VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
A SLICE OF ORANGE Refreshing Your Health
DON’T BE YELLOW, PART 2 • Avoiding the virus • Hepatitis B in the workplace • Other ways to save your liver • Yellow Warriors Society of
the Philippines
• The truth about Silymarin
Don’t be yellow, part 2 TO CELEBRATE THIS SEASON OF WHITE, RED AND GREEN, HOW DO YOU COPE WITH THE YELLOW SCOURGE KNOWN AS HEPATITIS B? FIND OUT HERE IN THE LAST OF THIS TWO-PART SERIES. With one in around every 6 adult Filipinos living with hepatitis B, how do you keep
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yourself healthy amid this yellow plague? This is a real challenge, since we learned in Part 1 that antiviral treatments only lower the number of viruses in the body and slow down liver damage, but are unable to completely eliminate the virus.
A SLICE OF ORANGE
VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
Because hepatitis B can be transmitted
Other ways to save your liver
through transfer of infected blood, sharing
Hepatitis B is not the only disease that can
of needles during drug use, and sharing of
harm your liver, your body’s largest internal
items such as razors and toothbrushes, can
organ. Here are other tips—which coinci-
transmit the virus and should be avoided.
dentally are very appropriate during the Holidays—to keep your liver in the pink of
Avoiding the virus
health.
But according to Dr. Irces G. Bautista, a
1. Eat a diet low in fat. Excess fats
diplomate of the Philippine College of Oc-
don’t just go to your hip and waistline, but
cupational Medicine, and the occupational
also to your liver. Avoid junk food and
health physician of ActiveLink, fighting hep-
fried, fatty foods. Instead, feast on grains,
atitis B is not a hopeless battle. Hepatitis B
dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
has a vaccine—the most important weapon
2. Keep your weight in check. If
in fighting hepatitis B through prevention.
you are overweight, fat molecules circulate
The hepatitis B vaccine needs to be given in three doses—the second one after a month of the first dose; and the third after
Yellow Warriors Society of
6 months of the first. After that, a booster
the Philippines
shot may be given every 5 years especially
those with poor response to the initial three
Since hepatitis B can be a long-term
battle for those infected, social support is im-
doses, or those especially at high risk of
Hepatitis B in the workplace
infection such as healthcare workers.
The good news is that hepatitis B can-
vigilant in your journey, and give you access
not be transmitted through food or casual
to important information and resources.
contact. Because of this fact, the chance of
Hepatitis B can also be sexually
catching the virus from a co-worker is virtually zero.
portant. This will help you remain strong and
The Yellow Warriors Society of the Philip-
pines (YWSP) is a national organization of hepatitis B patients and advocates who fight
To emphasize this, the Department of
for and believe in the eradication of Hepatitis
Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued De-
B. Starting online in April 2007, it used to
partment Advisory No. 5, series of 2010,
be just a virtual venue for sharing, motivating
which is the Guidelines for the Implementa-
and inspiring those affected by the virus. In
tion of a Workplace Policy and Program on
2010, the YWSP was formalized as a na-
Infected pregnant women are also at
Hepatitis B.
tional organization and now represents the
high risk of transmitting hepatitis B to their
According to this advisory, employers
Filipino hepatitis patient in the World Hepati-
newborn, so it is important for pregnant
should have a policy and program to ad-
tis Alliance in Geneva, Switzerland.
women to know if they are infected or not.
dress hepatitis B in the workplace. The pol-
In addition, according to the Expanded
icy and program should cover employee
Program of Immunization, all newborn in-
education, provision for protective equip-
fants need to receive three doses of vac-
ment when performing high risk tasks (more
cine within the first 6 months of life. The first
relevant among healthcare workers), and
dose should be given within 24 hours of
confidentiality and non-discrimination for
birth.
employees with hepatitis B. The advisory
Hepatitis B can also be sexually trans-
also states that anybody may not be de-
transmitted
mitted, so it is important to avoid sex with people you are unfamiliar with, and to use a condom during sex.
nied gainful employment only on the basis of a positive Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) test result.
For more information, visit and like www. facebook.com/YellowWarriors.
A SLICE OF ORANGE
VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
in your blood in excess levels, and these can harm your liver. Aside from eating right, exercise to burn off these excess fat molecules. This will also prevent gallstones, which can also hurt the liver.
ry s r e M stma i Chr
3. Avoid toxins. Your liver acts as your body’s detoxifier. But it, too, can be The truth about Silymarin
Milk thistle or Silymarin has been touted
as a liver vitamin that many people use to
harmed by the toxins it tries to clear. Wash fruits and vegetables before serving, to wash off as much chemicals such as fertil-
treat liver diseases. Laboratory studies show
izers and pesticides as possible. Cigarette
that silymarin exerts anti-oxidant and anti-
smoke also contains liver-harming toxins, so
inflammatory properties and may help in liver
stay away from that too.
cell regeneration. In addition, studies show
4. Minimize alcohol intake. Alcohol
that taking Silymarin extract may improve
is one of the toxins that affect your liver di-
liver function among patients with cirrhosis.
However, studies also show that it cannot
treat or prevent viral hepatitis, including hepatitis B. It also has little effect among patients with liver cancer and liver damage due to drugs and toxins.
In conclusion, the role of Silymarin is lim-
ited in liver health, and should not be used as a substitute for treatment using more established and proven medications and approaches.
rectly. Avoid alcohol, or at least drink moderately.
6. Grab a Cup o’ Joe. Coffee when
5. Mind your medications. When
taken in moderation (one to two cups a
medicines are taken incorrectly by taking
day) can help prevent cirrhosis due to alco-
too much, the wrong type, or by combin-
hol. However, more than this and you risk
ing with other medicines, the liver can
turning this salve into a toxin. So don’t go
be affected. As much as possible, take
overboard.
medications only after consulting a health
professional, and follow instructions cor-
ing the season of parties and fanfare, and
rectly. Even large amounts of the popular
you can expect a more colorful and less
paracetamol can cause liver damage.
yellow Christmas!
Follow these simple tips, especially dur-
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A Slice of Orange
is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD