Watch your waistline if you want to save yourself from non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) or as it is commonly called, fatty liver.
Speaking on the sidelines of a programme organized to observe World Hepatitis Day at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Friday, Dr Narayanasamy, Professor, Hepatology Department, said obesity is one of the two main causes of NASH — which is the most extreme form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Though for a long time it was thought that excessive consumption of alcohol was the root cause of fatty liver, doctors said even teetotallars who are obese can suffer from this disease.
At the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital alone, doctors said that out of 100 people who come as out-patients, at least 10 would have been diagnosed with fatty liver. Though out of that only five percent were diagnosed with NASH, doctors in GGH warn that it has no visible symptoms. “Only good physical activity, mind free of stress and good and regular diet can help,” the doctor said.People who have diabetes, hypertension and hyper cholestrolemia, are also susceptible to it
Dean Dr V Kanagasabai informed during the programme that over 2500 people were screened in 13 different camps conducted by GGH this year so far including places like Madhavaram, Tambaram, Porur, Poonamallee and Periyapalayam. “42 of them were diagnosed with Hepatitis B and two were diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Though it could be a small number, we have saved the lives of 44 people and their families,” the dean said.
Health Minister K C Veeramani said that he had also gotten a blood test to stay safe. In 2012, RGGGH has treated about 4000 patients and have conducted various awareness programmes including the one that would be conducted in Srinivasapuram, a fisherfolk locality near Marina Beach on Sunday. While the treatments were conducted free of cost under the CM health insurance scheme, doctors said it could otherwise cost Rs 3 lakh to treat ‘Hep C and Rs 2 lakh to treat Hep B.