Cirrhosis Of The Liver

The liver is an organ which plays an important role in maintaining a healthy and functional body.  As one of the largest organs in the human body, the liver is necessary for survival.  Cirrhosis of the liver is an ongoing, long-term disease which results in damage to liver tissue preventing the liver from performing properly.  Considering the liver is one of the most essential organs in the body, reduced or limited function can be life threatening.  Cirrhosis of the liver results in scarring of liver tissue which can impair the liver’s ability to manage infections, remove toxins in the blood, process drugs and regulate clotting of the blood.  As the disease progresses the liver loses the ability to replace damaged cells with healthy cells which eventually causes liver failure.

What Causes Cirrhosis of the Liver?
Cirrhosis of the liver can be caused by a number of factors.  The most common causes in the United States are heavy alcohol consumption and hepatitis C which cause damage to the liver.  Other causes include: obesity, coronary artery disease, protein malnutrition, certain medications, genetics and infections.  Any condition that results in damage or scar tissue forming on the liver may lead to cirrhosis, however 30-50 percent of cases diagnosed lack a known cause.

Symptoms of Cirrhosis.
It may take years of damage before cirrhosis is diagnosed.  For this reason many people do not experience or notice symptoms until the liver begins to stop working properly.  Cirrhosis of the liver may result in fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, fever, jaundice, fluid retention and abdominal pain.

Diagnosis and Treatment.
A biopsy of the liver can confirm cirrhosis, however this procedure carries a risk of serious complications.  For this reason liver biopsies are generally performed only on patients whose liver problems are unclear or unable to be confirmed as cirrhosis by other methods.  In many cases a diagnosis of cirrhosis is based on patient’s history, the presence of symptoms common to cirrhosis, medical tests and even physical palpation of the liver.

Treatment varies based on the suspected cause of cirrhosis.  Depending on the extent of damage to the liver and whether complications are present treatment can range from lifestyle changes to hospitalization.  Avoiding alcohol and other drugs is necessary to prevent further damage to the liver.  Whenever possible medications are prescribed to treat specific conditions, however in extreme cases a liver transplant may be the only option to prevent complete liver failure.

The goal of treatment is to slow the progress of the disease and recovery varies depending on the cause and advancement of the cirrhosis.  Since symptoms most often do not present in the early stages, the disease might be very advanced by the time a diagnosis is made.  Unfortunately half of the people diagnosed with severe alcohol related cirrhosis will succumb to the disease within two to five years.  If the cirrhosis is not advanced and treatment slows the progress it is possible to live a relatively normal life with cirrhosis as long as special care is taken to avoid further damage to the liver.

Understanding Cervical Cancer

The words “cervical” and “cancer” understandably invokes feelings of fear among people.  Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.  Millions of people (fifty percent of men and one third of all women) will face a diagnosis of cancer at one point in their life.  Cancer is defined as a disease or group of diseases where cells in part of your body grow uncontrollably.  Normally your body will grow, divide and lose cells in a relatively orderly manner.  Cancerous cells on the other hand, do not die off as normal cells, instead they continue to grow and produce more abnormal cells.  Not only do cancer cells continue to grow, they also have the ability to invade other tissues.

Cancerous cells are cells that have abnormal DNA.  The abnormalities may be be caused by genetic defects or a result of something you are exposed to in your environment.  Currently there is no cure available for cancer.  Each form of cancer responds differently to treatment, making prevention or early detection important for individuals at a high risk for developing cancer.
Read more

The Effects of Smoking Cigarettes and Methods To Quit

The effects of smoking cigarette can lead to a number of illnesses which are responsible for claiming more lives than illegal drugs, alcohol, car accidents, homicides, suicides and AIDS combined.  The dangers of smoking cigarettes have been well researched and documented yet the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention states one in five people in the U.S. are still smokers.

Dangers of Smoking
There are more than 700 chemicals found in cigarettes many of which are considered toxic and prohibited from the food that we eat.  Reaching nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, once lit a cigarette releases thousands of chemical compounds including but not limited to carbon monoxide and other carcinogens.  Nicotine which is found naturally in tobacco leaves is an odorless colorless ingredient which is highly addictive to the smoker, both physically and psychologically.  Once inhaled nicotine can reach the brain in as little as 10 seconds and has can be found in literally every part of the body including breast milk for lactating woman.  The dangers of smoking are not limited to the smoker themselves but also to anyone who is exposed to secondhand smoke.  Smoking cigarettes can lead to various forms of lung cancer, a weakened immune system, respiratory ailments and cardiac arrest.

Read more

Exercise and Asthma

For most people with asthma, exercise is possible.  Check with your asthma doctor regarding your asthma action plan, and to determine if your asthma symptoms should be cause for non-participation in activities – often, a small change in your asthma treatment will be all that is needed for asthma relief during exercise and activities.

Asthma treatment is used to help people with asthma maintain a healthy lifestyle which allows them to participate in physical activities and exercise.  You’ll need to work out what your triggers are, monitor your symptoms and keep up with your asthmatic medication to ensure your safety and health but the proper asthma treatment typically makes exercise possible.

Read more