Kay Kay Healthcare Ltd.
CIRRHOSIS
SYMPTOMS
Often no symptoms appear until the disease has entered the late stages. When they occur, symptoms can include:
• Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
• Unusual gain or loss of weight.
• Yellow coloration of the skin and eyes.
• Dark urine.
• Bloody, black stools, or unusually light colored stools.
• Vomiting of blood.
• Abdominal swelling.
• Prolonged generalized itching.
• Swollen feet or legs.
• Red palms.
• Sleep disturbance and confusion.
• Fatigue or loss of stamina.
• Enlarged breast in men.
• Loss of sex drive.
• Menstrual disturbance in women.
• Spiderlike blood vessels on chest and shoulders.
WHAT IS CIRRHOSIS
Cirrhosis is a serious degenerative disease that occurs when healthy cells in the liver are damaged usually as a result of alcohol abuse or hepatitis and replaced by scar tissue. the organ loses its ability to function properly. Severe damage can lead to liver failure and possibly death. Cirrhosis poses another danger as well: dense scarring slows the normal flow of blood through the liver, causing pressure to build up in supplying blood vessels. In some cases this pressure becomes so great that the vessels in the esophagus rupture. Every year about 26000 people in the United States die from cirrhosis. The disease cannot be reversed or cured except, in some cases, through a liver transplant. It can often be slowed or halted, however, especially if the disease is detected in the early stages of development. Patient who thinks they might have cirrhosis should see a physician without delay. Cirrhosis is serious because of importance of organ it affects. The liver, weighing about three pounds and roughly the size of a foot ball, is the largest of the body’s internal organs. Among its many functions, the liver serves as an essential part of the digestive system by producing bile, which is stored in the gallbladder, then release in to the small intestine, where it helps break down fatty food. The liver also helps maintain the proper composition of blood by regulating the amounts of fat, protein, and sugar that enter the blood stream. As the body’s primary blood filter, the liver works the detoxify alcohol, drugs, and other potentially harmful chemicals. Along with the spleen, the liver traps and disposes of worn out red blood cells. And because it aids in the removal bacteria and viruses from the blood, the liver is a vital component of the immune system. If your liver is not functioning properly, you are more susceptible to infection. The liver is remarkably tolerant of disease and injury. Even after 70 percent of its mass has been destroyed or removed, the organ can still function, albeit with decreased effectiveness. If the condition that caused the destruction have been removed or corrected, the liver usually can bounce back. Although function can never be restored to parts of your liver that have turned to scar tissue, you can live a healthy life with the remanding portion if the disease is caught in time. However, there is a point of no return with cirrhosis. As more cells are replaced by scar tissue, fewer healthy cells are left to handle the livers many tasks. Eventually function problems arise and many remain. This is why it’s important to identify the underlying causes as soon as possible and begin taking steps to eliminate them.
CAUSES
Cirrhosis occurs as the result of long term injury to the liver. Possible causes include viruses, genetic deficiencies, prolonged obstruction of bile flow, and long periods of exposure to drugs and other toxic substances. In the majority of cases, however, the culprit is excessive consumption of alcohol. The link between alcohol and cirrhosis is well documented. Studies show that while moderate drinking may actually help prevent strokes and heart disease, heavy drinking has a clearly harmful effect on the liver. For example, the French famous for their wine consumption- have relatively low incidence of heart disease, but the rate of cirrhosis in France is very high. Many physicians believe that more drinkers die from cirrhosis than are protected from heart disease. Simply put, the more alcohol you drink and the greater the frequency of drinks the more likely you are to develop cirrhosis. Because the bodies of men and women process alcohol differently, the amount that you can safely imbibe depends largely on your sex. In general, men have two or three alcoholic drinks a day without suffering liver damage. Women, on the other hand, can safely consume only one or two drinks daily. These guidelines notwithstanding, it’s important to note that alcohol tolerance may vary from one person to the next. For some person, one drink per day is enough to leave permanent scars in the liver. If you drink especially if you do so heavily and often have a physician examine you for sign of cirrhosis. This is necessary even if you feel healthy, since the symptoms of cirrhosis often do not appear until is too late to arrest the development of the disease or slow its progress. Excessive drinking almost inevitably causes some liver damage, but it does not always lead to cirrhosis. Some people who drink heavily develop alcoholic hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that can last a week or two, producing symptoms of nausea, fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, and confusion. Over time, the condition can also lead to cirrhosis. Even light drinkers who go on bender for several days can develop a condition known as fatty liver, caused when cells of the liver become swollen with accumulated fat and water. This condition can cause pain or tenderness in the liver, temporary jaundice, and abnormalities in other liver functions. (fatty liver can also result from diabetes, obesity, and severe malnutrition.) after alcoholism, the most frequent causes of cirrhosis is hepatitis, a general term meaning inflammation of the liver. Of the various forms of this disease, only two hepatitis B and hepatitis C are likely to result cirrhosis. Scarring usually occurs after hepatitis has become chronic. The symptoms may be mild at the first that patients which chronic hepatitis do not even realize their livers are scarring. Meanwhile, the damage continues, perhaps resulting in a serious cases of cirrhosis later in life. Therefore, it is important for people with hepatitis to have regular medical checkups. And because hepatitis is contagious, family members of an infected person should also be tested. Cirrhosis sometimes, though rarely, occurs because of an inherited liver disorder. In Wilson’s disease, for example, a genetic deficiency inhibits the body’s ability to metabolize copper. As a result, excessive amounts of the metal accumulate in various body organs, particularly the liver, where it destroys tissue. Similarly, in hemochromatosis the body absorbs excess amounts of iron, which damages the liver and causes scarring. This disorders mostly strikes men between the ages of 40 and 60; women are usually not affected because their bodies lose iron during menstruation. Children born with galactosemia lack an enzyme needed to digest milk sugar. Normally, milk sugar passes harmlessly through the digestive system and out of the body. But in people with galactosemia, the substance accumulates in the liver at levels that become toxic and potentially fatal without proper treatment. Infants with this disorders should be taken of milk and given a substitute formula. Some babies are born with no bile ducts, or with ducts that are malformed. Because bile is unable to drain out of the body, it accumulates in the liver and eventually poisons it. Although the problem can sometimes be corrected through surgery, most children with this disorders die from cirrhosis before they reach the age of two. Cirrhosis can result when gallstones block the flow of the bile and cause it to back up into the liver from the long periods of time. The disease may also come from long term exposure to certain drugs, including methotrexate and isoniazid, and toxic substance in the environment, such as pesticides and arsenic based compounds.
DIAGNOSTIC AND TEST PROCEDURES
A patient history and symptoms, along with the results of a physical examination, are enough to determine a case of cirrhosis. Once the diagnosis has been made, the physician may order one or more liver function tests, which use blood sample to identify specific liver disease and assess the organs overall health. The doctor may also require liver biopsy, or tissue sample, to ascertain the cause of the cirrhosis. In this procedure, a needle is inserted into the liver to draw out a fragment of tissue, which is then sent to a lab for analysis.
TREATMENT
The best way to treat cirrhosis is to correct the underlying causes. This could involve giving up alcohol, seeking treatment for hepatitis or an inherited disorders, or eliminating certain substance from your diet or environment.
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
Specific remedies for cirrhosis depends on the underlying cause and its stage of development. Besides halting the progress of the disease, conventional treatment also aims at correcting any complications, such as internal bleeding, which in themselves can be disabling or life threatening. If your cirrhosis is caused by alcoholism, you simply must stop drinking immediately and completely. If you continue to drink after you have been diagnose with cirrhosis, you have less than 40 percent chance of living longer than five more years. If you stop drinking however, those chance increase to 60 to 70 percent. Corking the bottle is also best way to remedy alcoholic hepatitis and alcohol induced fatty liver. Both of these condition usually clear up when the patient stop drinking long enough for the liver to heal. Conventional treatment of cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis emphasizes rest, proper nutrition, and possibly the use of the drug interferon. As with any form of major surgery, liver transplants can be risky. The new liver may not function properly, or the body may reject the transplanted organ. There’s also the danger that infection will set in after surgery. Still, the procedure has promising success rate overall. In the United States, 60 percent to 75 percent of adult patients and 90 percent of children survive the operation. Transplant person live an average of five year after surgery.
ALTERNATIVE CHOICES
Alternative therapies for cirrhosis generally attempt to support the functioning of healthy liver cells as well as relived some of the discomfort and disability associated with the disease.
CHINESE MEDICINE
Various Chinese herbs, used in combination, may promote healthy liver function. However self medication can be dangerous; remedies should be prescribed only by a licensed practitioner.
HERBAL THERAPY
Milk Thistle is believe to promote healthy liver function. However, consult a licensed practitioner before using this remedy.
HOMEOPATHY
Certain homeopathic remedies, including Taraxacum Officinale and Chelidonium Majus, may help improve the efficiency of healthy liver cells in case of cirrhosis. Consult a licensed practitioner for their proper use.
NUTRITION AND DIET
Good nutrition often play vital role in the treatment of cirrhosis. Although parts of the liver that have given way to scar tissue can’t be restored, a balance diet including plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, milk, and protein can help promote regeneration among cells in the intact portion. Adults with the disease need to monitor their intake of protein. Too little protein can slow cell regeneration, and too much can raise the amount of ammonia in your bloodstream, possibly leading to mental impairment. Check with doctor or nutritionist for the amount of proteins that right for you. Because the liver must filter and refine substance that are introduced into the body, patients with cirrhosis are often told seek medical advice before taking large doses of vitamins or other dietary supplements. Cirrhosis patients should also avoiding eating uncooked shellfish, which are sometimes harvested in polluted estuaries and may carry organism that cause hepatitis or other disease.
PREVENTION
• If you drink, know your limits and do not exceed them. Generally speaking, men can have two or three drinks a day without suffering liver damage. The safe limit for women is one or two drinks daily. Keep in mind, though, that alcohol tolerance can vary greatly from one person to the next.
• Avoid uncooked shellfish.
• Never mix alcohol and drugs. Some medications, including acetaminophen, react with alcohol and can damage the liver.
• Avoid exposure to industrial chemicals, which can enter the bloodstream and cause liver damage.
• Maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
Take precautions to avoid contracting hepatitis. Practice safe sex and if you use intravenous drugs be especially careful to avoid dirty needles. Before travelling to countries where the disease is prevalent, ask your doctor about hepatitis vaccinations and immune serum globulin shots.
CIRRHOSIS
SYMPTOMS
Often no symptoms appear until the disease has entered the late stages. When they occur, symptoms can include:
• Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
• Unusual gain or loss of weight.
• Yellow coloration of the skin and eyes.
• Dark urine.
• Bloody, black stools, or unusually light colored stools.
• Vomiting of blood.
• Abdominal swelling.
• Prolonged generalized itching.
• Swollen feet or legs.
• Red palms.
• Sleep disturbance and confusion.
• Fatigue or loss of stamina.
• Enlarged breast in men.
• Loss of sex drive.
• Menstrual disturbance in women.
• Spiderlike blood vessels on chest and shoulders.
WHAT IS CIRRHOSIS
Cirrhosis is a serious degenerative disease that occurs when healthy cells in the liver are damaged usually as a result of alcohol abuse or hepatitis and replaced by scar tissue. the organ loses its ability to function properly. Severe damage can lead to liver failure and possibly death. Cirrhosis poses another danger as well: dense scarring slows the normal flow of blood through the liver, causing pressure to build up in supplying blood vessels. In some cases this pressure becomes so great that the vessels in the esophagus rupture. Every year about 26000 people in the United States die from cirrhosis. The disease cannot be reversed or cured except, in some cases, through a liver transplant. It can often be slowed or halted, however, especially if the disease is detected in the early stages of development. Patient who thinks they might have cirrhosis should see a physician without delay. Cirrhosis is serious because of importance of organ it affects. The liver, weighing about three pounds and roughly the size of a foot ball, is the largest of the body’s internal organs. Among its many functions, the liver serves as an essential part of the digestive system by producing bile, which is stored in the gallbladder, then release in to the small intestine, where it helps break down fatty food. The liver also helps maintain the proper composition of blood by regulating the amounts of fat, protein, and sugar that enter the blood stream. As the body’s primary blood filter, the liver works the detoxify alcohol, drugs, and other potentially harmful chemicals. Along with the spleen, the liver traps and disposes of worn out red blood cells. And because it aids in the removal bacteria and viruses from the blood, the liver is a vital component of the immune system. If your liver is not functioning properly, you are more susceptible to infection. The liver is remarkably tolerant of disease and injury. Even after 70 percent of its mass has been destroyed or removed, the organ can still function, albeit with decreased effectiveness. If the condition that caused the destruction have been removed or corrected, the liver usually can bounce back. Although function can never be restored to parts of your liver that have turned to scar tissue, you can live a healthy life with the remanding portion if the disease is caught in time. However, there is a point of no return with cirrhosis. As more cells are replaced by scar tissue, fewer healthy cells are left to handle the livers many tasks. Eventually function problems arise and many remain. This is why it’s important to identify the underlying causes as soon as possible and begin taking steps to eliminate them.
CAUSES
Cirrhosis occurs as the result of long term injury to the liver. Possible causes include viruses, genetic deficiencies, prolonged obstruction of bile flow, and long periods of exposure to drugs and other toxic substances. In the majority of cases, however, the culprit is excessive consumption of alcohol. The link between alcohol and cirrhosis is well documented. Studies show that while moderate drinking may actually help prevent strokes and heart disease, heavy drinking has a clearly harmful effect on the liver. For example, the French famous for their wine consumption- have relatively low incidence of heart disease, but the rate of cirrhosis in France is very high. Many physicians believe that more drinkers die from cirrhosis than are protected from heart disease. Simply put, the more alcohol you drink and the greater the frequency of drinks the more likely you are to develop cirrhosis. Because the bodies of men and women process alcohol differently, the amount that you can safely imbibe depends largely on your sex. In general, men have two or three alcoholic drinks a day without suffering liver damage. Women, on the other hand, can safely consume only one or two drinks daily. These guidelines notwithstanding, it’s important to note that alcohol tolerance may vary from one person to the next. For some person, one drink per day is enough to leave permanent scars in the liver. If you drink especially if you do so heavily and often have a physician examine you for sign of cirrhosis. This is necessary even if you feel healthy, since the symptoms of cirrhosis often do not appear until is too late to arrest the development of the disease or slow its progress. Excessive drinking almost inevitably causes some liver damage, but it does not always lead to cirrhosis. Some people who drink heavily develop alcoholic hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that can last a week or two, producing symptoms of nausea, fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, and confusion. Over time, the condition can also lead to cirrhosis. Even light drinkers who go on bender for several days can develop a condition known as fatty liver, caused when cells of the liver become swollen with accumulated fat and water. This condition can cause pain or tenderness in the liver, temporary jaundice, and abnormalities in other liver functions. (fatty liver can also result from diabetes, obesity, and severe malnutrition.) after alcoholism, the most frequent causes of cirrhosis is hepatitis, a general term meaning inflammation of the liver. Of the various forms of this disease, only two hepatitis B and hepatitis C are likely to result cirrhosis. Scarring usually occurs after hepatitis has become chronic. The symptoms may be mild at the first that patients which chronic hepatitis do not even realize their livers are scarring. Meanwhile, the damage continues, perhaps resulting in a serious cases of cirrhosis later in life. Therefore, it is important for people with hepatitis to have regular medical checkups. And because hepatitis is contagious, family members of an infected person should also be tested. Cirrhosis sometimes, though rarely, occurs because of an inherited liver disorder. In Wilson’s disease, for example, a genetic deficiency inhibits the body’s ability to metabolize copper. As a result, excessive amounts of the metal accumulate in various body organs, particularly the liver, where it destroys tissue. Similarly, in hemochromatosis the body absorbs excess amounts of iron, which damages the liver and causes scarring. This disorders mostly strikes men between the ages of 40 and 60; women are usually not affected because their bodies lose iron during menstruation. Children born with galactosemia lack an enzyme needed to digest milk sugar. Normally, milk sugar passes harmlessly through the digestive system and out of the body. But in people with galactosemia, the substance accumulates in the liver at levels that become toxic and potentially fatal without proper treatment. Infants with this disorders should be taken of milk and given a substitute formula. Some babies are born with no bile ducts, or with ducts that are malformed. Because bile is unable to drain out of the body, it accumulates in the liver and eventually poisons it. Although the problem can sometimes be corrected through surgery, most children with this disorders die from cirrhosis before they reach the age of two. Cirrhosis can result when gallstones block the flow of the bile and cause it to back up into the liver from the long periods of time. The disease may also come from long term exposure to certain drugs, including methotrexate and isoniazid, and toxic substance in the environment, such as pesticides and arsenic based compounds.
DIAGNOSTIC AND TEST PROCEDURES
A patient history and symptoms, along with the results of a physical examination, are enough to determine a case of cirrhosis. Once the diagnosis has been made, the physician may order one or more liver function tests, which use blood sample to identify specific liver disease and assess the organs overall health. The doctor may also require liver biopsy, or tissue sample, to ascertain the cause of the cirrhosis. In this procedure, a needle is inserted into the liver to draw out a fragment of tissue, which is then sent to a lab for analysis.
TREATMENT
The best way to treat cirrhosis is to correct the underlying causes. This could involve giving up alcohol, seeking treatment for hepatitis or an inherited disorders, or eliminating certain substance from your diet or environment.
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
Specific remedies for cirrhosis depends on the underlying cause and its stage of development. Besides halting the progress of the disease, conventional treatment also aims at correcting any complications, such as internal bleeding, which in themselves can be disabling or life threatening. If your cirrhosis is caused by alcoholism, you simply must stop drinking immediately and completely. If you continue to drink after you have been diagnose with cirrhosis, you have less than 40 percent chance of living longer than five more years. If you stop drinking however, those chance increase to 60 to 70 percent. Corking the bottle is also best way to remedy alcoholic hepatitis and alcohol induced fatty liver. Both of these condition usually clear up when the patient stop drinking long enough for the liver to heal. Conventional treatment of cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis emphasizes rest, proper nutrition, and possibly the use of the drug interferon. As with any form of major surgery, liver transplants can be risky. The new liver may not function properly, or the body may reject the transplanted organ. There’s also the danger that infection will set in after surgery. Still, the procedure has promising success rate overall. In the United States, 60 percent to 75 percent of adult patients and 90 percent of children survive the operation. Transplant person live an average of five year after surgery.
ALTERNATIVE CHOICES
Alternative therapies for cirrhosis generally attempt to support the functioning of healthy liver cells as well as relived some of the discomfort and disability associated with the disease.
CHINESE MEDICINE
Various Chinese herbs, used in combination, may promote healthy liver function. However self medication can be dangerous; remedies should be prescribed only by a licensed practitioner.
HERBAL THERAPY
Milk Thistle is believe to promote healthy liver function. However, consult a licensed practitioner before using this remedy.
HOMEOPATHY
Certain homeopathic remedies, including Taraxacum Officinale and Chelidonium Majus, may help improve the efficiency of healthy liver cells in case of cirrhosis. Consult a licensed practitioner for their proper use.
NUTRITION AND DIET
Good nutrition often play vital role in the treatment of cirrhosis. Although parts of the liver that have given way to scar tissue can’t be restored, a balance diet including plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, milk, and protein can help promote regeneration among cells in the intact portion. Adults with the disease need to monitor their intake of protein. Too little protein can slow cell regeneration, and too much can raise the amount of ammonia in your bloodstream, possibly leading to mental impairment. Check with doctor or nutritionist for the amount of proteins that right for you. Because the liver must filter and refine substance that are introduced into the body, patients with cirrhosis are often told seek medical advice before taking large doses of vitamins or other dietary supplements. Cirrhosis patients should also avoiding eating uncooked shellfish, which are sometimes harvested in polluted estuaries and may carry organism that cause hepatitis or other disease.
PREVENTION
• If you drink, know your limits and do not exceed them. Generally speaking, men can have two or three drinks a day without suffering liver damage. The safe limit for women is one or two drinks daily. Keep in mind, though, that alcohol tolerance can vary greatly from one person to the next.
• Avoid uncooked shellfish.
• Never mix alcohol and drugs. Some medications, including acetaminophen, react with alcohol and can damage the liver.
• Avoid exposure to industrial chemicals, which can enter the bloodstream and cause liver damage.
• Maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
Take precautions to avoid contracting hepatitis. Practice safe sex and if you use intravenous drugs be especially careful to avoid dirty needles. Before travelling to countries where the disease is prevalent, ask your doctor about hepatitis vaccinations and immune serum globulin shots.
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