gingerfreak
New Member
jjinit said:gingerfreak said:
i got it
'Ray!
how do you know if your liver is buggered?
- Thread starter sandi
- Start date
'Ray!
Some useful info on the Liver here: -
Basic facts about the liver
Your liver, the largest organ in your body, weighs about three pounds and is roughly the size of a football. It lies in the upper right side of your abdomen, situated mostly under the lower ribs. The normal liver is soft and smooth and is connected to the small intestine by the bile duct, which carries bile formed in the liver to the intestines.
Does heavy drinking always lead to cirrhosis?
While almost everyone who drinks excessive amounts of alcohol sustains some liver damage, it does not necessarily develop into cirrhosis. In those individuals who drink one-half to one pint (8 to 16 ounces) of hard liquor per day (or the equivalent in other alcoholic drinks), for 15 years or more, about one-third develop cirrhosis. Another third develop fatty livers, while the remained have only minor liver problems.
In general, the more you drink, the greater the frequency and regularity of excessive intake, the more likely that cirrhosis will result. A poor diet, long considered to be the main factor in the development of cirrhosis in the alcoholic, is probably only a contributing factor. Alcohol by itself, in large amounts, is a poison that can cause cirrhosis.
Can social drinkers get cirrhosis?
Some individuals who are “social drinkers,” not alcoholics, can develop cirrhosis. Factors affecting the development of cirrhosis include:
- The amount of alcohol consumed
- The regularity of intake
- Natural tendency
- Perhaps the state of nutrition
It is not known why some individuals are more prone to adverse reactions to alcohol than others. Women are less tolerant of alcohol than men. Researchers believe that this is because men have a greater ability than women to break down the alcohol for elimination. Studies show that a much higher percentage of women, consuming less alcohol than men, go on to cirrhosis.
What are the signs and symptoms of cirrhosis?
The onset of cirrhosis is often “silent” with few specific symptoms to identify what is happening in the liver. As continued scarring and destruction occur, the following signs and symptoms may appear:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss
- Enlargement of the liver
- Jaundice - yellow discoloration of the whites of the eyes and skin occurs because bile pigment can no longer be removed by the liver
- Itching - due to the retention of bile products in the skin
- Ascites - abdominal swelling due to an accumulation of fluid caused by the obstruction of blood flow through the liver
- Vomiting of blood - frequently occurs from swollen, ruptured varices (veins that burst) in the lower end of the esophagus due to the increased pressure in these vessels caused by scar tissue formation
- Increased sensitivity to drugs - due to the inability of the liver to inactivate them
- Encephalopathy (impending coma) - subtle mental changes advancing to profound confusion and coma
Many patients may have no symptoms and are found to have cirrhosis by physical examination and laboratory tests, which may have been performed in the course of treatment for unrelated illnesses.
How is cirrhosis treated?
Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cirrhosis. It aims to stop the progress of the cirrhosis, reverse (to whatever extent possible) the damage that has already occurred, and treat complications that are disabling or life-threatening.
Stopping or reversing the process requires removal of the case:
In alcoholic cirrhosis: Abstention from alcohol; an adequate, wholesome diet
In cirrhosis caused by primary biliary cirrhosis: ursodeoxycholic acid is recommended
In cirrhosis caused by viral hepatitis: Medication to improve immune responses to viral infection is an approved approach
In certain types of cirrhosis caused by autoimmune hepatitis:
Corticosteroids alone or with azathioprine may be an effective treatment
In cirrhotic patients with jaundice: Supplemental fat soluble vitamins may be helpful
Wilson’s disease: Removal of excess copper by drugs that deplete the body’s copper
Hemochromatosis: Removal of excess iron by phlebotomy (removal of one pint of blood per week)
Most types of cirrhosis: Liver transplantation with replacement of the diseases organ when advances liver failure occurs
What are the complications of cirrhosis?
Complications of cirrhosis include ascites, coma and hemorrhage from esophageal varices.
Ascites is treated by reducing the intake of salt and the administration of drugs to improve excretion of salt and water (diuretics). In some instances, large amounts of fluids are removed by direct catheter drainage through the abdominal wall (large volume paracentesis).
Treatment of coma, or impending coma (encephalopathy), includes specific medication and control of intestinal hemorrhage.
Treatment of hemorrhage from varices (internal varicose veins) includes drugs to reduce the likelihood of bleeding or rebleeding, endoscopic band ligation of varices, and a radiological procedure called transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).
How can I avoid cirrhosis?
Do not drink to excess: Avoid the use of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol destroys liver cells. How well damaged cells regenerate varies with each individual. Prior injury to the liver by unknown and unrecognizable viruses or chemicals can also affect the regeneration process.
Take precautions when using man-made chemicals: The liver must process many chemicals that were not present in the past. More research is needed to determine the effects on the liver of many of these compounds. When using chemicals at work, in cleaning your home, or working in your garden:
- Be sure there is good ventilation
- Follow directions for use of all products
- Never mix chemical products
- Avoid getting chemicals on the skin, where they can be absorbed, and wash promptly if you do
- Avoid inhaling chemicals
- Wear protective clothing
Seek medical advice.
Remain under supervision of a physician if you develop viral hepatitis until your recovery is assured.
How might cirrhosis affect other diseases I might have or treatment of them?
The responsibility of the liver for the proper functioning of the whole body is so great that the chronic disease of the liver may modify the body’s responses to a variety of illnesses. Abnormal function of the liver in cirrhosis may:
- Affect the dose of medicine required in the treatment of other conditions
- Affect the treatment of diabetes
- Alter the response of the body to infection
- Alter tolerance for surgical procedures
Patients with cirrhosis are particularly prone to develop fatal bacterial infections, kidney malfunctions, stomach ulcers, gallstones, a type of diabetes and cancer of the liver.
What are my prospects for reasonable health and survival with treatment?
Treatment at this stage, with proper adherence to the physician’s recommendations, leads to improvement in the majority of cases and the patient is able to pursue a normal life and activities.
When cirrhosis is not discovered until extensive damage has resulted, the outlook may be less favorable for improvement, and complications such as ascites and hemorrhage are more likely to be encountered.
The liver is a large organ and is able to perform its vital functions despite some damage. It also has the ability to repair itself to a limited degree. Cells that die are replaced by new cells. If the cause of cirrhosis can be removed, these factors provide hope for both improvement and carrying on a normal life.
An increasing number of scientific investigators conducting liver research give hope for new breakthroughs in treatment, management and cures for liver disease in the near future.
Some scary stuff there, but i wouldn't worry too much - YET!
Basic facts about the liver
Your liver, the largest organ in your body, weighs about three pounds and is roughly the size of a football. It lies in the upper right side of your abdomen, situated mostly under the lower ribs. The normal liver is soft and smooth and is connected to the small intestine by the bile duct, which carries bile formed in the liver to the intestines.
Does heavy drinking always lead to cirrhosis?
While almost everyone who drinks excessive amounts of alcohol sustains some liver damage, it does not necessarily develop into cirrhosis. In those individuals who drink one-half to one pint (8 to 16 ounces) of hard liquor per day (or the equivalent in other alcoholic drinks), for 15 years or more, about one-third develop cirrhosis. Another third develop fatty livers, while the remained have only minor liver problems.
In general, the more you drink, the greater the frequency and regularity of excessive intake, the more likely that cirrhosis will result. A poor diet, long considered to be the main factor in the development of cirrhosis in the alcoholic, is probably only a contributing factor. Alcohol by itself, in large amounts, is a poison that can cause cirrhosis.
Can social drinkers get cirrhosis?
Some individuals who are “social drinkers,” not alcoholics, can develop cirrhosis. Factors affecting the development of cirrhosis include:
- The amount of alcohol consumed
- The regularity of intake
- Natural tendency
- Perhaps the state of nutrition
It is not known why some individuals are more prone to adverse reactions to alcohol than others. Women are less tolerant of alcohol than men. Researchers believe that this is because men have a greater ability than women to break down the alcohol for elimination. Studies show that a much higher percentage of women, consuming less alcohol than men, go on to cirrhosis.
What are the signs and symptoms of cirrhosis?
The onset of cirrhosis is often “silent” with few specific symptoms to identify what is happening in the liver. As continued scarring and destruction occur, the following signs and symptoms may appear:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss
- Enlargement of the liver
- Jaundice - yellow discoloration of the whites of the eyes and skin occurs because bile pigment can no longer be removed by the liver
- Itching - due to the retention of bile products in the skin
- Ascites - abdominal swelling due to an accumulation of fluid caused by the obstruction of blood flow through the liver
- Vomiting of blood - frequently occurs from swollen, ruptured varices (veins that burst) in the lower end of the esophagus due to the increased pressure in these vessels caused by scar tissue formation
- Increased sensitivity to drugs - due to the inability of the liver to inactivate them
- Encephalopathy (impending coma) - subtle mental changes advancing to profound confusion and coma
Many patients may have no symptoms and are found to have cirrhosis by physical examination and laboratory tests, which may have been performed in the course of treatment for unrelated illnesses.
How is cirrhosis treated?
Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cirrhosis. It aims to stop the progress of the cirrhosis, reverse (to whatever extent possible) the damage that has already occurred, and treat complications that are disabling or life-threatening.
Stopping or reversing the process requires removal of the case:
In alcoholic cirrhosis: Abstention from alcohol; an adequate, wholesome diet
In cirrhosis caused by primary biliary cirrhosis: ursodeoxycholic acid is recommended
In cirrhosis caused by viral hepatitis: Medication to improve immune responses to viral infection is an approved approach
In certain types of cirrhosis caused by autoimmune hepatitis:
Corticosteroids alone or with azathioprine may be an effective treatment
In cirrhotic patients with jaundice: Supplemental fat soluble vitamins may be helpful
Wilson’s disease: Removal of excess copper by drugs that deplete the body’s copper
Hemochromatosis: Removal of excess iron by phlebotomy (removal of one pint of blood per week)
Most types of cirrhosis: Liver transplantation with replacement of the diseases organ when advances liver failure occurs
What are the complications of cirrhosis?
Complications of cirrhosis include ascites, coma and hemorrhage from esophageal varices.
Ascites is treated by reducing the intake of salt and the administration of drugs to improve excretion of salt and water (diuretics). In some instances, large amounts of fluids are removed by direct catheter drainage through the abdominal wall (large volume paracentesis).
Treatment of coma, or impending coma (encephalopathy), includes specific medication and control of intestinal hemorrhage.
Treatment of hemorrhage from varices (internal varicose veins) includes drugs to reduce the likelihood of bleeding or rebleeding, endoscopic band ligation of varices, and a radiological procedure called transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).
How can I avoid cirrhosis?
Do not drink to excess: Avoid the use of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol destroys liver cells. How well damaged cells regenerate varies with each individual. Prior injury to the liver by unknown and unrecognizable viruses or chemicals can also affect the regeneration process.
Take precautions when using man-made chemicals: The liver must process many chemicals that were not present in the past. More research is needed to determine the effects on the liver of many of these compounds. When using chemicals at work, in cleaning your home, or working in your garden:
- Be sure there is good ventilation
- Follow directions for use of all products
- Never mix chemical products
- Avoid getting chemicals on the skin, where they can be absorbed, and wash promptly if you do
- Avoid inhaling chemicals
- Wear protective clothing
Seek medical advice.
Remain under supervision of a physician if you develop viral hepatitis until your recovery is assured.
How might cirrhosis affect other diseases I might have or treatment of them?
The responsibility of the liver for the proper functioning of the whole body is so great that the chronic disease of the liver may modify the body’s responses to a variety of illnesses. Abnormal function of the liver in cirrhosis may:
- Affect the dose of medicine required in the treatment of other conditions
- Affect the treatment of diabetes
- Alter the response of the body to infection
- Alter tolerance for surgical procedures
Patients with cirrhosis are particularly prone to develop fatal bacterial infections, kidney malfunctions, stomach ulcers, gallstones, a type of diabetes and cancer of the liver.
What are my prospects for reasonable health and survival with treatment?
Treatment at this stage, with proper adherence to the physician’s recommendations, leads to improvement in the majority of cases and the patient is able to pursue a normal life and activities.
When cirrhosis is not discovered until extensive damage has resulted, the outlook may be less favorable for improvement, and complications such as ascites and hemorrhage are more likely to be encountered.
The liver is a large organ and is able to perform its vital functions despite some damage. It also has the ability to repair itself to a limited degree. Cells that die are replaced by new cells. If the cause of cirrhosis can be removed, these factors provide hope for both improvement and carrying on a normal life.
An increasing number of scientific investigators conducting liver research give hope for new breakthroughs in treatment, management and cures for liver disease in the near future.
Some scary stuff there, but i wouldn't worry too much - YET!
gingerfreak
New Member
Drew said:
No way! Regulation size 5 football? Never! Not inflated anyway.Drew said:Some useful info on the Liver here: -
Basic facts about the liver
Your liver, the largest organ in your body, weighs about three pounds and is roughly the size of a football. It lies in the upper right side of your abdomen, situated mostly under the lower ribs. The normal liver is soft and smooth and is connected to the small intestine by the bile duct, which carries bile formed in the liver to the intestines.
Does heavy drinking always lead to cirrhosis?
While almost everyone who drinks excessive amounts of alcohol sustains some liver damage, it does not necessarily develop into cirrhosis. In those individuals who drink one-half to one pint (8 to 16 ounces) of hard liquor per day (or the equivalent in other alcoholic drinks), for 15 years or more, about one-third develop cirrhosis. Another third develop fatty livers, while the remained have only minor liver problems.
In general, the more you drink, the greater the frequency and regularity of excessive intake, the more likely that cirrhosis will result. A poor diet, long considered to be the main factor in the development of cirrhosis in the alcoholic, is probably only a contributing factor. Alcohol by itself, in large amounts, is a poison that can cause cirrhosis.
Can social drinkers get cirrhosis?
Some individuals who are “social drinkers,” not alcoholics, can develop cirrhosis. Factors affecting the development of cirrhosis include:
- The amount of alcohol consumed
- The regularity of intake
- Natural tendency
- Perhaps the state of nutrition
It is not known why some individuals are more prone to adverse reactions to alcohol than others. Women are less tolerant of alcohol than men. Researchers believe that this is because men have a greater ability than women to break down the alcohol for elimination. Studies show that a much higher percentage of women, consuming less alcohol than men, go on to cirrhosis.
What are the signs and symptoms of cirrhosis?
The onset of cirrhosis is often “silent” with few specific symptoms to identify what is happening in the liver. As continued scarring and destruction occur, the following signs and symptoms may appear:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss
- Enlargement of the liver
- Jaundice - yellow discoloration of the whites of the eyes and skin occurs because bile pigment can no longer be removed by the liver
- Itching - due to the retention of bile products in the skin
- Ascites - abdominal swelling due to an accumulation of fluid caused by the obstruction of blood flow through the liver
- Vomiting of blood - frequently occurs from swollen, ruptured varices (veins that burst) in the lower end of the esophagus due to the increased pressure in these vessels caused by scar tissue formation
- Increased sensitivity to drugs - due to the inability of the liver to inactivate them
- Encephalopathy (impending coma) - subtle mental changes advancing to profound confusion and coma
Many patients may have no symptoms and are found to have cirrhosis by physical examination and laboratory tests, which may have been performed in the course of treatment for unrelated illnesses.
How is cirrhosis treated?
Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cirrhosis. It aims to stop the progress of the cirrhosis, reverse (to whatever extent possible) the damage that has already occurred, and treat complications that are disabling or life-threatening.
Stopping or reversing the process requires removal of the case:
In alcoholic cirrhosis: Abstention from alcohol; an adequate, wholesome diet
In cirrhosis caused by primary biliary cirrhosis: ursodeoxycholic acid is recommended
In cirrhosis caused by viral hepatitis: Medication to improve immune responses to viral infection is an approved approach
In certain types of cirrhosis caused by autoimmune hepatitis:
Corticosteroids alone or with azathioprine may be an effective treatment
In cirrhotic patients with jaundice: Supplemental fat soluble vitamins may be helpful
Wilson’s disease: Removal of excess copper by drugs that deplete the body’s copper
Hemochromatosis: Removal of excess iron by phlebotomy (removal of one pint of blood per week)
Most types of cirrhosis: Liver transplantation with replacement of the diseases organ when advances liver failure occurs
What are the complications of cirrhosis?
Complications of cirrhosis include ascites, coma and hemorrhage from esophageal varices.
Ascites is treated by reducing the intake of salt and the administration of drugs to improve excretion of salt and water (diuretics). In some instances, large amounts of fluids are removed by direct catheter drainage through the abdominal wall (large volume paracentesis).
Treatment of coma, or impending coma (encephalopathy), includes specific medication and control of intestinal hemorrhage.
Treatment of hemorrhage from varices (internal varicose veins) includes drugs to reduce the likelihood of bleeding or rebleeding, endoscopic band ligation of varices, and a radiological procedure called transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).
How can I avoid cirrhosis?
Do not drink to excess: Avoid the use of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol destroys liver cells. How well damaged cells regenerate varies with each individual. Prior injury to the liver by unknown and unrecognizable viruses or chemicals can also affect the regeneration process.
Take precautions when using man-made chemicals: The liver must process many chemicals that were not present in the past. More research is needed to determine the effects on the liver of many of these compounds. When using chemicals at work, in cleaning your home, or working in your garden:
- Be sure there is good ventilation
- Follow directions for use of all products
- Never mix chemical products
- Avoid getting chemicals on the skin, where they can be absorbed, and wash promptly if you do
- Avoid inhaling chemicals
- Wear protective clothing
Seek medical advice.
Remain under supervision of a physician if you develop viral hepatitis until your recovery is assured.
How might cirrhosis affect other diseases I might have or treatment of them?
The responsibility of the liver for the proper functioning of the whole body is so great that the chronic disease of the liver may modify the body’s responses to a variety of illnesses. Abnormal function of the liver in cirrhosis may:
- Affect the dose of medicine required in the treatment of other conditions
- Affect the treatment of diabetes
- Alter the response of the body to infection
- Alter tolerance for surgical procedures
Patients with cirrhosis are particularly prone to develop fatal bacterial infections, kidney malfunctions, stomach ulcers, gallstones, a type of diabetes and cancer of the liver.
What are my prospects for reasonable health and survival with treatment?
Treatment at this stage, with proper adherence to the physician’s recommendations, leads to improvement in the majority of cases and the patient is able to pursue a normal life and activities.
When cirrhosis is not discovered until extensive damage has resulted, the outlook may be less favorable for improvement, and complications such as ascites and hemorrhage are more likely to be encountered.
The liver is a large organ and is able to perform its vital functions despite some damage. It also has the ability to repair itself to a limited degree. Cells that die are replaced by new cells. If the cause of cirrhosis can be removed, these factors provide hope for both improvement and carrying on a normal life.
An increasing number of scientific investigators conducting liver research give hope for new breakthroughs in treatment, management and cures for liver disease in the near future.
Some scary stuff there, but i wouldn't worry too much - YET!
Sorry I asked
