The Star, tuesday 7 june 2016

special

southern healthcare

Expertise at your doorstep

THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

2 southern healthcare

By THERESA BELLE
THE ease of accessibility to the
south of Malaysia is largely
recognised as one of the main
reasons for the rapid development
in the area in the past decade.
Since 2006, the area consisting of
Johor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca
and the southern tip of Pahang has
grown not only in terms of
population, but infrastructure and
services to support this boom.
Many believe this to be the result
of the catalytic Iskandar Malaysia
(IM) development. The great
population growth in this
economic region has created
changes in terms of income and
demographic shifts, which drive
up demand for quality healthcare
services.
For example, Malaysia is
expected to reach ageing nation
status by 2035 with 15% of its
people aged 60 or older, and this
ageing population would need
more nursing and supportive
services.
The widespread occurrence of
non-communicable diseases
despite increased health awareness
among the middle-income segment
creates a pressing need for
efficient, effective, affordable and
specialised services that can keep
up with fast-paced modern
lifestyles.
According to Columbia Asia
Hospital Iskandar Puteris general
manager Rahani Yaacob, the
hospital is designed to address
these changing healthcare needs of
residents and businesses in the
region.
With such significant growth
and strong demand for healthcare
services, there are a lot more
opportunities for the healthcare
industry in Malaysia.
New and existing healthcare
service providers will want to
capture a share of this significant
and high-growth market, resulting
in more extensive options for local
and foreign patients, which will
also boost health tourism in the
country, she says.
As more and more players enter
the market and the healthcare
environment becomes more
competitive, we can expect to see
healthcare providers striving to
provide high-quality healthcare
services to keep ahead of the
competition.

Healthcare boosts
economy
As one of the top promoted
sectors in IM, the healthcare
industry has raked in RM2.77bil in
total investments from 2006 until
March this year.
In view of total investments
across various sectors, the Iskandar
Regional Development Authority
has announced that the region is
well on track to achieve its
RM383bil investment target by
2025.
The Johor state government
seems dedicated to this cause. Back
in 2014, Mentri Besar Datuk
Mohamed Khaled Nordin said
Johor Corporation and its
subsidiary KPJ Healthcare Berhad,
which are directly linked to the
state government, should develop a
masterplan for turning Johor into a
healthcare hub in Asia.
At the time, he also pointed out

Malaysians
living in the
southern
region stand
to benefit
from plans to
turn Johor into
a healthcare
hub in Asia.

High demand for

quality services
that customers of the hospitals are
not only Johorians but Malaysians
from other states and visitors or
medical tourists from overseas.
In a mutually beneficial move
for Malaysian hospitals and
Singaporean patients, Singaporean
health insurance provider
Medisave recently widened its
geographic coverage to enable
policyholders to be treated in a list
of Malaysian hospitals, including
Regency Specialist Hospital and
Gleneagles Medini Hospital.
This should increase traffic
across the border for healthcare
services, especially since the
current exchange rate is rather
favourable to Singaporeans.
Revenue from medical tourism
can be pumped back into
sustaining and upgrading facilities
to local private healthcare users
benefit, as pointed out in the 2014
paper Medical tourism in Malaysia:
How can we better identify and
manage its advantages and
disadvantages? published in the
Global Health Action journal.
Besides providing locals with a
solid alternative to crowded public
hospitals, this also generates
demand for goods and services in
allied sectors such as clinical
research and development,
pharmaceuticals, and medical
equipment.
Sectors outside the healthcare
realm also stand to benefit from
increased medical tourism,
including transport, retail,
commercial care and hospitality.
Although there is a lack of data
to clearly gauge the extent of this
multiplier effect, it is widely
accepted that the growth of the
southern healthcare sector can
positively impact economic
development of the country.

Brimming with potential

With the Malaysian Government
including health and wellness as a
National Key Economic Area
(NKEA), healthcare is no longer

New and existing

healthcare service
providers will want
to capture a share
of this significant
and high-growth
market, resulting
in more extensive
options for local and
foreign patients,
which will also boost
health tourism in the
country.

Destination of choice
THE Iskandar Regional
Development Authority (IRDA)
has set its sights on transforming
Iskandar Malaysia (IM) into
a dynamic, integrated and
world-class healthcare region
that will be developed into a
health tourism city.

With IM being primed to

become a regional healthcare
hub, investors can leverage on
its development plans as
outlined in the 2011 IRDA guide
Invest healthcare Iskandar
Malaysia: Asias healthcare
destination of choice.

IMs vision to become Asias healthcare destination of choice

IMs positioning
strategies

Rahani Yaacob

Dynamic, integrated
world-class healthcare
system

Health
tourism city

Healthcare priority sub-sectors

limited to traditional healthcare

service providers.
The scope of wellness services
has widened as evidenced by the
development of urban wellness
centres such as Medini Integrated
Wellness Capital in Iskandar Puteri
(formerly known as Nusajaya).
Together with residential and
commercial fixtures, there is a
12.5-acre (5.1ha) wellness
sanctuary bordered by a mangrove
forest as well as a complementing
4.6-acre (1.9ha) urban wellness
centre between the Mall of Medini
and Gleneagles Medini Hospital.
The former is designed to
maximise positive energy and
promote the well-being of mind,
body and spirit while the latter
comprises wellness-related retail
establishments, an urban wellness
spa, and facilities for corporate
training retreats.
Projects in the pipeline will serve
to enhance the potential of south
Malaysia to become the next
healthcare destination.
One of these projects is the
Thomson Iskandar medical hub,

Specialist medical services

Diagnostic medical services
Research and development/
centres of excellence for
healthcare

Strategies

Enablers

Traditional complementary medicine

Wellness services
Medical equipment manufacturing

Foster strategic
alliances

Transform delivery of
healthcare system

Encourage international
accreditation

Promote
health tourism

Grow pharmaceutical
drug industry

Invest in state-of-the-art
medical technology

Government high-level
support for research
and development/
centres of excellence

Enhance health travel

customer experience,
proactive alliance

Better targeted marketing

branding and multi-agency

Upgrade existing
infrastructure
(physical and ICT)

Enhance regulations
and policies

Enhance talent pool

and human capital
training and development

Malaysias vision: Seamless and integrated healthcare system

which will consist of a tertiary

care hospital and outpatient
centre with 400 clinics when it
opens in 2018.
Johor could be for the south
what Penang has become in the

north a versatile medical hub

that serves locals and tourists alike
and it is living up to that
potential a little more with every
encouraging step by policymakers
and healthcare providers.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

southern healthcare 3

Dealing with haemorrhoids

HAEMORRHOIDS are a relatively
common disease among men and
women. Approximately half to
two-thirds of the population
between 45 and 65 years old
may experience some form of
haemorrhoid problems at some
point in their lives.
Haemorrhoids are classified into
two general categories: internal
and external.
Internal haemorrhoids lie inside
the rectum and you cannot see or
feel them.
They do not usually hurt because
there are few pain-sensing nerves
in the rectum. Bleeding may be the
only sign that they are there.
Sometimes, internal
haemorrhoids prolapse or
enlarge and protrude outside the
anal sphincter. If so, you may be
able to see or feel them as moist,
pink pads of skin that are pinker
than the surrounding area.
Prolapsed haemorrhoids may
hurt because they become irritated
by rubbing from clothing and
sitting. They usually recede into the
rectum on their own; if they do not,
they can be gently pushed back
into place.
External haemorrhoids lie
within the anus and are often
uncomfortable. If an external

With recent medical

advancements,
patients can now
opt for a gentle laser
treatment known
as the new Laser
Haemorrhoidoplasty
Procedure to treat
haemorrhoids. A
small puncture
is made and the
haemorrhoids are
shrunk from the
inside.

haemorrhoid prolapses to the

outside (usually in the course of
passing a stool), you can see and
feel it.
Blood clots sometimes form
within prolapsed external
haemorrhoids, causing an
extremely painful condition
called thrombosis.
If an external haemorrhoid
becomes thrombosed, it can look

rather frightening, turning purple

or blue, and could possibly bleed.
Despite their appearance,
thrombosed haemorrhoids are
usually not serious and will resolve
themselves in about a week. If the
pain is unbearable, the thrombosed
haemorrhoid can be removed with
surgery.
Anal bleeding and pain of any
sort is alarming and should be
evaluated; it can indicate a
life-threatening condition
such as colorectal cancer.
Haemorrhoids are the main
cause of anal bleeding and are
rarely dangerous, but a definite
diagnosis from your doctor is
essential.
As increased abdominal pressure
can cause your haemorrhoids to
become chronically inflamed.
The risk factors for piles include
pregnancy, chronic constipation,
lifting heavy weights, straining
when passing stool, obesity and
ageing.
Haemorrhoids are
uncomfortable as they can be itchy,
painful and cause a burning
sensation. In most cases, patients
prefer self-treatment with creams,
which do not resolve the problem
but merely treat the symptoms that
will return after a short time.

Dr Zulkarnain Hasan.

Treatment options
The treatment for your piles
depends on the stage and
severity of the disease. Minor
haemorrhoids (first stage), may be
treated with laxatives, pain
medication and anti-itch creams.
You are also advised to not strain
while on the toilet and to use
simple pads to help with irritation.
Micronised flavonoid tablets
may also be given for early
haemorrhoids as they can alleviate

symptoms and bleeding.

However, if your piles have
reached advanced stages (third or
fourth stage), your doctor may
recommend various methods to
remove or reduce the piles.
Banding involves placing an
elastic band around the base,
cutting off blood flow to the pile.
After a few days, it will simply fall
off. A special solution can be
injected into the pile to cause it to
shrink, known as sclerotherapy.
Another option is to undergo
surgery to remove the piles mass
(haemorrhoidectomy) or staple
shut the blood flow to the piles.
With recent medical
advancements, patients can now
opt for a gentle laser treatment
known as the new LHP (Laser
Haemorrhoidoplasty Procedure).
In LHP, a small puncture (less
than 2mm) is made with a thin
laser fibre. Then, the haemorrhoids
are shrunk from the inside in a
controlled manner by means of
laser energy without injuring the
sphincter muscle. By Dr
Zulkarnain Hasan, consultant
general surgeon at Columbia
Asia-Iskandar Puteri.

n For more information,

call 07-233 9999.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

4 southern healthcare

Beautiful
sound
WHAT is the most beautiful sound to you?
Your childs laughter? Or the voice of a loved
one? We as humans need to hear the full
spectrum of sound to fully enjoy it.
Unfortunately, hearing loss can disrupt this
enjoyment.
Jensen Hearing brings full hearing back
through its complete range of audiology
services.
l Hearing test Jensen Hearing provides
audiological tests for all ages. Its diagnostic
equipment provides accurate diagnosis,
supports ear, nose and throat surgeons
before and after ear surgeries with reports,
as well as aids in medico-legal investigations.
l Hearing aid selection Proper
evaluation and consultation is provided to
find your hearing needs and recommend the
best solutions from the variety of hearing
aids and technologies that suit different
lifestyles and needs.
l Hearing aid fitting A good hearing
aid requires a fitting plan to ensure users
can hear well. The brain also needs time to
adjust to the new input. At Jensen Hearing,
the real ear measurement (REM) systems
ensure that the hearing aids that are fitted
give clients the best possible sounds.
l Hearing rehabilitation Aural
rehabilitation is offered to clients with

Francis Tan, triple gold winner at the 2014

Malaysia Deaf Games (Sopma), is a satisfied
Jensen Hearing customer.

specific hearing needs. These are hearing

exercises that help the brain get the best
access to speech and language, which allows
users to hear comfortably.
l Audiology consultation Consultation
services are offered for hearing difficulties
such as tinnitus (ringing sounds in the ear).
Jensen Hearing provides audiology
services to improve the lives of its clients
who seek better hearing and who want to
hear the sweet sounds of life again.

n For more information, call 06-288 1407

or e-mail jensenhearing@yahoo.com or
visit www.jensenhearing.com.

Protect
your
brain

In the event
of ischaemic
stroke.

When supplemented with palm

tocotrienols, arteriogenesis is enhanced
and neighbouring blood vessels dilated to
supply blood for the affected area.

ACCORDING to the National Stroke

Association of Malaysia (Nasam), stroke is
the third most common cause of death in
Malaysia. Fortunately, 80% of stroke diseases
are preventable.
The key is to control the risk factors that
lead to stroke blood pressure, cholesterol,
diabetesand smoking habits, among others.
Stroke can be categorised into two groups
haemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke.
Haemorrhagic stroke is caused by burst
blood vessels in the brain while ischaemic
stroke is due to blockage of brain blood
vessels, which disrupts blood circulation.
When blood supply in our body is
disrupted, brain cells will die due to a
lack of oxygen and nutrients. Hence, early
protection of brain cells is essential.
According to a 2011 study led by Dr
Cameron Rink of Ohio State University
Medical Center, brain damage during a
stroke can be prevented by triggering the
surrounding blood vessels to dilate and
redirect the blood flow around a blockage.
The redirection is the result of 10 weeks
worth of supplementation with a type of
vitamin E called palm tocotrienols.
Palm tocotrienols were collaboratively
studied in 2012 by Ohio State University and
the Malaysian Palm Oil Board for its main
function in protecting brain cells.

The 2011 study discovered that palm

tocotrienol could stimulate arteriogenesis
(remodelling of existing blood vessels) that
can immediately expand in response to a
demand for oxygen-rich blood. This
collateral blood supply could provide a
major difference in stroke outcomes.
Tocotrienol improves the function of
collaterals, better protecting someone from
an initial or secondary stroke, says Dr Rink.
Unfortunately, palm tocotrienols are
known to be poorly absorbed into the
human body. Hence, Hovid Berhad, a
manufacturer in palm tocotrienols,
successfully developed a self-emulsifying
delivery system called Suprabio, which
increases absorption of tocotrienols by 300%.
The Suprabio system has been proven
to effectively reach human brain cells
in a clinical study in 2017 published in
Vitamins & Hormones.
You can get a Nasam booklet on stroke
information by emailing to www.hovid.com/
brainhealth by August 2016.
Consult your doctor before embarking on
stroke treatment.
This article is brought to you by
Hovid Berhad.

n For more information, call 03-7831 2738.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

southern healthcare 5

Preparing for hospital stays

By DELIA AHMAD
A GOOD doctor-patient relationship
involves in-depth discussion about
the patients condition, treatment
options and disease management.
But most of the time, people do
not talk about what it is really like
to be a patient or be admitted to
hospital.
Though you may anticipate a
stay in hospital, preparing for it
and choosing a hospital where you
can feel comfortable are important
factors that contribute to recovery.
Your hospital experience will
depend on the questions you ask
your doctor and hospital staff and
the discussions you have with your
family members or friends who
are supporting you.
Many people think that
healthcare is provided in a linear
fashion and there is only one way
that everything is done, but just as
there are always options to take to
make your treatment more suited
to you, there are different things to
know and do to make a hospital
stay more comfortable.
In Malaysia, reticence makes
most people reluctant to ask their
doctors questions or share all their
concerns.
However, you should take an

When preparing for a hospital stay or treatment, do not hesitate to ask your
doctor questions.

active part in your healthcare. Do

not be afraid to find out everything
you can about your treatment and
hospital stay.
Here are some things that will
help you feel calm, comfortable
and in control when you are in
hospital.

Find out what it is really

like
Before you get admitted, try to
get an idea what it will be like to
be an inpatient at the hospital you
have chosen.
Talk to your doctor at the
hospital about what the care and

facilities are like and be frank

about your expectations. The
doctor will be able to tell you what
you should and should not expect
to get out of your stay.
More importantly, this chat with
your doctor will remove your
feelings of uncertainty and allay
any fears of the unknown.
If your doctor does not volunteer
information, do not be afraid to
ask. You are the best advocate for
your health and you should feel
comfortable talking about
everything from who you will be
dealing with during your stay to
what to do when you get home.
You should ensure that you get a

complete understanding of the

whole experience.

should do to prepare before

surgery.

Plan before you arrive

Know the layout of

the hospital

Even if you do not have a

scheduled hospital stay such as a
surgery you should still prepare
for a hospital stay, just in case an
emergency occurs.
Arrange with your primary care
physician to have your medical
records up-to-date and readily
accessible.
It may be difficult for you to
remember everything about your
condition or disease when you are
really sick, so your medical records
are an important go-to for the
doctors treating you at that point
in time.
Have your identification card
and insurance card ready to take
with you. Also have ready any
relevant insurance information
and another form of payment in
case there are things that are not
covered by insurance.
Make sure that someone reliable
the family member or friend who
will support you during your
hospital stay knows where and
how to access these.
If you have a surgery scheduled,
talk to your doctor about what you

Hospitals can be confusing, with

numerous wards, centres and
clinics that are seemingly
randomly spread over several
buildings and floors. Even finding
the most convenient place to park
can be a challenge.
It is a good idea for you and the
people who will be accompanying
you to or visiting you at hospital to
learn the layout of the hospital.
If you are scheduling a check-up
or surgery, ask where the nearest
parking is. If you are a regular
visitor to the hospital to see your
doctor or go for check-ups, try to
learn the fastest routes to and from
the various places you need to go.
Most hospitals have signs, maps
and route markers to help people
find their way around
For example, floors or specialist
centres may be marked with
different colours on the walls or
there may be specific coloured
lines that lead you to the various
departments.

> SEE PAGE 8

THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

6 southern healthcare

OSTEOPOROSIS is a silent disease

without any symptoms until
fractures occur. According to
Dr Mohd Zaidi Yaakub,
consultant orthopaedic surgeon
at Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh,
women and the elderly are the
main groups affected by this
condition.
Dr Zaidi explains that
osteoporosis can be caused by
several factors. The risk to women
increases after menopause as the
body stops producing a protective
hormone and bones become more
brittle faster.
In the case of the elderly, the
condition can occur because of
poor oral intake of calcium, or
multiple secondary medical
problems or psychosocial
problems.
To a lesser extent, some people
develop osteoporosis as a
complication of
other medical
problems.
The most
common
complaints I see
in my practice are
lower back pain
and fractures
that are
secondary
to trivial
Dr Mohd
Zaidi
Yaakub.

Ensuring bone health

injuries, reveals Dr Zaidi,
explaining that treatments for
these complaints differ for each
patient but are all initiated by
taking a thorough medical history
and ruling out other medical
problems that may be contributing
to the symptoms.
After that, the patient is usually
prescribed a painkiller and the
fracture (if there is one) is fixed.
Only after that does treatment of
osteoporosis begin, by hormonal
therapy, vitamin D or appropriate
drugs such as biphosphonate,
calcitonin or strontium ranelate,
he says.
There are various risk factors for
orthopaedic injuries or conditions.
One of the major risk factors is
pathological fractures that may
occur in the event of a trivial
injury. This is basically when a
fracture occurs because the bone is
weakened by osteoperosis.
Dr Zaidi explains that the most
common of this type of injury are
distal radius fractures (near the
wrist joint), hip fractures and
fractures at the lumbar vertebrae
(spinal region).
Furthermore, osteoporosis
can speed up the occurrence of
osteoarthritis, especially if
fractures occur in the joint,

You can have your bone density checked with a bone DEXA machine.

he adds.
Many people believe that
orthopaedic complications only
affect older people but young
people are also susceptible,
especially if they have other
medical conditions such as
connective tissue disease (which
may require long-term steroid
therapy) or a poor diet that lacks
nutrition and calcium such as one
that contains a lot of fast food.
Osteoporosis is preventable to a
certain degree through good
lifestyle choices.

In terms of diet, you should

make sure that your food is
nutritious and high in calcium,
and reduce your caffeine intake.
Stop smoking, as it increases
bone resorption (where the body
naturally breaks down bone).
Exercise regularly, especially
weight-bearing exercises such as
tai chi, brisk walking, dancing,
yoga, racquet sports, hiking, golf
and strength training.
You should also go for regular
check-ups after the age of 40 to
check your bone density (such as

with a bone DEXA machine). These

tests are available at most
hospitals.
Check-ups should not just be for
bone health but also for any other
medical problems. This is
especially important if there is a
history of osteoporosis and
osteoarthritis in your family.
Ask your doctor for an
evaluation and assessment of
fracture risk and devise a
management plan together.
It is important that you tell
your doctor about all your medical
conditions and take proper
medications to relieve your
symptoms. Avoid unregulated
medications as these drugs often
contain large doses of steroids,
stresses Dr Zaidi.
Awareness of the importance of
bone and joint health is still not
comprehensive in Malaysia; people
need to understand their bones, go
for regular health check-ups and
consult their doctors for medical
issues.
He advises Malaysians to
practise a healthy and active
lifestyle to ensure their bone
health.

n For more information,

call 06-231 9999.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

WITHIN Carotinos red oils lies a

world of nutrients derived from
years of research and commitment
to meet the needs of customers.
Carotino red palm fruit oil is
considered the worlds richest
plant source of natural carotenes
(pro-vitamin A) and natural
tocotrienols.
As a global leader and innovator
in value-added oil and fat
derivatives, Carotino is committed
to the research, development and
manufacturing of palm oil products
using the latest environmentally
friendly, state-of-the-art technology.
Each bottle of Carotino oil is a
custom blend of vegetable oils
designed for customers health.
The vegetable oils are
cholesterol-free and do not contain
harmful trans-fatty acid. Most
importantly, the Carotino oils are a
rich source of natural carotenes,
tocotrienols and tocopherols
(vitamin E) and co-enzyme Q10.
The body converts carotene into
vitamin A, which is needed for
healthy skin and mucous
membrane, immune system and
good vision.
Carotenes, vitamin E and
co-enzyme Q10 also protect the
body from free radicals that
damage cells and cause several
chronic diseases.
These essential nutrients also
protect the body against ageing
and atherosclerosis.
Carotino oil is high in
mono-unsaturated fatty acids

southern healthcare 7

World of goodness
and low in saturated fatty acids,
thus helping to lower LDLcholesterol in the blood stream.
It is also a rich source of
omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
to promote healthy skin and,
combined with diet and exercise,
can help lower certain blood fat
and raise levels of good
cholesterol (HDL).
Carotino is endorsed by the
Singapore Health Promotion
Board and Swiss Vitamin institute
for its contents of natural
carotenes, vitamin E and
co-enzyme Q10.
In developing countries,
nutritional deficiencies are a daily
part of life and create many health
problems affecting the population,
especially children.
Vitamin A deficiency is
particularly an issue that impacts
many areas of health such as
vision, immunity, growth and
foetal development.
As part of its dedication to
nutrition, Carotino has
spearheaded projects to mitigate
vitamin A deficiency in children
and adults.
Carotino partnered with the
Nutritional Intervention Research
Unit of the South African Medical
Research Council to conduct a

Carotino is
rich in natural
carotenes,
vitamin E and
co-enzyme
Q10.

study to prove the efficacy of

Carotino red palm fruit oil baked
biscuits. This study is documented
in the UN Food and Nutrition
Bulletin.
Carotino also combined forces
with Malaysian Palm Oil Council

in a community development
project in South Africa to develop a
bakery model to produce and sell
cost-effective carotene-rich muffins
to local school children, providing
a self-sustaining model to address
health and social issues.

Carotino oil is a blend of the

highly regarded red palm oil and
canola oil. Like other red- and
vermillion-tinged foods, Carotino
receives its red colouring from
having high carotenoid content.
Carotenoids, such as betacarotene, are examples of provitamin A, which can evolve to
form vitamin A when needed.
Carotenoids are known to
be good for the eyes, growth
and immunity as well as
reproduction.
It also prevents bacteria and
viruses from latching onto the
respiratory, urinary and intestinal
tracts and keeps the body healthy
as a whole.
It is a powerful antioxidant and
is packed with essential nutrients
such as tocotrienols, a member of
the vitamin E family, which is
known to improve
HDL levels to benefit hair and skin.
Carotino oil can be easily
incorporated into cooking. Its
bright red hue gives dishes a
distinct and appetising colour and
ultimately gives everyone
a wealth of good health.

n For more information, call

07-252 2888 or visit
www.carotino.com.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

8 southern healthcare

Keeping your spine in line

BACK and neck aches are very
common especially among people
who are mostly sedentary, have
poor posture, involved in hard
labour or prone to injuries due to
accidents or lifestyle activities.
Hence, delaying treatment for back
and neck pain can be detrimental
and has debilitating effects on the
body.
Degenerative spine disease,
commonly known as slip disc or
sciatica, is a common spinal
disease among Malaysians.
Even though the term
degenerative generally implies
that the disorder worsens with age,
it describes the process of the
spinal disc degenerating over a
period of time.
Degenerative spine disorders
often present symptoms such as
neck and lower back pain,
numbness of the limbs and
muscular atrophy when the
disorder reaches a chronic stage.
More acute symptoms such as
paralysis arise when patients avoid
medical diagnosis and often opt for
traditional massages or treatment,
which is popular among local
communities, says Dr Teo Beng
Tiong, consultant neurosurgeon at
Regency Specialist Hospital, Johor.
There are many factors that lead
to degenerative spine disorders.
Obesity, heavy lifting, poor
posture and injury of any kind are

common causes for lower back

problems while neck (cervical
spine) aches are now more
prevalent due to text neck a
continuous neck strain that is
becoming more common as people
hunch over smartphones,
continues Dr Teo.
Surprisingly, many of these
disorders go undiagnosed or
undertreated, especially for
cervical spine disorders, he adds.
Intractable pain along the
affected area, limb aches,
weakness, muscular twitching,
spasticity of limbs, gradual feeling
of urinary frequency or even
incontinence are some common
red flag signs of nerve or spinal
cord compression.

Setting it straight
The treatment of spinal
degenerative disorders follows a
stepwise order, which begins with
conservative management
(treatment using medications and
physiotherapy), spinal intervention,
minimally invasive spinal surgery
proceeding to surgical
decompression and fusion.
This last step is only conducted
after a thorough and conclusive
medical diagnosis.
A comprehensive and safe
treatment plan can only be made
after consulting a neurosurgeon.

Dr Teo Beng Tiong.

Ideally, a detailed neurological

assessment followed by imaging
studies will be conducted before
any treatment begins.
It is quite common to find
patients who come in with
near-paralysis after previously
consulting multiple masseurs and
traditional medicine practitioners.
It is a challenge to ensure full
recovery if the damage is too
severe, says Dr Teo.
According to Dr Teo, the risk
of spinal surgery has reduced
tremendously for the past two
decades by benefiting from
operative microscopes.

The latest Leica OHX microscope

system offers higher magnification,
providing clearer visualisation
during a procedure that makes
spine surgery safer.
Minimally invasive technology
has offered patients smaller
incisions, shorter hospital stays and
earlier commitment to work.
Additionally, image-guided
technology using neuronavigation
system also known as imageguided system (IGS) has provided
real-time guidance.
It is similar to a GPS navigation
system used in driving, thus
minimising the risk of
malpositioning of screws or
implants during surgery.
An intraoperative
neuromonitoring system, which
uses the recording of neuronal
response to stimuli, has further
enhanced safety while operating
nearby vital neural structures.
The Brain and Spine Center at
Regency offers full-time medical
treatment and surgical services
with a focus on back pain, neck
pain, spinal disorders and brain
disorders.

Taking the right step

Malaysians should take more
proactive steps to improve their
spinal health. Efforts can begin by
practising good habits such as

correcting posture from time to

time and avoiding spending too
much time on mobile devices and
laptops.
In terms of lifestyle and exercise,
be sure to do a warm-up before a
workout and check with experts on
proper forms when performing
particular exercises.
Swimming is also great for the
spine. If you are a non-swimmer,
walking in the pool for a period of
time is also a great spinal exercise.
Most importantly, do not hesitate
to seek treatment especially if you
have persistent back and neck
pain.
Avoid strenuous massage of
your back and neck without
consulting a neurosurgical
specialist. Do not be too concerned
with costing when it comes to
seeing a neurosurgeon and
undergoing necessary diagnostics.
A delay in proper diagnosis and
treatment can be hazardous and
may cause irreversible damage to
your spine, stresses Dr Teo.
Spine treatment and surgery has
improved in safety and efficacy
with the advancement of the latest
medical healthcare technology.
Always consult your
neurosurgeon on the best
treatment option for you.

n For more information,

call 07-381 7700.

Make your
stay comfortable
> FROM PAGE 5
Even if the hospital you are in
does not have enough maps or
signs, you can look out for your
own markers to remember your
way around, such as a piece of
artwork or a nurses station.
If all else fails and you do get
lost, do not be afraid to ask for
directions. The hospital staff
should be willing to help you
figure out where to go.

Know what to do in an
emergency
If you are ill, chances are
you will be making regular
appointments with your primary
care physician to track your
progress and with a specialist
at a hospital.
Your timeline for treatment and
management should be thoroughly
discussed with both doctors so
that together you can create a
programme that works best for
you.
But what if there is an
emergency? Many people are
afraid to classify the pain they feel
as an emergency for fear of being
accused of overreacting or wasting
the doctors time, or even because
they choose to ignore the pain as
they do not want to deal with it or
inconvenience anyone.
It is important to note that if

Take down the

names of the
drugs being
administered,
the dosage and
frequency of
administration.
This information
will keep you
updated on
your treatment
progress.
something happens or if pain
arises that you feel is an
emergency, then it is one. Get
someone to drive you to the
emergency room immediately
or call an ambulance.
Before such an event arises,
however, you can prepare by
discussing potential complications
that may arise with your doctor
and asking what to do should an
emergency occur.
Also ask if and when he or she
will be available to help you during
an emergency, who will attend to
you if your regular doctor is not
available and where and who to
go to after hours.

A good hosptial will ensure that your every need is attended to.

Keep track of your

own care
Once you are admitted to
hospital, you will find that it is not
just your doctor that will take care
of you. Everyone from the nurses
to the staff member who brings
you ice chips is involved in your
care.
A good hospital will have staff
who are all willing to help in any
way they can. You can help
yourself by being present in your
care and treatment. It is a good
idea to bring a notebook in which

you can keep track of the people

who come to talk to you and who
give you medicines.
Also take down the names of
the drugs being administered,
the dosage and frequency of
administration.
This information will keep
you updated on your treatment
progress and knowing the history
of your treatment will help in
modifying your treatment plan
later if necessary.
You should also use your
notebook to jot down any thoughts
or questions you may have.

Hospital stays can be

overwhelming.
Combined with the fact that
doctors often have limited time to
spend with each patient, you may
have a small window in which to
get your thoughts in order and ask
questions.
Having them written down, and
writing down the answers, will
help both you and the doctor.
Asking questions will also allow
you to engage in discussion about
options and the answers will
enable you to make informed
decisions about your treatment.