The Concept of Metabolism:
Nursing Interventions and Diagnoses Related to Cirrhosis
Hannah E. Null
New Mexico State University
Introduction
The concept of metabolism which is regulated by the major body system known as the endocrine system and includes the biochemical processes, including the body’s need to produce energy, repair cells, and maintain life (Pearson, 2015). This includes a series of glands including the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, adrenal, and the three organs being the pancreas, female ovary, and the male testis. The major organ being discussed for the purpose of this paper is the liver, a complex organ with multiple metabolic and regulatory functions (Pearson, 2015).
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Over time the liver is unable to metabolize the alcohol and leads the liver to form fibrous tissue, develop nodules, and the liver shrinks and has a nodular uneven appearance (Pearson, 2015). Biliary cirrhosis is another type of liver disease that is characterized by the inability of bile to be excreted, causing build up within the liver which eventually destroys the cells within the liver. The third type of cirrhosis is known as posthepatic cirrhosis and is the result of a patient having hepatitis B or C resulting from an unknown cause. This type of cirrhosis causes the liver to shrink and become nodular and fibrous resulting in destruction of the liver cells. Risk factors for all three types of cirrhosis include high risk behaviors such as consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, drug use (primarily IV), unsafe sexual behaviors leading to the development of hepatitis B or C. Clinical manifestations of cirrhosis include portal hypertension, which is caused by the portal vein becoming inflamed and casing blood to be rerouted to adjoining lower pressure vessels, splenomegaly, ascites which is the enlargement of the stomach due to a collection of fluid in the abdominal cavity, esophageal varices, which are enlarged, thin walled veins that form in the esophagus, portal, systemic encephalopathy, which is due to neurotoxins being rerouted into the blood, hepatorenal syndrome caused by imbalanced blood flow, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, which is a contamination of the peritoneal cavity (Pearson,
1. What are the common manifestations of alcoholic cirrhosis? Which of these are secondary to
8. A deficiency of succinyl CoA synthase can cause a decrease in the production of ATP. The decrease in ATP is seen the substrate level phosphorylation of converting succinyl CoA succinate This would cause the cycle to become acidic due to the buildup of lactic acid. If the cycle continued it would not be functional due to the acid. There would also be a decreased production of ATP in the mitochondria. NADH and Carbon Dioxide would also be decreased. ATP would be decreased because of the deficiency of succinyl CoA synthase. The conversion of succinyl CoA to succinate, which is catalyze and act on by succinyl CoA synthase an associated production of ATP occurs (Sanders,J. 2015).
b) Janine made this statement: “… if your brain doesn’t get carbs—well, glucose, anyway—you get
Cirrhosis is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and the thirteenth leading cause of death worldwide.1 Cirrhosis is the irreversible fibrosis of the liver characterized by hepatic architectural distortion secondary to fibrous tissue and the formation of regenerative nodules.2 These anatomical changes cause hepatic vascular resistance and an increase in blood flow leading to portal hypertension. Porto-systemic collaterals develop in order to overcome the increased portal pressure gradient.3 Nitric oxide, an endogenous vasodilator is also released in effort to overcome portal pressure with the expense of causing systemic vasodilation and a decrease in blood pressure. As a result, a marked activation of neurohumoral vasoactive factors occurs in an effort to maintain an effective arterial blood pressure. Hypervolemia, increased cardiac index, decreased systemic vascular resistance, and systemic hypotension are manifestations of portal hypertension.3 Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcoholism, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are all major causes of cirrhosis.
Living organisms must undergo chemical reactions of cellular metabolism to maintain life. This process is performed with the help of the active site found on the enzyme. The active site is sensible to changes that are made to the enzyme, so when a factor that affects the enzyme is present, the reaction rate will be affected. In this experiment the effects of enzyme concentrations, substrate concentrations, temperature concentrations and adding an inhibitor on the enzyme’s reaction rate will be tested. In activity one, if the enzyme concentration is fairly low, then adding more enzyme concentration will cause the substrates to attach onto the enzyme and be changed into the products. In activity two, if the substrate concentration is not restricted,
This paper describes, briefly, the stages of the alcoholism as it slowly damages the liver, and finally results in permanent, irreversible damage called cirrhosis. Excessive alcohol consumption, or alcoholism is the number one cause of cirrhosis in the U.S. Though tolerance levels are different for each individual, daily consumption of more than ten alcoholic drinks over ten or more years contribute to a higher risk of cirrhosis. The first part of the paper will describe the liver and what the liver does. I will also discuss different levels of drinking leading to alcoholism. Finally, the paper will also discuss the deterioration levels leading to the signs and symptoms of cirrhosis.
process uses 6 ATP while converting 2 ATP for energy. This is at a -4 loss of ATP to the system. In
Human Metabolism is the breakdown of nutritional products (food) and the transformation of that food into energy. Human Metabolism also involves the elimination of waste products. Metabolism is one way your body maintains homeostasis. Homeostasis (maintenance of a stable temperature) is required in order for metabolism to work effectively. Exercise has a huge effect on growth and tissue repair as well as eating the right foods. Your body use the acids in protein to build new cells and make energy in order for cells to function. The thyroid gland releases hormones that help control your metabolism. Hypothyroidism or an under active thyroid can be detected by a blood test. Symptoms include: constipation, depression, fatigue, pale/dry skin, brittle nails and hair and weight gain. Treatment is taking a hormone replacement. Hyperthyroidism or an over active thyroid can also be detected through a blood test. Symptoms include: hair loss, missed or late period, hand trembling, nervousness, anxiety, moodiness and sweating.
Prolonged and chronic ethanol (ETOH) use has devastating effects on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. ETOH is easily absorbed from the intestine and diffuses quickly throughout the body. The bulk of the ETOH is metabolized in the liver. ETOH abuse produces functional and structural changes in the GI tract, such as in the stomach, small intestine, liver, and pancreas (Geokas, Lieber, French, & Halsted 1981). The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website (2005) sites statistics indicating 28,175 deaths in 2005 were a direct result of liver cirrhosis. The website goes on to state, “In 1997, liver cirrhosis was the 10th leading cause
Cirrhosis has many causes, although the most common ones are alcoholism and chronic viral hepatitis B, and C. Cirrhosis can develop as a
The risk progressing cirrhosis fluctuates depending on the hidden cause and the particular condition. General risk factors for cirrhosis is excessive alcohol consumption, medical conditions, age/gender, and inherited disorders and autoimmune
Hartz and Tocqueville concur that Americans embrace and agree on essential points or fundamental values like liberty, democracy, and equality. These are easy words to agree to but the application of these values can be vastly different depending on who is asked. How American values are defined and applied has split Americans along racial, gender, and class lines since the formation of the United States.
Liver disease resulting from alcohol affects more than two million Americans and is one of the primary causes of illness and death. The liver frees the body of harmful substances, such as alcohol. While the liver breaks down alcohol, it produces toxins that can be even more dangerous than the alcohol consumed (“Beyond Hangovers: Understanding Alcohol's Impact Your Health” 13). “These by-products damage liver cells, promote inflammation, and weaken the body’s natural defenses. Eventually, these problems can disrupt the body’s metabolism and impair the function of other organs” (“Beyond Hangovers: Understanding Alcohol's Impact Your Health” 13). A condition called steatosis is the result of fat build up in the liver and is the
"Many alcoholics exhibit swollen and tender livers. The prolonged use of large amounts of alcoholism without adequate diet may cause serious liver damage, such as
Alcohol has no beneficial attributes on a person’s health. Alcohol can have several harmful effects on human organs. Some organs in the human body that are damaged by alcohol consumption are the brain, kidneys, and liver. The human liver is the one organ that suffers the most damage. As stated in an article published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “Because the liver is the chief organ responsible for metabolizing alcohol, it is especially vulnerable to alcohol – related injury” (NIAAA, 2005). Regular use of alcohol can lead to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The severity of ALD can vary based on several different factors. Some of these factors include gender, age, the amount consumed, and how often alcohol is used. “ALD includes three conditions: fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis” (Alcohol Alert, 2005).