by GS Gupta (Flat No 12241, 9810197974)
Our Youngistaan Adda had the privilege to listen to a renowned Gastroenterologist in India and abroad on liver health, on Sunday, 06 November 2022 It is my utmost pleasure to introduce Doctor KR Vasudevan (R/O 6171) , Surgical Gastroenterologist with specialization in Liver transplant. He is a full time associate with Jaypee Hospital and attached with PSRI Delhi. He has extensively travelled to many central Asian countries for treating and performing liver surgeries. Apart from being an able medical professional, he is a noble human being.
As a part of the session, Dr Vasudevan shared some important points with the Youngistaan Adds which included:
A.) Liver is a very important organ, we can’t survive even a day if it fails. It performs greater than 500 functions, important ones are the production of blood protein including clotting factors, breakdown of toxins and production of digestive juices required for breaking down and absorbing food contents and lastly storage of nutrients.
B.) Consumption of food rich in saturated food, and excessive consumption of alcohol and refined sugar is not good for the liver and more so for other vital organs.
C.) Liver is generally and substantially affected by ‘Hepatitis Viruses’ which damage the liver apart from fatty food and alcohol.
His advice to the elders, young at heart, was to Maintain the height and weight ratio. The thumb rule for adults is weight should be maintained close to ‘Height in cm minus 100’.
Overeating should be avoided. Just like we keep track of the input and output of our finances, monitor calorie intake and output, and aim to burn (spend) more calories than intake by a strict workout regime suitable for individual capacity.
Be positive and do not get disturbed by medical test parameters especially when they are marginally higher than the upper limit of normal because the stress does more harm than the reason for the abnormal result.
Do seek medical advice but avoid unnecessary medication, especially supplements. Every medication, allopathy or any other alternative system, has some side effects. Even unnecessary use of supplements has harmful effects on our bodies. Our healthy body is capable of producing/storing all nutrients, from our diet- important to have a balanced diet.
It is good to have an alcohol-free lifestyle. If alcohol is consumed please note that with age, the body is not able to degrade it, so the consumption should be limited to 10 gm per day if you are healthy and there are no adverse indications. It may be noted that alcohol adversely affects heart and brain health.
Liver is a very benevolent organ and grows on its own after treatment. If the problem is diagnosed in time, the damaged liver can be successfully repaired by medication, treatment, and surgery including a transplant. Fatty liver conditions and gallbladder stones are quite easy to manage. All the members join me in thanking Dr. K R Vasudevan for his lively interactive talk, useful advice and reassurance removing a lot of myths.
