JEDDAH, 10 September — A top European biomedical expert has hinted at the possibility of an increase in liver diseases in the Kingdom as a result of inhalation of toxic gases.
“Frequent inhalation of toxic gases including those emitted from gasoline would harm our liver dramatically,” Professor Horst Beckmann, director of the Institute of Biomedical Information in Frankfurt told Arab News.
Smells of chemicals and color solvents are also dangerous to the liver, he pointed out.
The issue of toxic gases assumes special significance in the context of Jeddah’s current problem of stinking garbage piling on in every residential district, spawning diseases such as hepatitis.
Dr. Beckmann urged the public to take precaution against chronic liver diseases, which are among the 10 worst causes of death. “Liver is a vital organ in which many essential processes take place. Detoxification of poisons, that are either produced in our body or picked by the lung, skin or mouth, is one of its important functions,” he explained.
On the symptoms of liver diseases, he said: “Most symptoms are brain-related. The patients feel frequently tired, complain about bad memory and difficulty in concentrating or becoming nervous. Physical weakness and reluctance to work are other symptoms,” he added.
“Many types of toxins are produced in our intestine. Some of them can even cause cancer. The liver then detoxifies the poisons. But when the liver fails to function properly the detoxification process is affected and the toxins enter the blood stream. The blood transports them to the brain, causing the symptoms,” he said.
The German doctor warned that toxins could also affect other organs. “We know that immunity will be in danger when toxins are not detoxified,” he said, adding that a weak immune system might cause diseases such as rheumatism.
Beckmann described fatty liver as the most frequent liver disease. “All fat-soluble substances, when we smell them, are very dangerous to the liver,” he added. “We must know that not only the excessive intake of fat but also carbohydrates like sugar is bad for the liver because sugar is converted into fat,” he added.
“When fatty liver becomes more and more severe it could become liver cirrhosis that is irreversible,” he said. “Another frequent reason for serious liver diseases is the hepatitis viruses. The best protection from these dangerous pathogens is to clean hands before eating something,” he said. “Cleaning of fruits and vegetables is also important to prevent liver diseases,” he added.
Beckmann spoke to Arab News on the sidelines of a function organized jointly by Merz Pharmaceuticals of Frankfurt and Middle East Drug Store Jeddah, at which he was the keynote speaker.
Professor V.P. M. Mustafa, president of the Saudi-Kerala Doctors Forum, presided over the function.
