Articles #early detection

In every consultation room, I meet two kinds of people when it comes to sugar: those who fear it and those who ignore it. But the real story of sugar is not just about what we eat — it’s about a silent, tireless worker inside us called insulin.

In medicine, we are taught that “the patient will tell you the diagnosis if you listen carefully enough.” But over the years, I’ve realised that the body itself speaks — often more clearly than the patient’s words. From the scalp to the soles, every part of you is quietly reporting on your health. My role as a doctor has been to tune in to these messages and interpret them before they become cries for help.

Over the years in clinical practice, I have learned that the skin is often a silent storyteller of a patient’s internal health. While most people focus on its cosmetic appearance, as physicians, we know that the skin can act as a window to systemic diseases, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and immune disorders.

In clinical practice, I have often described the liver as the body’s silent workhorse. It performs more than 500 essential functions — from processing nutrients and detoxifying harmful substances to producing proteins vital for blood clotting. Yet, despite its importance, the liver rarely “complains” until the damage is advanced. This makes recognizing the early signs of liver trouble critical for timely intervention.

Your kidneys are working right now — quietly, continuously, and without complaint — to keep you alive. Each about the size of a fist, tucked under your ribcage towards your back, these bean-shaped organs filter roughly 50 gallons of blood every single day. They remove waste, balance electrolytes, regulate blood pressure, and even influence your bone strength and red blood cell production. Despite this incredible workload, most people rarely give their kidneys a second thought — until something goes wrong.

Longevity is not just about adding years to life, but adding life to years. As physicians, we recognize that the journey toward healthy aging is built on daily habits, preventive health measures, and timely medical care.