Mind Your Health

A Rolls Royce needs maintenance, but does one have a service programme for the body? Are you living your life by accident (waiting for incidents to happen), or by design (having a health strategy)?

When a baby is born, so very often, the cute little miracle is deprived of the caress of the mother’s bosom and given a hard plastic bottle to nurse on. When the child grows older, the milk is exchanged with a bottle of coke. With the dawn of adulthood, the beer bottle takes over, and as the wheels of misfortune continue to turn, one may have to find sustenance through a bottle of intravenous fluid, reflecting on regrets of the past.
If exercise can give an additional five years of health, would one not be interested? If exercise, lifestyle, dietary modifications and taking the right supplements can offer 10 or more years of enhanced living, would one not embrace it?

If the picture is still hazy, it is because the “why” zone is rusted and clouded by cobwebs. With a little clean up, there should be better connectivity with the live wire.

Cigarette packaging carries pictures of lung damage so grotesque that it makes the seasoned pathologist squirm. Visual image at best is carried up to the occipital lobe where it dissipates with no impact. The “why” zone is not activated because the desire to smoke overwhelms the perceived danger.

Unless something significantly dramatic occurs, like being a survivor of a nasty heart attack or severe bronchitis, there is no trigger for change. A smoker will continue to smoke, a drinker will continue to drink, a heart will continue to be attacked.

We hear of the typical sponsored radio message that goes like “Heart disease is the No.1 killer in Malaysia. Exercise, eat healthily, reduce stress, and do not smoke and drink. Act now!”

That lyric has been sung for the last two decades, but heart disease is still the chart-topper. The song never touched the “why” zone. I should know as I, too, serenaded that ballad for the greater part of my career to impervious minds. Unless the “why” zone gets connected, there is no U-turn.

Despite herculean efforts to take action, change is usually inconsistent. Have we not heard of the diet plan that failed? Or someone who tried to stop smoking but quit trying to quit?

The final link to success in better health, wealth, or happiness is sustained commitment, not just for a day or a month, but daily.

If we do the right things today and everyday, we need not spend all of tomorrow rectifying yesterday’s mistakes. A health plan that works will add another decade of good years to life, but one has to work on the plan. A parting caution of D.I.Y. is that, if the wrong plan is chosen, a short circuit can electrocute the “why” zone, resulting in permanent damage.

Above article is partially extracted from the star online dated 9th Feb 2011 by Dr C.S.Foo

Giving preventive Nutritional Medicine a hope

They studied the number of cancer patients who survived more than five years following diagnosis and treatment and found that overall, chemotherapy contributed just over 2% to improved survival in the cancer patients.

The authors strongly questioned the continued use of chemotherapy [Clinical Oncology (2004)16:549-560]. Since evidence-based medicine shows that the success rate with chemotherapy is so poor, any nutritional or non-conventional (ie. not yet generally accepted by mainstream medical practice) or complementary therapies that can give 2% or better success rates should be considered, especially if they are safer and less expensive.

However, no matter how poor chemotherapy results are, these are backed by adequate scientific studies, while the others are not. That is why chemotherapy is so widely prescribed despite the outcomes. It is the best among the “proven” therapies.

Patients opting for the other therapies should be clearly told about this. Proponents of nutritional, non-conventional, and complementary therapies should not be giving patients false hope. But it is not wrong to give them some hope, especially after conventional therapy has failed, and they have nothing to lose by trying other methods.

Moreover, many of these other methods do have recorded success cases. While such documented cases do not qualify as scientific studies, they give us hope to try on those patients who refuse conventional therapy (for whatever reason), and for those in whom conventional therapy had failed.

Above article is extracted from the star online dated 9-Jan-2011 

Cancer and prevention

More than 1,359,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year alone and approximately 550,000 patients will die this year from cancer. In spite of the near 25 billion dollars spent on cancer research in the past twenty years, cancer deaths have actually increased over that same time period. This has raised major concern among researchers and clinicians alike-it's time to rethink our approach to cancer prevention and treatment. If there has been any improvement in cancer risk, it seems to be with the ability to detect some cancers sooner, i.e. mammography for the detection of breast cancer and PSA tests for prostate cancer.

It seems that everything we do or eat these days allegedly causes cancer. Excessive exposure to sunlight increases the risk of skin cancer. Asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing an unusual form of lung cancer called a mesothelioma. Smoking and secondary smoke are the main reason that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths (over 158,000 deaths in 1996 alone). Radiation, charcoal grilled steaks, too much fat in our diet, saccharin, and numerous chemicals increase our risk of cancer. These are referred to in the medical literature and media as carcinogens (those things that increase our risk of developing cancer).

Since the first report that chimney sweeps had an increased risk of scrotal cancer because of their exposure to soot, we have become more and more afraid of our environment. Our bodies are being exposed to far more chemicals than any previous generation. The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that there are well over 60,000 chemicals in commercial use today and they are increasing at a rate of 1,000 per year. What is the one common denominator? They all increase oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the key to understanding new strategies for preventing and fighting cancer. To learn more, click here 

Above article is extracted from Dr. Ray Strand's online medical practice. Dr. Strand is a specialist in nutritional and preventive medicine and is quickly becoming one of the world's leading authorities.

Moving into 2011

Trends come and go, but in health, they last longer than most. So it pays to look back in order to look forward.

 Below article is extracted from the star online date 2-Jan-2011 

Non-communicable diseases

1. Lifestyle diseases

Going by the number of articles on it, lifestyle diseases received a lot of press in 2010.
Statistics on hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, amongst others, from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) III in 2006 were repeated several times throughout the year by various officials to emphasise the need for Malaysians to start adopting a healthier lifestyle.

Various campaigns and governmental committees were also set up to combat these chronic conditions.
Among them is the Cabinet committee, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and involving 12 ministries, approved last month, to outline policies to deal with issues related to these diseases.
RM90mil was also allocated for community empowerment programmes to transform local leaders into health advocates.
Unfortunately, these diseases are likely to remain among the top killers of our nation for a long while to come.

2. Cancer
The big C is still one of the scariest diagnoses one can hear from a doctor.
It puts a clear and definite full stop to your life, and brings home an awareness of mortality unlike many other diseases.

And because of its lingering nature, you have to deal with, not only your upcoming meeting with your Maker, but also with the rest of your life and the people in it.

Thanks to various world cancer days, including Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and general public awareness, this disease pops up in the press fairly regularly.

3. Obesity
In December, Liow reported that Malaysia had been listed sixth among Asian countries with the highest percentage of obese people.

Not surprising, considering that the NHMS III showed that two out of every five adults (43%) were either overweight or obese.

The 10-year survey showed that obesity among Malaysian adults had increased by 250%, while the number of overweight adults went up by 70% from 1996 to 2006.
About 38% of teenagers were also overweight, while a more recent survey of 10,000 primary school pupils showed that 24% were either overweight or obese.
With our delicious and easily-available food, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles, this trend of growing waistlines is only set to increase.

4. Hypertension & diabetes
Of the lifestyle diseases, these are probably the two most common among Malaysians.
The NHMS III showed that cases of hypertension, or high blood pressure, among those aged above 30 had increased from 29.9% in 1996 to 43% in 2006, while diabetes patients had gone from 8.3% to 14.9%.
The Food Intake Among Malaysian Adults Research 2002/2003 study also showed that Malaysians take 25% more salt than what is recommended by the WHO.
The intake of salt is linked to high blood pressure.
Meanwhile, a survey by the Consumers Association of Penang found that Malaysians consume an average of 26 teaspoons or sugar a day, or about 130g. WHO recommends that we should not exceed 50g daily.

5. Cigarettes
While not a disease, the smoking of cigarettes is linked to certain non-communicable diseases, like heart disease and lung cancer.

This item popped up in the news in 2010 because the Government increased the tax on it by three sen per stick, effective last Oct.

Based on statistics, one in 10 Malaysians are cigarette smokers. And while there are free clinics to help quit smoking, this habit is proving hard to break.

Putting a halt to non-communicable diseases:

·Have a balanced diet. Decrease the salt, sugar and fats, and increase the vegetables and fruit. Drink enough water and watch out for the “hidden” calories in your food.

·Exercise. Take the stairs, walk around your neighbourhood, do the housework or wash your car — exercise doesn’t have to mean joining the gym.

·Find ways to relax, have fun and release your stress. This can be through physical activity, taking up a hobby or just getting together and talking with friends.

·Taking nutritional supplement.


Click here to learn more how to choose a high quality nutritional supplement comparative guide

·Put a halt to unhealthy activities like smoking, drinking excessively, eating five times a day and running up your credit card bills, among others.

·Go for an annual medical and dental checkup.

Pushing for a healthier lifestyle

IT MUST be the millionth time you've read about the danger of diabetes, heart disease and chronic illnesses brought on by the Malaysian passion for food and our tendency to drive everywhere in air-conditioned comfort.

But would you do something to beat the odds of 35 millions deaths a year?

The World Health Organization states that non-communicable diseases (NCD) like diabetes, heart disease, lung cancer, hypertension and obesity account for 60% (35 million) of all global deaths annually, and of that number, more than a quarter are premature (before age 60) and easily preventable.

Malaysian already ranked sixth globally in obesity rates with over 70% of patients in government clinics with NCD.

Last year, 17,679 pit pf 47,266 (37.4%) deaths in government hospitals were due to NCD, and of that number, 5,278 deaths were those below the age of 55 - indicating that NCD is no longer just limited to the older generation.

The number has hovered in the same range for the past four years and something needs to be done to combat the devastating results of unhealthy lifestyles. 98% of total health expenditure today go to treating the sick. ONLY 2% go toward keeping people healthy!

Please share this info to your loved one and friends. Thanks !!

Living a healthy lifestyle

It’s important that people start investing in their future health now.
It’s sad that heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis are robbing so many of the joys that life can bring.

Often, sufferers wished they had protected their health a whole lot better. Given the chance to wind back the clock, they would certainly have lived life differently.

For the rest of us who still have our health, we would do well to be more mindful and to invest in a lifestyle that ensures long-term health.

Let’s start by watching our diet. Below are relevant recommendations and tips from the Malaysian Dietary Guidelines (MDG) 2010.

 

Veggies lower the risk of disease.

Go low fat
Limit intake of food high in fats and minimise fats and oils in food preparation.
·Minimise intake of deep-fried foods and organ meat.
·Limit cholesterol-raising coconut oil, santan, ghee and butter, as well as margarines and shortening made from hydrogenated fats.
·Cut back on dishes that use excessive oils and fats (e.g. fried rice, nasi minyak and sambal tumis).

Less sweet
Consume food and beverages low in sugar.
·Cut down on products that have sugar at the top of their ingredient list.
·Replace sweet desserts with healthier options like fruits.
·Choose plain water rather than soft drinks, syrup or cordial.
·Ask for “less sweet” or kurang manis when ordering beverages.

Less salty
Choose and prepare food with less salt and sauces.
·Use natural herbs and condiments (like garlic, onion, curry powder, pepper, lemongrass, vinegar and lemon) to flavour food.
·Choose products labelled as having less salt/sodium.
·If you are already using salty sauces and flavouring condiments (e.g. monosodium glutamate, oyster sauce, belacan, cincaluk), do not add any more salt.
·Reduce intake of salty foods such as salted fish, salted egg, salted vegetables and high- sodium snacks.

Fibre
Most food with fibre contain antioxidants that help protect against diseases.
·Eat wholegrain or wholemeal products (fortified breakfast cereals, brown rice or whole-wheat spaghetti) at every meal.
·Add beans, barley, oats or lentils to your cooking and baking.

Fruit & veggies
Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that help lower the risks of certain diseases
·Eat three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits every day.
·Take fruits with edible peel or edible seeds (guava, pears, apples, prunes and berries) as these are high in fibre.
·Have different coloured fruits and vegetables each time.

Calcium
Milk and milk products are essential for maintaining healthy bones.
·Consume milk and milk products every day.
·Add milk to beverages and breakfast cereals.
·Increase your calcium intake with sardines, ikan bilis and high-calcium vegetables like broccoli, and green and french beans.
Health calls for a total lifestyle concept. So, besides eating right, you’d do well to exercise every day. While you’re at it, why not try quitting the cigarettes and alcohol, too? Your body will thank you for it.

Diseases to watch for
Heart disease and stroke are the No 1 killer disease in Malaysia.
The disease occurs when fatty plaques clog up the arteries and cut off blood flow to the heart or brain. It is estimated that one in every four adult Malaysians die from a heart attack or stroke, succumbing to the combined fatal effects of high cholesterol, a blood clot-forming tendency in the bloodstream, stress and hypertension.

Most people with high blood pressure usually do not experience any symptoms. If untreated, high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack or kidney failure. As many as three in every 10 adult Malaysians may have high blood pressure.

Characterised by persistently high blood glucose levels, diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage and gangrene of the foot, resulting in leg amputation.

About one in every 10 adult Malaysians may be afflicted with diabetes. It is believed to afflict one in every four people in the 50-64 age group.

Cancer is the No 2 cause of death globally. Nearly 70,000 new cancer cases were diagnosed among Malaysians in Peninsular Malaysia between 2003 and 2005, according to a report published by the National Cancer Registry. In Malaysia, breast and colorectal cancers are most common in women and men, respectively.

Osteoporosis robs bone of its density, quality and strength, often resulting in fractures at the hip, wrist and spine. Over one million Malaysians may be at risk of osteoporosis, 80% of which are women. It is estimated that one in three women over the age of 55 suffers from osteoporosis.

Note : picked from the star online dated 27 Nov 2010