Learn how to care for your eyes and cholesterol
By ASHLEY TANG and FATIMAH ZAINAL newsdesk@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: Mark the dates, Malaysians! The Star Health Expo 2018, which starts tomorrow, is packed with exciting programmes that will include talks on how to manage one’s health.
BP Healthcare Group nutritionist Chong Yuk Mey and Optimax Eye Specialist Centre Sdn Bhd Vitreo-Retinal specialist Dr Ngo Chek Tung will share their knowledge on living a healthier lifestyle to prevent diseases affecting the eyes and heart.
Chong will talk on “Manipulating the Love of Food to Fight Cholesterol” on Saturday at 10.30am.
She said changing eating habits was crucial as 25% of deaths in Malaysia were related to cardiovascular diseases.
“High cholesterol is one of the risk factors,” she said.
Chong pointed out that most local food were high in fat and made worse by bad cooking methods.
Dr Ngo’s talk on “Common Retinal Diseases” at 2.30pm on Sunday will focus on diseases that affect the retina.
“Anything affecting the retina is a very serious problem; it cannot wait,” he said.
Dr Ngo said retina diseases were mainly caused by diabetes, stroke in the eye and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
“For these three diseases – when it gets to a stage where it is quite serious – what we do is that we give injection directly into the eye,” he said, adding that this medical intervention was costly to patients as it was administered once a month.
Meanwhile, medical physicist Dr Yeong Chai Hong will not be speaking on July 15 on molecular hydrogen and its benefits.
Instead, Prof Haarry Yeo Kar Kiat (pic), a guest speaker invited by V–Eternal Wellness Sdn Bhd, will be speaking about inflammation and disease – from a cardiovascular and metabolic perspective – from 4.30pm to 5.15pm on Sunday.
Dr Yeong, who is an associate professor at the school of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, was to be a guest speaker invited by IRCare Sdn Bhd, which provides Hi-Bliss Hydrogen Therapy for pain management, treatment and prevention of diseases.
Dr Yeong had originally intended to present the hydrogen research data that she is working on according to scientific methodology and not in alternative medicine as alluded to in a July 7 report.
She said that the molecular hydrogen research that she is working on is “based on proper scientific data and it’s inaccurate to say it is alternative medicine”.
This year’s Star Health Expo, with the theme “Get Fit. Live Great!” is to inspire Malaysians to lead a healthy lifestyle by not only being physically fit, but mentally too.
It is organised by I.Star Events Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Star Media Group Bhd with Great Eastern Life as the exclusive event partner.
The expo will be held in Halls 1 to 3 of the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre from July 13-15 and open from 10am to 7pm. Admission is free.
For more details, call 03-7967 1388 (ext. 1541/1097) or visit www.facebook.com/starhealthexpo.