Diabetic, obesity patients prone to liver disease: Dr Joy

Nellore: Dr Joy Verghese, German fellowship winner in liver transplantation and senior consultant at Apollo, Chennai, has said 30 per cent of the people all over the globe are suffering from liver ailments, including the hazardous non-alcoholic fatty liver. Addressing media here on Saturday, he said the hazardous disease occurs among those who suffer from diabetes and obesity.

The number of patients suffering from liver ailments in diabetes capital of India is considerably high, he said. The diseases like cirrhosis of liver, fatty liver, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are surfacing when patients undergo routine health check-ups. If they are not diagnosed on time, they can be fatal, he said.

Patients of the liver problems are diagnosed as having weakness, decreased body-mass index, blood vomiting, blood motions, swelling of the feet, problems in lower abdominal region, losing mental balance and so on.

Increased cholesterol, losing weight, triglycerides level decreasing in blood, inability to control sugar, hypothyroid are noticed in the liver patients. Liver functioning test, imaging test, liver biopsy help diagnose the diseases, he said.

Controlling weight and diabetes, taking fruits and green and leafy vegetables, exercising including walking and keeping fast foods and cool drinks at bay are useful to keep liver problems at bay, he said. He called upon patients having the symptoms to consult Apollo doctors.

The hospital has been sensitizing people besides extending medical treatment, he said. Since 2008, he said that he had taken part in over 1,000 liver transplant surgeries. He said that he would be available at the Apollo Hospital here in the first Saturday of every month, he said.