Hepatitis and cirrhosis

The liver is the largest organ in the body, weighing up to 2.5 percent of total lean body mass.
 Located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, the liver varies in size and shape, depending on each person’s anatomy. 
Its main function is to metabolize substances in the blood in preparation for excretion, although it has many other important functions, including synthesis of most essential proteins, production of bile, and regulation of nutrients such as glucose, cholesterol, and amino acids.
The main kind of liver cell is called a hepatocyte. These cells comprise about two thirds of the liver’s mass. 
The liver’s blood supply comes from the hepatic artery, which supplies oxygen-rich blood. The liver also receives blood from the portal vein, which filters blood from the stomach, intestines, pancreas, and spleen.
The most common liver function tests are enzyme, bilirubin, albumin, and prothrombin time tests. The liver contains thousands of enzymes, only a few of which are routinely measured as indicators of liver function. These enzymes include the following:
Alkaline phosphatase. Abnormal levels may indicate bile obstruction, liver injury, or some forms of cancer.
Alanine transaminase. Abnormal levels may indicate hepatitis or other liver cell injury.
Aspartate transaminase. Abnormal levels may indicate injury to liver, heart, muscle, or brain.
Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Abnormal levels may indicate organ damage, drug toxicity, alcohol abuse, or pancreatic disease.
Lactic dehydrogenase. Abnormal levels may indicate damage to liver, heart, or lung, and excessive breakdown of red blood cells.
5'-nucleotidase. Abnormal levels may indicate impaired bile flow.
The other major liver tests include the serum bilirubin test, which measures bile excretion, and the albumin test, which can indicate liver damage. Finally, the prothrombin time test measures the time needed for blood to clot. Because most blood clotting factors are produced in the liver, and they have rapid turnover, this test can help measure the liver’s ability to synthesize cells. 
Prothrombin may be elevated in hepatitis and cirrhosis as well as in disorders related to vitamin K deficiency.
Taken together, these tests provide physicians with a relatively complete picture of liver function and can help diagnose liver disease.

Cirrhosis Symptoms

Many people with cirrhosis have no symptoms during the early phases of the disease. Symptoms are caused by either of 2 problems:

1.Gradual failure of the liver to carry out its natural functions

2.Distortion of the liver's usual shape and size because of scarring

The symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver can vary greatly from patient to patient.


tags:Cirrhosis,Cirrhosis Symptoms,The symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver,hepatitis B and C,chirosis,

Symptoms hepatitis

Hepatitis Acute

Clinically, the course of acute hepatitis varies widely from mild symptoms requiring no treatment to fulminant hepatic failure needing liver transplantation. Acute viral hepatitis is more likely to be asymptomatic in younger people. Symptomatic individuals may present after convalescent stage of 7 to 10 days, with the total illness lasting 2 to 6 weeks.

Initial features are of nonspecific flu-like symptoms, common to almost all acute viral infections and may include malaise, muscle and joint aches, fever, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. More specific symptoms, which can be present in acute hepatitis from any cause, are: profound loss of appetite, aversion to smoking among smokers, dark urine, yellowing of the eyes and skin (i.e., jaundice) and abdominal discomfort. Physical findings are usually minimal, apart from jaundice (33%) and tender hepatomegaly (10%). There can be occasional lymphadenopathy (5%) or splenomegaly (5%).

Hepatitis Chronic

Majority of patients will remain asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, abnormal blood tests being the only manifestation. Features may be related to the extent of liver damage or the cause of hepatitis. Many experience return of symptoms related to acute hepatitis. Jaundice can be a late feature and may indicate extensive damage. Other features include abdominal fullness from enlarged liver or spleen, low grade fever and fluid retention (ascites). Extensive damage and scarring of liver (i.e., cirrhosis) leads to weight loss, easy bruising and bleeding tendencies. Acne, abnormal menstruation, lung scarring, inflammation of the thyroid gland and kidneys may be present in women with autoimmune hepatitis.

Findings on clinical examination are usually those of cirrhosis or are related to etiology.

tags:Chronic, hepatitis,Acute hepatitis,

The Liver Cleansing II

The following symptoms could benefit from a liver cleanse:

• Abdominal bloating
• Obesity
• Poor digestion
• Frequent fatigue
• Headaches
• Unpleasant moods
• Bad breath and coated tongue
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Sluggish metabolism
• Overburdened immune system
• Excessive body heat
• High cholesterol
• Gall bladder disease
• Fatty liver
• Allergies
• High blood pressure
• Sugar cravings
• Intolerance to alcohol
• Excess alcohol intake
• Inability to lose weight

Dr Cabot seems to attribute poor liver function to a vast range of symptoms, some of which could be diagnosed by any number of conditions.

Liver Cleansing in Brief

• The diet is strict, with all vegetables to be eaten raw.
• Recipes are included.
• Liver Cleansing Supplements are recommended.

The premise of this diet is good, but it seems to be too simplistic to blame a single organ for most people’s weight and health issues. Detox diets are useful, but don’t necessary aid or teach you in forming lifelong good eating habits. There is also a lack of scientific evidence proving that detoxifying diets are as effective as they are claimed.

If you have to continually ‘reach’ for a detox diet, then something in your everyday nutrition and lifestyle is not right.

tags:The Liver Cleansing,The following symptoms ,lifelong,hepar,
to continually ‘reach’ for a detox diet,Liver Cleansing Supplements are recommended.,

Hepatitis A Symptoms

Hepatitis A affects anyone and ranges from isolated cases to widespread epidemics with outbreaks about every 10 years nationwide.

A symptoms include:

• aches and pains
• a general feeling of not being well
• dark urine
• diarrhea
• fatigue
• fever
• intermittent nausea and possibly vomiting
• jaundice, which can make the sclera (whites) of the eyes a yellowish color
• loss of appetite
• pale feces

Adults usually experience more symptoms than children

Incubation Period

• Average time 28 days for Hepatitis A virus
• From 2 weeks to 6 months after being infected
  
  
  tags:hepatitis A simptoms,

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) III

chronic hepatitis B symptoms:Many people who have chronic hepatitis B have few or no symptoms. They may not even look sick. As a result, they may not know they are infected. However, they can still spread the virus to other people.

Symptoms may not appear for up to 6 months after the time of infection. Early symptoms may include:

• Appetite loss
• Fatigue
• Low-grade fever
• Muscle and joint aches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Yellow skin and dark urine due to jaundice

People with chronic hepatitis may have no symptoms, even though gradual liver damage may be occurring. They may have some or all of the symptoms of acute hepatitis.

tags:The hepatitis B virus (HBV),People symptoms,Symptoms,The hepatitis B virus (HBV),

How does liver damage occur in hepatitis C infection?

The presence of HCV in the liver triggers the human immune system, which leads to inflammation. Over time (usually decades), prolonged inflammation may cause scarring. Extensive scarring in the liver is calledcirrhosis.

When the liver becomes cirrhotic, the liver fails to perform its normal functions, (liver failure), and this leads to serious complications and even death. Cirrhotic livers also are more prone to become cancerous.

How is hepatitis C virus spread and how can transmission be prevented?

HCV is spread (transmitted) most efficiently through inadvertent exposure to infected blood.

• The most common route of transmission is needles shared among users of illicit drugs.
• Accidental needle-sticks in healthcare workers also have transmitted the virus.
• The average risk of getting HCV from a stick with a contaminated needle is 1.8% (range 0% to 10%).
• Prior to 1992, some people acquired the infection from transfusions of blood or blood products. Since 1992, all blood products are screened for HCV, and cases of HCV due to blood transfusionnow are extremely rare.
• HCV also can be passed from mother to unborn child. Approximately 4 of every 100 infants born to HCV-infected mothers become infected with the virus.
• A small number of cases are transmitted through sexual intercourse. The risk of transmission of HCV from an infected individual to a non-infected spouse or partner without the use ofcondoms over a lifetime has been estimated to be 1% to 4%
• Finally, there have been some outbreaks of HCV when instruments or sharp tool have been re-used without appropriate cleaning between patients.

Transmission of HCV can be prevented in several ways.

• Programs have been aimed at avoiding needle sharing among drug addicts. Needle exchange programs and educational interventions have reduced high-risk behaviors. However, the population of drug addicts is a difficult population to reach, and rates of HCV remain high among addicts (30% of younger users).
• Among healthcare workers, safe needle-usage techniques have been developed to reduce accidental needle-sticks. Newer syringes have self-capping needle systems that avoid the need to manually replace a cap after drawing blood and reduce the risk of needle-sticks.
• There is no clear way to prevent transmission of the HCV from mother to child.
• Persons with multiple sexual partners should use barrier precautions such as condoms to limit the risk of HCV as well as other sexually-transmitted diseases.
• Monogamous couples should consider the low risk of transmission when deciding whether to use condoms during intercourse. Some couples may decide to use them and some may not.
• Screening tests for blood products have almost eliminated the risk of transmission through transfusion, estimated by the CDC to be less than one in two million transfused blood products.
• People with HCV should not share razors or toothbrushes with others.
• It is critical that physicians and clinics follow manufacturer's directions for sterilizing/cleaning instruments and that disposable sharp instruments be discarded properly.

It is important to realize that HCV is not spread by casual contact. Thus, shaking hands, kissing, and hugging are not behaviors that increase the risk of transmission. There is no need to use special isolation procedures when dealing with infected patients.

tags:How does liver , hepatitis C infection?,How is hepatitis C virus,