|
A patient has his stomach examined with an endoscope at a Seoul hospital.
/ Courtesy of Mirae Internal Medicine Clinic |
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Koreans have become richer, especially in terms of eating: Instead of worrying about hunger or malnutrition, they can choose what, when and how much to eat among a wide range of foods. However, the number of people suffering from gastric disorders has gone up dramatically. According to the National Health Insurance data, about 5 million people were treated for gastritis in 2008.
Why? "Koreans eat too much. If we reduce the amount of what we eat, I think the number of gastric disorders, including gastritis and esophagitis will be reduced," Lee Byung-hwan, director of the Mirae Internal Medicine Clinic located in Euijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, said. As an alternative, Dr. Lee advised people to eat like monks. "Refrain from eating fried, greasy, meaty foods. Do not eat excessive amounts of spicy, hot, salty food but instead consume anti-oxidant foods such as vegetables and fruits," he said. In addition, Dr. Lee strongly encouraged a change of lifestyle. "Do not smoke or drink alcohol excessively. Avoid eating within three hours of sleeping. Try to cope with your stress," he said. It was also noted that a large portion of Dr. Lee's patients consist of a younger generation that is under extreme stress for academic achievement.
Still, if you cannot avoid disease, then the next best thing is to find it in an early stage and undertake appropriate treatment, which includes lifestyle changes and Helicobacter pylori eradication. Early detection and treatment of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach wall) is important in preventing gastric cancer, which could possibly occur if this condition becomes chronic. The state-of-the-art endoscopes that exist in most clinics and hospitals throughout Korea are used to detect and remove small and simple lumps such as polyps. More and more people are receiving a conscious sedation for gastroscopy in which doctors give patients a sedative for a "twilight sleep" to minimize discomfort during the procedure.
"Because patients do not feel as much pain, doctors have more liberty to explore the various areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite being sedated, patients are still conscious enough to communicate with the doctor during the examination," Dr. Lee said. Currently, Dr. Lee continues to see many patients daily who have small lumps found and removed during an endoscopic examination. This procedure is relatively safe with small risk of bleeding which leads to a fast recovery," he said. Dr. Lee also advised people to take regular endoscopic checkups especially if you have indigestion, heartburn or upper abdominal pain. Even if you do not have any symptoms, it is still recommended to take a look at your stomach once a year," Dr. Lee said. In April of this year, the size of Dr. Lee's Mirae Clinic will increase and it will be renamed Sokpyeonhan Clinic.
bjs@koreatimes.co.kr
|
|
무디스, 스페인·伊·포르투갈 신용등급 강등
