiple sexual partners,
intravenous drug users and people
who are prone to blood exposure
in the course of their work, such as
law enforcers and health officials.
People with hepatitis B are
treated with alpha interferon a
compound that interferes the virus
progression. It is not, however,
administered to pregnant
women because it is a form of
chemotherapy.
According to Dr Chan Wah
Kheong, associate professor of
medicine and consultant physician
and gastroenterologist of
University Malaya and council
member of the Malaysian Society
of Gastroenterology and
Hepatology, the administration

of the hepatitis B vaccine and

immunoglobulin to newborns with
mothers infected with the hepatitis
B virus has greatly reduced the
infection rate among young
Malaysians.
Hepatitis C is the most chronic
infection of hepatitis. Also blood
borne and contractible through
minute amounts of blood, people
can be infected with the virus
through needle sharing and
tattooing.
With no obvious signs in most
cases, advanced liver cirrhosis
irreversible and extensive scarring
of liver tissue can occur much
later when the disease has reached
an advanced stage.
Due to the severity of the
infection, patients with chronic
liver diseases, including those who
have already been infected with
hepatitis C, should be vaccinated
against hepatitis A and B. Second
infections by either virus can
damage the liver further.
The introduction of highly
effective direct-acting antivirals for
the treatment of chronic hepatitis C
in the country has improved liver
health quality among Malaysians,
says Dr Chan.

Lifestyle causes
The liver plays a big role in the
metabolism of carbohydrates and

fats in the body. It stores excess

carbohydrates as glycogen and
converts these carbohydrates and
proteins to fatty acids, which are
then stored in fat tissues between
organs and under the skin.
Having some fat in your liver is
normal but when it makes up
between 5% and 10% of the livers
weight, you may have a condition
known as fatty liver disease.
There are two categories of fatty
liver alcoholic fatty liver disease
and non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease (NAFLD).
As its name implies, alcoholic
fatty liver disease is caused by
excessive intake of alcohol that has
taken a toll on the livers natural
fat metabolic process.
As the liver tries to break down
large amounts of alcohol, its
metabolic pathway shifts to
produce more fatty acids that will
deposit as fat molecules in the liver
cells.
Prolonging fatty liver disease
due to alcohol leads to alcoholinduced liver inflammation
(hepatitis) and leads to more
chronic conditions such as
cirrhosis. This advanced stage in
liver damage is known as alcoholic
liver disease.
However, there are instances
where people who do refrain from
consuming alcohol suffer from
fatty liver caused mostly by poor

lifestyle habits and,

in rare cases, genetic
predisposition. This is
NAFLD.
Dr Chan says that NAFLD
is closely related to metabolic
syndrome a precursor for
other risk factors such as
cardiovascular diseases, obesity,
hypertension, high cholesterol
and diabetes.
NAFLD is more common in
males than in females and the
prevalence increases with age,
says Dr Chan.
Fortunately, fatty liver
disease is curable and the
damage is reversible in the
earlier stages.
Patients diagnosed with
fatty liver disease will be
prescribed necessary
medication but should
drastically cut down their
alcohol intake to improve their
liver health and allow for liver
tissue regeneration.

Be in the know
Liver diseases are serious
medical problems that can be life
threatening, but effective
prevention methods, treatment
and disease management can help
improve your liver health.
Make necessary lifestyle
modifications. To ensure that your
liver is healthy and functions
optimally, a well-balanced diet is
recommended with less sugar,
salt and fat.
A regular exercise routine is
also recommended to ensure
all metabolic systems function
effectively. As for prevention,
adopt safe sex practices and get
hepatitis vaccinations.
If you suspect that you have
been exposed to infected bodily
fluid, see your doctor and you will
be administered with a hepatitis B
immunoglobulin.
Consult a specialist as soon as
possible if you feel like you may
be experiencing liver disease
symptoms.
Avoid taking medication or
drugs that are beyond the
prescribed dosage. Do your
research before beginning a
course of health supplements
such as bodybuilding, weight loss,
nutrition or herbal supplements.
Always check with your
physician if it is safe and suitable
for you to begin taking a specific
medication or supplement.
Educate yourself and your
family about liver health. Begin
by adopting a healthy lifestyle at
home by cooking nutritious meals,
leading an active lifestyle and
discussing how you can further
improve your liver health with
the rest of the family. Maintaining
a healthy liver ensures your
overall well-being, which means
you will be able to reach your full
potential.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

2 healthy liver

Protecting a nation

Age

Although there is a widely available vaccine for measles, children continue to

die from this highly contagious infection, characterised by blotchy red rashes
all over the body.

up, Dr Kamarul explains.

Herd immunity is acquired
when 95% of the population is
vaccinated and it ensures
individuals, including children
with compromised immune
systems who cannot receive
vaccines or independently fight
infections are also protected
against VPD.
This includes those who have
immune deficiencies caused by
genetic disposition and those
undergoing treatment with
immunosuppressive drugs (such as
chemotherapy) and HIV-positive
individuals.

Understand vaccines
WITH the oversaturation of
information on the topic in public
spaces such as social media, it
may be hard to determine the
truth about certain aspects of
vaccinations.
Dr Kamarul Azahar Mohd
Razali, head of the Paediatric
Infectious Diseases unit at
Hospital Kuala Lumpur, addresses
some common concerns.

l Number of vaccinations A
long list of required vaccines may
seem scary at first glance, but a
childs immune system is able to
respond to multiple challenges.
In fact, a childs immune system
is already being exposed to many
foreign antigens (substances not
found naturally in the body)
through food and day-to-day
activities. Vaccines contain a
comparatively smaller number
of antigens. Therefore, when
multiple vaccines are given at
the same time or within a short
period, they will not harm the
childs immune system.
Additionally, many of these
vaccines today are delivered in
combinations so children will only
have to receive one jab for
protection against several
diseases, such as the three-in-one
measles, mumps and rubella
vaccine (MMR) vaccination.

l Halal compliance Although

there are some questions as to
the use of animal-based enzyme
in early stages of vaccine

the community.
You should ensure your child is
vaccinated according to the New
Immunisation Schedule below.
These vaccines are available for
free at all government health
clinics, with the human
papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination
for 13-year-old girls also given at
schools and additional vaccines
available at private clinics and
hospitals at a certain fee.

IN conjunction with the World

Health Organizations World
Immunization Week 2016, the
Health Ministry (MOH) is
organising National Immunisation
Week 2016 from April 23 to 30.
With the theme Protect our
children. Protect their world. Get
immunised., MOH will launch the
National Immunisation Promotion
Campaign to spread awareness
and address vaccine refusal in

development, the Health Ministry

(MOH), working closely with the
Department of Islamic
Development (Jakim), have
delivered a well-researched
consensus declaring vaccines
permissible for Muslims.

l Side effects The side effects

of vaccines have been greatly
misunderstood, especially since
Andrew Wakefields controversial
research paper published in The
Lancet medical peer review
journal in 1998.
However, it is important to note
that The Lancet issued a complete
retraction of the paper following
reviews that concluded that
elements of the paper were
incorrect.
In actuality, new vaccines are
friendlier than ever and common
side effects that include mild fever
or rashes are transient and
treatable.
Severe side effects are rare
and pale in comparison to the
complications brought about
by vaccine-preventable diseases.

l Homeopathy and natural

medicine Natural methods
should only be used alongside
solid medical treatment with
scientifically proven efficacy, and
this is true when considering
homeopathy against vaccinations.
The only way to protect yourself
and your child against deadly
infectious diseases is through
immunisation.

Weighing actual risk

As with all medicines, vaccines
can cause side effects but they are
commonly mild, transient and
treatable. Adverse side effects
due to vaccines are very rare,
Dr Kamarul stresses.
The real risk lies in the potential
complications VPD can bring to
young children who are not
immunised. Unfortunately, there
has been a surge in the number of
such cases in intensive care units
(ICUs) of late.
Once an infection affects the
brain, it can cause meningitis
(inflammation of brain tissues),
which can damage the brain,
especially among children below
the age of two. Brain infection in
these young children can cause
blindness, cerebral palsy or even
death in the worst cases, says
Dr Kamarul.
He relates the harrowing story
of a 22-month-old child suffering
from brain damage due to
Haemophilus influenzae Type b
(Hib) meningitis (inflammation of
the lining of the brain and spinal
cord) because her father refused
vaccination.
Even the most experienced
among us have not seen such cases
in a long time, Dr Kamarul
laments, stressing that this is
primarily because immunisation
programmes have been able to
protect vaccinated communities
thus far.
Vaccines are thoroughly
evaluated in clinical trials before
the Drug Control Authority of MOH
approves them for public use. The
use of the vaccines is continuously
monitored after they are made
available to the population.

For the greater good

The physical and emotional
burden of VPD is borne both by the
patients and their caretakers. The
financial burden impacts not only
the family involved, but also the
overall healthcare system high
healthcare costs can be avoided
and resources channelled to help
patients in other critical disease
management areas.
Medical professionals and
hospitals must be equipped to deal
with these diseases, which can
spread quickly to cause serious

Type of
vaccine

Disease(s)

Newborn

BCG (Dose 1)
Hepatitis B (Dose 1)

1 month

Hepatitis B (Dose 2)

2 months

DTaP (Dose 1)
Hib (Dose 1)
Polio (Dose 1)

3 months

DTaP (Dose 2)
Hib (Dose 2)
Polio (Dose 2)

5 months

Tuberculosis
Hepatitis B

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis

Haemophilus influenzae type B
Poliomyelitis

DTaP (Dose 3)
Hib (Dose 3)
Polio (Dose 3)

6 months

Hepatitis B (Dose 3)
Measles (Dose 1)

9 months

MMR (Dose 1)
JE (Dose 1)

12 months

MMR (Dose 2)

18 months

DTaP (Booster)
Hib (Booster)
Polio IPV (Booster)

21 months

JE (Dose 2)

7 years

MR (Dose 2)

Measles and rubella second dose

(for those born before July 2015)

DT (Booster)

Diphtheria and tetanus booster

13 years
(girls only)

HPV (Dose 1)
HPV (Dose 2)

15 years

Measles, mumps, rubella

Japanese Encephalitis (Sarawak
only)

THE rising cases of vaccinepreventable diseases (VPD),

including recent outbreaks of
measles, involve children who
have not been properly
immunised.
Last year, the Health Ministry
(MOH) reported two child deaths
due to measles, 13 due to pertussis
and one due to diphtheria.
Although vaccines for these
diseases are widely available at
government and private clinics,
MOH reports that the number of
parents refusing to immunise their
children has tripled in the last
three years to 1,541 cases last year.
Dr Kamarul Azahar Mohd Razali,
head of the Paediatric Infectious
Diseases unit at Hospital Kuala
Lumpur, says that while some
parents claim they do not have the
time to bring their children in for
scheduled vaccinations, there are
others who actively avoid vaccines
for unfounded fear of their
children suffering irreversible side
effects from perceived toxic or
religiously inappropriate elements.
Those who have not witnessed
the devastating effects of VPD may
not understand the need for
protection.
When people do not receive
vaccines, the herd immunity of a
community against deadly diseases
is compromised because the
number of people exposed to these
highly contagious organisms goes

Get immunised

Cervical cancer (caused by HPV

16 and 18)
To be given after six months

Tetanus (Booster)

health concerns in urban and

rural communities alike. This is
how an epidemic starts.
In May last year, 114 private,
government and university
consultant paediatricians signed a
joint statement published on news
portal Malay Mail Online urging
parents to vaccinate their children
after seeing too many parents
refusing to protect their children
even after decades of successful
immunisation programmes have
kept the nation safe.
Dr Kamarul echoes this plea to
parents, saying, Not only are
vaccines cheaper than the overall
cost of treating VPD, they are also
the safest option in preventing an
outbreak of diseases that would

pose a greater threat to our loved

ones and society at large.
He also calls on parents and
members of the community to
seek information about infectious
diseases and vaccines from
reliable sources and professional
bodies.
Most parents who challenge
vaccinations are influenced by
anecdotal claims and unscientific
reasoning. Always cross-check any
information you are unsure of
with healthcare professionals,
advises Dr Kamarul.
Our children are our future.
They need to be protected so that
complications due to VPD do not
rob them of the opportunity to
achieve their potential.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

GASTROENTEROLOGY is the
diagnosis and treatment of diseases
of the gastrointestinal system
of the body, which includes the
oesophagus, stomach, intestines,
liver, gall bladder, pancreas, colon
and rectum.
Subang Jaya Medical
Centres (SJMC) distinguished
gastroenterologists perform
approximately 9,000 procedures
annually, using advanced
endoscopy and colonoscopy
technology to treat disorders of
the digestive system.
Most of its specialists have
extensive clinical experience in a
broad range of specialties and
many of them are key opinion
leaders in their respective fields in
the region.
With specialists committed to
prevention and treatment of
digestive diseases, the hospital
provides a full range of diagnostic
and therapeutic services and treats
everything from gastroesphageal
reflux disease or heartburn
to acute liver failure and liver
cancer.
Some of the more common
conditions treated includes liver
cirrhosis, GERD, irritable bowel
syndrome, fatty liver, gastric and
duodenal ulcer, pancreatic related
diseases, common bile duct stones,
strictures etc.
The team of gastroenterologists
works closely with other referring
physicians to diagnose obscure

healthy liver 3

Digestive, liver health

Using technology for better patient outcome, SJMC houses a full range of
modern equipment.

gastrointestinal and liver disorders

and provides innovative and
effective treatments to patients.

Effective care
SJMC is committed to treating

each and every patient with

compassion, care and medical
excellence.
Its team of gastroenterologists
offer patients the potential to
manage chronic conditions,
improve quality of life and

successfully treat gastrointestinal

diseases.
The doctors work closely with
each patient and their family to
thoroughly discuss all treatment
options in order for the patient to
make a sound decision on the best
treatment required.
Using technology for better
patient outcome, SJMC houses a
full range of modern equipment
such as magnetic resonance
imaging machines (MRI), and
computerised tomography
machines (for CT scans).
The hospital is the first in
Malaysia to have Fibroscan which
is used to assess liver stiffness. It
is a non-invasive, painless method
of accurately managing fatty liver.
SJMC is also the first in the
country to have the
groundbreaking new Fuse
Colonoscopy technology which is
the gold standard for colorectal
cancer screening.
The hospitals Endoscopy Unit
has four fully equipped
endoscopy suites, including
one specialised endoscopic
ultrasound (EUS) suite and
two X-Ray screening rooms, a
pre-assessment ward and 16
recovery bays.

This is supported by experienced

and highly skilled team of nurses
who assist the doctors in a broad
range of medical and surgical
services.
Within the team of highly
experienced gastroenterologists
are doctors who are trained to
perform niche procedures such as
EUS, (a procedure that allows a
doctor to obtain images and
information about the digestive
tract and the surrounding tissue
and organs, including the lungs)
and ERCP (endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatographya
technique used to study the bile
ducts, pancreatic duct and
gallbladder).
The SJMC Digestive and Liver
centre of excellence has a mix of
foreign and local patients.
Patients come from as far as
Japan, the United Kingdom,
Australia and Middle Eastern
countries.
The centre is well reputed,
with referrals from local private
hospitals on therapeutic
treatments.

n For more information,

call 03-5639 1212.
KKLIU No.0743/2016

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

4 healthy liver

Lift the burden

Strengthen
with collagen
COLLAGEN is the most abundant protein in
the human body and is the substance that
holds the body together.
It is found in the tendons, muscles and
skin, where it forms a scaffold to provide
strength and structure.
Collagen is a part of the connective tissue
in the skin. It contributes to the firmness and
suppleness of the skin as well as constant
renewal of skin cells. Collagen is vital for
keeping the skin supple.
The skins ageing process is the process
of collagen loss, said Dr Fredric
Sheldon Brandt, who hosted
radio show Ask Dr. Brandt on
SiriusXM.
Pro Health Medics presents
a new concept for a collagen
drink by combining 7,750mg
of high-quality water-soluble
low-molecular-weight fish
collagen extract from the
scales, skins and bones of
fish and five-year fermented
probiotics, which are infused
to boost absorption and
efficacy.
Out of the 7,750mg
of collagen, 500mg is smallermolecular-weight collagen
Collagen keeps the skin
supple.

Collagen has anti-ageing effects.

called collagen tripeptide. It contains three

types of collagen type I, type II and type
III.
Collagen tripeptide is a highly purified,
non-antigenic, low-allergenic collagen
fraction. It is a functional food material
with several biological effects such as
improving dry skin, healing wounds and
even bone fractures, and increasing skin
suppleness.
Consuming a large amount of highquality collagen is not effective unless it is
absorbed into the body.
Therefore, fermented probiotics (OM-X)
are added to enhance nutrient absorption
and detoxification.
Beauty components such as vitamin C,
hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10, elastin,
ceramide and royal jelly are also added to
support the enhancement of overall
absorption. Thus, an anti-ageing effect,
radiant skin and healthy joints can be
achieved.

n For more information, call 03-8023 2292.

ARE you always in a hurry? Is your daily

schedule usually filled with endless work
and restlessness?
A continuous sense of urgency and
overwhelming workload can place
tremendous stress on your physical and
mental health.
Bear in mind that the body needs
sufficient rest to carry out biological
processes for everyday living to maintain
general well-being.
Having restless nights may result in
hormonal imbalance, poor concentration,
memory loss, skin ageing and increased risk
of chronic illness.
In this modern era, many working
executives are often pushing their bodies
to meet high expectations, which impacts
their quality of life.
Often, their daily routines become so busy
that instead of having nutritious homecooked meals, they end up eating out.
Choosing healthier food choices away
from home is more challenging. Most of the
time, they end up grabbing their meal at
convenience stores or fast food places, which
are commonly high in fats, sugar and salt
that require extra effort to digest.
Some choose to eat a lot to ease their
craving after working all day, which causes
the liver to work harder to digest foods,
particularly if the person consumes a diet
high in fats.
The largest internal organ, the liver,
performs multiple functions to keep the
body free of toxins and harmful substances.
Nevertheless, toxins can accumulate
within the body throughout the years. Living
a hectic lifestyle besides having internal
toxins produced by the body and exposure to
environmental toxins from pollutants can
further burden and damage the liver.
You may not notice it, but you could be
suffering from liver damage as symptoms
usually remain unseen for years.
To ensure your liver is functioning well, a
healthy lifestyle practice is important,
including having a good diet, managing
stress, being physically active and controlling
alcohol consumption. Apart from that, you
may opt for milk thistle as a natural
remedy to improve and
maintain liver health.

Being native to the Mediterranean region,

milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has been
used medicinally for more than 2,000 years
as a traditional herb for a variety of
ailments, particularly liver problems.
It is popular due to its ability to protect
and improve liver functions.
The natural compound silymarin is what
makes milk thistle fruit and seed extracts
good herbal remedies for the liver.
According to a 2013 study published in
the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine,
silymarin is a potent antioxidant composed
of at least seven flavonolignans and
flavonoids.
Among these, silybin is the primary
active ingredient in the silymarin complex
with regards to its antioxidant and
hepatoprotective properties, which are
important in maintaining liver health and
aiding liver detoxification.
Silybin was also shown to enhance protein
synthesis, which stimulates the regeneration
and repair of liver cells. The 2013 study
showed that supplementation with milk
thistle was associated with improved liver
function and decreased liver enzyme
activity.
According to another study published in
2011 in Iranian Journal of Basic Medical
Sciences, silybin is well known for its ability
to stabilise cell membranes, thereby
preventing toxic chemicals from entering
the cell.
It can also act as a free radical scavenger
through increasing the activity of superoxide
dismutase and glutathione peroxidase
(important antioxidant enzymes) that aid in
neutralising harmful effects of toxins.
As a complementary treatment for liver
disorders, one can opt for higher strength of
milk thistle with 80% standardised silybin
extracts.
Do not take your liver health for granted.
Protecting your liver is vital to good health.
Consult your doctor about taking
complementary treatments.
This article is brought to you by BiO-LiFE
Marketing Sdn Bhd.

Milk thistle fruit and seed extract can

improve liver functions to help your
body in the detoxification process.

n For more information,

call 03-7882 8888.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

Natural
way to
detox
ARE you struggling with headaches, skin
outbreaks, insomnia, indigestion, muscle
pain, mood swings or weight gain? These
may be signs that your body is not
processing toxins efficiently.
If these health issues are not dealt with,
toxins build up and are stored in the body,
eventually leading to chronic diseases.
Todays environment is steeped with
pollutants and chemicals that our bodies are
not designed to process.
The body is essentially equipped with a
robust detoxification system that naturally
eliminates toxins, which involves five major
organs that work in unison.
l The liver represents your bodys
primary detoxification system. It performs
a series of chemical reactions to reduce
toxicity of destructive substances such as
alcohol, drugs and chemicals to be readily
excreted in bile.
l The colon carries wastes from the liver
and digestive systems to be excreted out of
the body.
l The kidney filters toxins and other
waste products from the blood and excretes
them through urine.
l The lungs filter the air we breathe and
expel toxic waste such as carbon dioxide
through exhalation and coughing.
l The skin evacuates wastes and toxins
through sweat.
These cleansing organs are constantly
working to remove toxins. However, with
the extended exposure to toxins on a daily
basis, they can easily become overwhelmed.

healthy liver 5

A complete
detoxification can
help reduce the toxic
load on your body and
help it feel its best.
Detoxification involves nourishing the
body with the nutrients it needs to function
optimally. While avoiding toxins is not
possible, we can choose to live a life free of
these substances by making smart choices
about what we put into the body. This may
involve eating whole foods, drinking plenty
of water and consuming natural, organic
products.
You can boost your bodys health by
supplementing your daily diet with natural
herbs. Herbal cleansing offers a gentle way
of strengthening the excretory organs and
boosting detoxification functions.
Potent detoxifying herbs such as
dandelion, milk thistle, burdock, kudzu,
wheat grass and aloe vera offer a healthy
alternative for detoxification as well as
nourish the body to regain sustainable
vitality and overall well-being.
Detoxification flushes out foreign
components in the body, leaving us feeling
much lighter, revitalised and full of energy
as internal systems are restored to their
optimal working state.
The health benefits of detoxification
include removal of excess waste, boosting
energy and vitality, strengthening the
immune system, weight loss, mental clarity
and prevention of illnesses.
Consult your doctor when embarking on
a detoxification plan.
This article is brought to you by
VitaHealth.

n For more information, call 1800 183 288.

Superfoods for a healthy liver

TAKING care of yourself begins with what
you put inside of you and taking care of your
liver means consuming foods that will
nourish, cleanse and protect it from
extensive damage and viral infections.
Here are five superfoods that you should
include in your diet to maintain a healthy
liver.
l Garlic
One of the common ingredients used in
Malaysian cuisines, garlic has various types
of sulphur-containing compounds that aid in
liver enzyme activation and thus flushes
toxins out of the body.
Garlic also contains natural-occurring
compounds such as allicin and selenium that
help to protect the liver from damage and
further improve the detoxification process.

l Carrots and beets

Carrots and beets are popular vegetables
and can be found in many markets and
supermarkets across the country.
These vegetables are rich in flavonoids
such as beta-carotene and anthocyanin,
which have high antioxidative properties.
They help to protect the liver from
oxidative stress caused by free radicals,
which have been shown to be associated
with cancer.
l Green vegetables
Green vegetables have always been
known to be nutritious with vitamins,
minerals and fibre for general health but
they can also help to reduce the livers

detoxification burden.
Green vegetables are rich in cleansing
compounds that can help neutralise heavy
metals in the body, reducing its impact on
the liver.
Some green vegetables that are rich in
these compounds include bitter gourd, green
spinach and mustard greens.
Avoid overcooking your green vegetables
to prevent degradation of the enzymes and
cleansing compounds.

l Green tea
Popular among avid tea drinkers, green
tea is known to be highly beneficial for liver
health. Green tea is loaded with plant
antioxidants such as catechins.
In 2013, a study in Kurume University,
Japan, showed that catechins eliminate the
accumulation of liver fat and boost liver
function. Other compounds in green tea also
protect the liver from harmful chemicals and
toxins.
l Turmeric
Popularly used in South-East Asian
cooking and known to have antibacterial
properties, turmeric also has liver-protecting
properties.
Turmeric aids the enzymic breakdown of
dietary carcinogens; this enhances protection
against liver damage and aids in the
regeneration of damaged liver cells.
Turmeric also contains the compound
curcumin that has been shown to have
cancer-blocking properties.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

6 healthy liver

SMOKING is one of the main risk

factors for lung disease.
Dr Wan Haniza Wan Mohamad,
consultant in respiratory medicine
and internal medicine at Mahkota
Medical Centre, explains that this is
because chronic exposure to
cigarette smoke damages the
protective barrier of the airway,
increasing the risk of lung infection
in the short term.
Some of the more common
complaints that Dr Wan treats
include coughs, haemoptysis
(coughing up blood), breathlessness
and chest discomfort.
Patients with these complaints
may also experience fever, night
sweats, and weight and appetite
loss. Sometimes, these conditions
are complications that arise from
long-term smoking.
In the long term, smoking can
lead to lung cancer and chronic
obstructive airway disease
(COPD), says Dr Wan.
Other risk factors for lung
disease are occupational exposure
to dust or chemicals and certain
exotic hobbies.
Dr Wan explains that occurence
of respiratory illnesses vary
according to age group younger
people tend to have acute illnesses
and asthma while older people
have more chronic conditions such
as COPD, lung cancers or lung
fibrosis.
However, one condition that is
becoming more common across all
age groups is tuberculosis, which

Treating lung disease

can affect various parts of the
body.
Generally, patients who go to a
respiratory clinic can be divided
into those with acute symptoms
(lasting less than two weeks) and
those who have had symptoms
longer, she says.
Acute respiratory conditions
are mainly related to airborne
infections by virus or bacteria.
Other conditions with more
prolonged symptoms include
chronic infections such as
tuberculosis (caused by exposure
or contact with a person with
the disease and/or a crowded
living space), lung cancers,
asthma (which has a genetic
component), COPD (mainly related
to smoking) and bronchiectasis
(mostly due to previous lung
infections).
Most people do not go to a
specialist straight away, as it is
easier for them to access a general
practitioner (GP).
If your symptoms persist despite
initial treatment by your GP or you
have certain severe symptoms
such as coughing up blood,
breathlessness, or weight or
appetite loss, your GP will refer
you to a specialist.
Following an assessment by a

Symptoms that
should ring alarm
bells include
coughing up
blood, difficulty
in breathing or
weight loss and
appetite. You
should see a
doctor straight
away if you have
these symptoms.
Dr Wan Haniza Wan Mohamad

chest physician, some patients may

be advised to undergo further
investigative work to confirm the
diagnosis.
Common respiratory procedures
performed include lung function
testing, endoscopy such as
bronchoscopy and pleuroscopy,
sleep study and pleural
procedures.
Bronchoscopy and pleuroscopy
involve inserting a small camera

into the airways and pleural cavity

(a specific part of the lung)
respectively to allow assessment of
the particular area. A biopsy can
be carried out through these
procedures.
Pleural procedures are carried
out to drain air or water from the
pleural space (space between the
lung and its lining).
Treatment includes inhalers,
nebulisers and oral medications
such as antibiotics and
immunosuppresants.
We will also explain the correct
technique of using your inhaler,
says Dr Wan, explaining that about
one-third of people who use

inhalers actually adopt an

incorrect technique resulting in
very little of the medication
entering the lungs and poor control
of asthma.
Symptoms that should prompt
a visit to a doctor include acute
onset (within two or three days)
of respiratory symptoms that do
not respond to simple over-thecounter medicines and recurrent
symptoms despite treatments by
your doctor.
Symptoms that should ring
alarm bells include coughing up
blood, difficulty in breathing or
weight and appetite loss. You
should see a doctor straight away if
you have these symptoms, advises
Dr Wan.
When it comes to preventative
measures for lung disease, Dr Wan
says that the best preventative
measure anyone can take is to stop
smoking or vaping, or to not start
smoking or vaping at all.
This is probably easier said
than done. It requires selfmotivation and adequate medical,
psychological and family support.
But its the best thing you can do,
she says.

n For more information,

call 06-285 2999.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

healthy liver 7

Get tested
Adopt lifestyle
changes to
avoid liver
diseases.

Change
your life
THE liver is a crucial organ that
performs functions vital to life
such as processing nutrients
from food, producing bile and
building protein.
It also acts like a filter and is
responsible for removing
alcohol, chemicals and other
toxins from the body.
Despite its importance, the
liver is often neglected. Excessive
consumption of alcohol, fatty
foods and even long-term
medication can stress and
burden the liver, weakening its
functions and possibly leading to
liver disease.
The modern stressful lifestyle,
coupled with unhealthy dietary
habits, lead to the rise of a
modern disease fatty liver.
Fatty liver is not easily
detected in the early stages and
can go undetected for years. As
the condition progresses,
symptoms such as fatigue,
abdominal distension after
meals, bloatedness, discomfort
after slight alcohol consumption
and mild diarrhoea after meals
may start to appear.
The over-consumption of
alcohol and a diet high in trans
and saturated fats result in high
levels of bad blood lipids in the
liver, which weaken liver
function and cause imbalance of
the spleen.
Over time, the liver becomes
less effective at performing fat
metabolism. Thus, fat
accumulates in the liver cells
and blood lipids level increases,
leading to a fatty liver and
impairment of liver functions.
Fatty liver is exacerbated by
inflammation in the liver, which
could hasten its progression into
liver cirrhosis, a condition where
the inflamed liver becomes
scarred and hardened, causing
liver failure and serious
concerns.
This disease affects more men
than women aged 25 to 75.
Therefore, early prevention and
treatment is necessary.
You can protect your liver by
performing lifestyle changes
such as:
l Avoiding alcohol
Indulging in the occasional glass
of alcohol is unlikely to pose a
major health concern. However,
routine and heavy alcohol
consumption is a major health

hazard that damages your liver

and could lead to various liver
conditions. Excessive alcohol
may cause your liver to swell
and weaken your liver function,
leading to fatty liver and
eventually liver damage if left
untreated.
l Adopting a low-fat diet
Junk food and red meats contain
high levels of trans and
saturated fats, which build up in
your liver. Over time, it can
damage your liver and lead to
fatty liver. Thus, it is crucial to
consume a healthy diet.
l Quitting smoking
Smoking is harmful to every
organ and cell in the body. The
chemicals in cigarette and
cigarette smoke contain
poisonous carcinogens and
toxins that are harmful to the
body. Hence, it is advised that
people quit smoking to support
good liver health.
Besides lifestyle and dietary
changes, traditional Chinese
medicines have been extensively
used in the protection against
fatty liver and reduction of bad
blood lipids level in the body.
Traditional Chinese medicines
such as sanchi, red peony root,
hawthorn fruit, green tangerine
peel, largehead atractylodes
rhizome, oriental waterplantain
rhizome, white peony root,
chrysanthemum flower, lotus
leaf and doddler seed provide
health benefits for the liver.
The benefits are:
l Prevent and relieve fatty
liver
l Lower bad blood lipids level
l Normalise the metabolic
function of blood
l Promote qi and normal liver
function
l Nourish blood and liver
l Remove heat and toxicity
l Guard the liver against
harmful chemicals
l Strengthen the spleen
With your doctors advice, use
traditional Chinese medicines
complementarily with medical
treatments.
This article is brought to you
by GNC Live Well.

n For more information,

call 1800 888 462.

LIVER diseases are asymptomatic

and when symptoms start to show,
advanced liver damage may have
already taken place.
People who are at risk of
developing liver diseases should
get regular check-ups and blood
tests to monitor their liver health.
These include individuals who
have increased alcohol intake,
unhealthy lifestyles, contracted
hepatitis B and been diagnosed
with cirrhosis.
In most check-ups, standard
physical and ultrasound
examinations are conducted and
supplemented with a liver profile
blood test.
A liver profile consists of serum
levels of liver enzymes. Elevation
of these enzymes suggests liver
injury and will prompt further
investigation to determine the
underlying cause.
The liver profile also consists of
serum levels of albumin and

bilirubin markers (albumin is a

common protein found in the blood
while bilirubin is the by-product of
broken-down red blood cells).
When the liver function is
impaired, the serum albumin level
will be lower while the serum
bilirubin level will be higher.

Quick facts
l The liver is the largest
internal organ in the human
body.
l The liver is the only
internal organ in the human
body capable of regeneration
even after 75% liver tissue
loss.
l Enclosed in the rib cage
cavity, the liver consists of a left
lobe and a larger right lobe. The
gallbladder, pancreas, parts of

the small intestine, and major

arteries and veins can be found
around the liver.
l Some of the functions of the
liver include food digestion, bile
production, storage for excess
carbohydrates, fatty acid
breakdown, alcohol
dehydrogenation, negating
poisonous heavy metal
compounds and drug
detoxification.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016