Why it is important to keep your liver healthy
New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) It is important to keep your liver healthy for the better functioning of the body, and because symptoms often remain hidden until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage, requiring surgery or transplantation, with the unfortunate potential for fatal outcomes, said doctors here on Thursday ahead of World Liver Day.
World Liver Day is observed every year on April 19 to raise awareness about the diseases related to the liver.
A concerning trend in recent years is the rise of fatty liver disease, which is increasingly affecting individuals as young as early teenagers. According to health experts, sedentary lifestyles, coupled with the consumption of unhealthy, and fatty junk food, have contributed to this alarming phenomenon.
"Liver diseases can stem from various factors, including the consumption of unclean or contaminated food, excessive alcohol intake, and unsafe medical practices such as the use of unsterile needles in injections, hospitals, and blood transfusions. Regular liver function tests are essential to monitor the health of the liver and detect any abnormalities early on," Dr. Naveen Ganjoo, a Consultant Hepatologist, at Aster RV Hospital, told IANS.
Data from the World Health Organisation shows liver disease ranks as the tenth most common cause of death in India. While early detection and intervention are paramount in combating liver diseases, often the symptoms remain hidden, leading to worse outcomes.
Dr Monika Jain, Chief of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute told IANS that jaundice, characterised by a yellowish discoloration of the eyes and skin, serves as a prominent indicator of liver dysfunction.
"Additionally, patients may experience itchy skin, abdominal swelling resembling fluid accumulation in the stomach, and swelling of the feet, all indicative of underlying liver issues. Anorexia, or loss of appetite, further underscores the physiological repercussions of fatty liver disease, emphasising the need for comprehensive screening and preventive measures to mitigate its progression."
Other signs and symptoms of acute liver failure include pain in the upper right abdomen, often a sign of liver inflammation or enlargement. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms, accompanied by a general sense of feeling unwell, known as malaise, the doctor said.
Further, liver disease also plays a role in infertility and bone health.
"Being an immunocompromised state, the doses of medications for liver disease have to be decreased and all the medicines are also not safe to be continued during pregnancy. Patients who have prolonged liver diseases might have problems while they try to get pregnant also," Dr Meenakshi Ahuja, Senior Director, Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Fortis La Femme, told IANS.
Dr Ahuja added that in vitro fertilisation (IVF) could be an option in such cases.
Bone diseases in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients have also emerged as a serious concern. Various factors such as nutrition, hormones, and genetics contribute, and inflammation remains a persistent trigger for bone diseases in CLD patients.
"There is an intricate interplay between chronic liver disease (CLD) and metabolic bone complications. 'Hepatic osteodystrophy' encompassing osteomalacia and osteoporosis, is found in advanced liver disease, leading to heightened bone fragility and reduced mass. Osteoporosis, reminiscent of senile osteoporosis, emerges from an imbalance in bone formation and resorption, notably observed in liver cirrhosis and cholestatic liver diseases, posing a critical concern for liver transplant recipients," said Dr Deep Kamal Soni, Consultant, Gastroenterology at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre.
Preventive measures and lifestyle modifications like adopting a balanced and nutritious diet, engaging in regular exercise, and screening for Hepatitis B and C, can be key to maintaining liver health, said the doctors.
--IANS
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Glaucoma cases rising in India, more common among young: Doctors
New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Glaucoma, the third most common cause of blindness in India is rising significantly, especially among young adults, said doctors here on Saturday.
World Glaucoma Week is celebrated in March every year to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and treatment of glaucoma.
According to various independent studies, reports and data by hospitals, glaucoma-related blindness continues to rise in India due lack of awareness and delay in detection.
In many cases, about 90 per cent of the time in India, the disease goes undetected.
"Akin to new lifestyle diseases, ophthalmologists are seeing an increasing trend of glaucoma, also known as the silent thief," Dr Abhishek B Dagar, Senior Consultant, Venu Eye Hospital, New Delhi told IANS.
"Unlike other eye diseases, glaucoma is asymptomatic till a late stage and by that time visual loss is irreversible," he added.
In glaucoma patients, the pressure inside the eyeball rises to an extent that it can lead to damage of the optic nerve which transmits visual information to the brain.
If untreated, it can lead to irreversible blindness, the doctor explained.
As per the World Health Organisation, glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness across the globe.
"Glaucoma (known as kala motia in India), affects nearly 11.2 million people aged 40 and above in India. It's the third common cause of blindness in our country," Dr Abhishek said.
Further, Dr Suneeta Dubey, Director Glaucoma Services, Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi told IANS that the disease, while traditionally linked with ageing, can also afflict young individuals.
"Young people are more prone to eye inflammation. The causes can be genetic or secondary to conditions like inflammation, steroid usage or trauma," the doctor said.
The health experts called for regular eye checkups, as early management can arrest progression of the disease.
--IANS
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5 energizing breakfast recipes for women on the go
New Delhi, March 16, 2024 (IANSlife) Micromanaging housework and making healthy meals for family members while juggling a work schedule is nearly impossible without some assistance.
Biswarup Chatterjee, executive chef at Hilton Garden Inn, New Delhi, shared helpful recipes for women on the go who want to maintain a healthy diet while advancing in other areas of their lives.
Try the following recipe to enhance your holistic diet experience:
Aushadhi Concoction
Ingredients:
10 gms Ashoka
10 gms Shatavari
10 gms Ashwagandha
10 gms Lodhra
10 gms Garcinia
01gms Saffron
10 gms Lemon grass stem
15 gms Turmeric fresh
Method:
Take 500 ml of water and soak all the ingredients overnight. Boil everything together for at least 10 minutes and strain it through a muslin cloth. Enjoy hot.
Raggi Idly Burger
Ingredients:
500 gms Raggi flour
10 gms Yeast
1 kg Soya chunks
500 gms Grated fresh coconut
50 gms Roasted chana dal
20 gms Green chilly
5 gms Black mustard seeds
300 gms Lactose-free cheese
200 gms Rocket lettuce
200 gms Tomatoes
200 gms Chipotle mayonnaise
50gms Onions red
30 gms Garlic peeled
50 gms Cajun spice
200 ml Olive oil
Salt as per taste
Method:
For raggi idly make a batter of raggi and 300 ml of water and yeast. Cover it with a plastic wrap and keep it overnight to ferment. Use an idly mould and steam the idly.
Take 100 ml of olive oil in a pan, add onion and garlic and sauté till translucent. Add the soya chunks in that and keep cooking for 10 minutes and add Cajun spice and salt as per taste.
Continue cooking till all the water has been absorbed. Run the mixture through a mincer to get it finer and make patties of 150 gms each. Grill the patties in a pan till it gets crisp from outside.
For the coconut chutney- Take 50 ml olive oil in a pan add mustard seeds, chana dal & green chillies and sauté it. In a mixer grinder add the mixture and fresh grated coconut and bled it with 50 ml of water.
Arrange the burger- Spread the chipotle mayo on the idly and top it up with, tomato slice patty, rocket lettuce & cheddar cheese.
Serve the idly burger with freshly grated coconut chutney.
Norwegian Salmon Gravlax & Sous Vide Egg Benedict
Ingredients:
500 gms Salmon fillet
10nos Organic eggs
250 gms Lactose-free butter
250 gms Multigrain loaf
100 ml Olive oil
20 gms Crushed pepper
20 gms Dill leaves
30 gms Lemon juice
500 gms Himalayan pink salt
400 gms Sugar
Salt as per taste
Method
Marinate the salmon with dill leaves and lemon juice. And cover it completely with sugar and Himalayan salt and keep it for 24 hours.
Remove the salt and sugar coating and the moisture released from the fillet. Dry it completely using a paper towel. Slice it thinly.
Sous vide 5 eggs using sous vide machine and food-grade plastic bags at 70 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes.
Make hollandaise sauce using lactose-free butter, lemon juice, and crushed black pepper.
Toast the multi-grain bread in olive oil, and top it with sliced salmon, eggs and hollandaise sauce. Use a dill leaf for garnishing.
Hair Bless Granola Bar
Ingredients
100 gms Almond
100 gms Peanuts skin less
100 gms Walnuts
250 gms Sunflower seeds
50 gms Flax seeds
100 gms Rolled oats
100 gms Cornflakes
100 gms Fruit loops
200 ml Floral honey
15 gms Cinnamon powder
100 gm Brown sugar
200 gms Mixed dried berries
Method
Crush the sunflower seeds and remove the outer shells, take all the nuts and seeds in a tray and toast it. Crush the mixture roughly and keep it aside.
In a pan take honey, sugar and cinnamon powder and cook it until it gets lightly caramelised. Mix everything and roll it into a slab. Bake it at 140 degrees centigrade for 15 minutes and let it cool.
Cut it into a bar shape and serve.
Raspberry Indulgence
Ingredients:
500 gms Sugarfree dark chocolates
1 L Almond milk
100 gms Fresh raspberry
250 gms Cream cheese
100 gms Icing sugar
200 gms Oats
150 gms Dry berry powder
Method:
Blend all the aforementioned ingredients till it becomes smooth. Garnish with fresh raspberry and icing sugar, and serve it in a glass. The recipe is for a minimum serving of five portions.
IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in
--IANS
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