The number one preventive measure of liver cirrhosis is to stop drinking alcoholic beverages. Abstinence from alcohol may be difficult for many alcoholics to do, but the result is beneficial for them. Ninety percent of the people with liver cirrhosis who stopped drinking alcohol lives another 5 years, and only seventy percent chance of living less than five years if they continue to drink alcohol (Penny, 2013). According to Leaper and Hamlin, “liver cirrhosis affects protein metabolism and the ability of the liver to store glycogen, which is required for energy (2011). Therefore, people who have cirrhosis are advised to eat foods high in protein and carbohydrates to maintain body’s functions. Limiting protein intake can cause malnutrition or
The MD Anderson Liver Tumor biospecimen resource has been invaluable for a large number of studies or clinical development. The sixth and subsequent editions of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging of hepatocellular cancer, which was developed by an international consortium led by Jean-Nicolas Vauthey, MD, Professor of Surgery at MD Anderson and co-leader on project 2 of the SPORE, was based upon pathologic review of resected specimens in the Liver Tumor Bank (Vauthey JN J Clin Oncol 2002 20:1527-36). In addition, investigators at MD Anderson examined tissues in the Liver Tumor Bank to elucidate the prognostic significance of the ribonucleoprotein Human Antigen R (HuR) showing that patients with high HuR tumor expression had
Inadequate nutrition secondary to alcohol consumption is not uncommon as the disease progresses (Merck, 2009).
Professor Mark Moore of criminal justice at Harvard Kennedy School of government stated, “cirrhosis death rates for men were 29.5 per 100,000 in 1911 and 10.7 in 1929.” He uses this as an example of decrease in alcohol consumption as it was believed you were in high risk of getting cirrhosis by drinking alcohol. However, Mark Thornton assistant professor of Economics at Auburn University argues, “many people who do not drink develop cirrhosis, and the vast majority of heavy drinkers never develop it.” He supported this by his source Dr. Snell of the Mayo clinic in Rochester stating, ‘we know how that cirrhosis occurs in only 4 per cent of alcoholic individuals.” Alcohol users are likely to get cirrhosis as any other individual who doesn’t drink.
Cirrhosis is the 11th leading cause of death by disease in the United States. Almost one half of these are alcohol related. About 25,000 people die from cirrhosis each year.
Gil’s assessment, we can look back to see the relatable factors. First, Hispanics usually carry high rates of abstinence from alcohol than other ethnicities, but those that do consume alcohol, often have higher rates of binge drinking (NIH, 2017). Not only does higher rates of binge drinking occur, but Hispanics also have a higher risk for developing alcohol-related liver disease, more so than whites (NIH, 2017). His health history shows that he, at times, consumes alcohol excessively, which is one of the main causes of cirrhosis (Nordqvist, 2015). Excessive consumption of alcohol for men is considered as drinking more than 21 units per week (Nordqvist, 2015). His chronic back pain is showing to affect his physical activity and although an evaluation should be done to see its underlying cause, this is a typical finding in ascites (Health Reference Center, 2017). Ascites is an accumulation of fluid within the abdominal cavity, which is a common complication of cirrhosis. His diagnosis of hyperlipidemia may cause fat to gather in the liver and lead to worsening of the disease (NIH, 2017). His stressful living situation can have a negative impact, physically and mentally, to the body. Stress releases natural killer cells (NKT) that expand in the liver (Franciscus, 2015). This contributes to worsening of liver disease by causing cell death (Franciscus, 2015). Sometimes impaired blood flow can be detected by the part of the brain, controlling
The foundation for a Drug Free World (2017) outlines the effects of binge drinking for an individual, including drowsiness, vomiting, and liver disease. Valley Sleep Centre (2016) suggests that alcohol causes drowsiness, due to alcohol’s sedative effect (substance that relieves anxiety and helps you fall asleep). On the other hand, New Health Advisor (2014) exclaims that vomiting is caused by the excessive consumption of alcohol, and it is the reaction to get rid of the extreme amount of alcohol in the body’s system. Alcoholic cirrhosis, a type of liver disease is considered by Patient (2015) to be when the liver loses its capability to function efficiently, and is caused by around 10 years of heavy
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.
The liver is the second largest organ in the body and carries out a variety of functions including immunological, vascular, secretory and excretory functions. In addition, it is also a key player in the metabolic control of the body by being critically involved in protein, glucose and fat metabolism (1). Briefly, the liver synthesizes non-essential amino acids and builds up most of the plasma proteins including albumin, clotting factors and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I. Additionally, it removes toxic ammonia from the body by the hepatocyte-mediated conversion of ammonia into urea which is then excreted through the kidneys. The liver plays a prominent role in regulating blood glucose levels. After a meal, excess glucose is removed from the blood
* Other treatments - Cirrhosis of the liver is incurable but, in some cases, treatment can help to reduce the likelihood that the condition will become worse. Options include: treating the underlying cause of liver damage - for example, treating the underlying hepatitis (B or C) virus infection, removal of blood to lower iron levels in haemochromatosis ,making dietary and lifestyle changes - a nutritious low-fat diet. high-protein diet and exercise can help people to avoid malnutrition. Taking certain medications - such as beta-blockers to reduce blood pressure and lower the risk of bleeding, diuretics to remove excess fluid Avoiding certain medications that can make the symptoms worse - such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opiates or sedatives ,having regular medical check-ups - including scans to check for liver cancer, having regular endoscopic procedures to check whether there are varicose veins within the oesophagus or stomach.
Alcohol can have negative effects on liver function. When alcohol is consumed the body starts trying to metabolize it but has no way of doing so. The liver then has to work detoxify and remove the alcohol from the bloodstream. Once the liver finishes the oxidation process, the alcohol becomes water and carbon dioxide. If the alcohol accumulates in the body, it may destroy cells and organs. The oxidative metabolism prevents this from happening. When too much alcohol is ingested at once, the toxins take a toll on the body, starting with the liver. The oxidative metabolism of the alcohol creates molecules that lead to a condition called fatty liver. Research supports that fatty liver, the early stage of alcoholic liver disease, develops in nearly
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
Some preventions that can be done to avoid having cirrhosis is to stop bad habits such as large alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and eating too much. Antioxidant-rich foods and drinks can prevent cirrhosis as well. People who have specific conditions should take some antiviral medicine to prevent the complications of getting hepatitis B or C. By doing this, the next step that could have happened which is getting cirrhosis would be prevented. All patients with cirrhosis who are positive for HBsAg should get an oral antiviral therapy using entecavir or tenofovir antiviral medicines.
drinking at an early age can not only cause severe liver damage, but also increases the risk of
There are many preventative measures and lifestyle modifications that can reduce the chances of developing liver cancer. The avoidance of viral hepatitis is imperative, being vaccinated against hepatitis B during childhood offers increased defense against the disease causing virus. Avoiding intravenous drug use, and other factors directly related to the contraction of hepatitis B and C is also key. Excessive alcohol consumption is known to contribute to liver damage, more specifically cirrhosis. Thus avoiding alcoholism is an important lifestyle factor in the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma. Routine medical exams with one’s physician can identify risk factors, these exams may include screening for liver cancer and other related antecedents. Individuals with hemochromatosis and autoimmune disorders of the liver should be screened frequently for the potential development of hepatoma.
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).