Why The Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is More Difficult To Treat

Fatty liver disease, or hepatic steatosis, is a liver disorder which occurs when there is too much fat in the liver and has two types - alcoholic fatty liver (AFL) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The first one, alcoholic in nature, is about as common and as many as heavy alcoholic drinkers. These people are those who take in more than 60g of alcohol per day. However, even moderate (but regular) drinkers are also susceptible to the disease. Because of its singular cause, it is easier to treat compared to non-alcoholic liver fat disease.

alcoholic whipped cream

The second type, non-alcoholic in nature, is different from the former because of the causes and the rate of how fast each develops. The accumulation of fat in the liver is due to one or more non-alcoholic causes such as high-fat diet, obesity, diabetes milletus, high triglyceride, and hypertension. Although it is the most common form of liver ailment, non-alcoholic disease is considered more difficult to treat due to its various possible sources. Numerous research studies have also concluded that it may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and eventually liver failure.

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver can be prevented (or even reversed) through proper diet. It is generally asymptomatic, which means it does not show symptoms at its early stage. Usually, the symptoms reveal themselves when the condition has progressed to a more severe state, which is more dangerous.

A proper and healthy diet that can help worsen non-alcoholic liver disease consists of low fat or non-fat food, high fiber intake, and complex carbohydrates. One should also consider the essential vitamins, minerals, and food groups to determine the specific meals to take each day in order to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Why The Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is More Difficult To Treat

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What Are The Symptoms Of Alcoholic Liver Disease?

Alcoholic liver disease is an ever-growing health concern. I have experienced this in my immediate family and strongly believe that you or someone you know has a drinking problem. In this section on liver disease, I reveal what the liver does and the symptoms of a dysfunctional, alcohol induced liver.

What Is The Liver?

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The liver is situated just under the right ribs and beneath the right lung. The liver is also the largest organ in your body that has a pyramid shape and divided into left and right lobes. There are also two sources from where the liver receives blood: The portal vein carries nutrient rich blood from the intestines and the hepatic artery delivers oxygen rich blood directly from the heart.

What Are Important Functions Of The Liver?

Secretes bile into the intestines to help absorb nutrients an example of this would be fats.

The liver aids the body in eliminating harmful toxic wastes from the body.

Creates most of the clotting factors that help us to not bleed too much when you get a cut.

Stores and breaks down many of the nutrients absorbed from the intestines that are needed for the body to function.

What Is The Definition Of Liver Disease?

A chronic or acute inflammation of the liver is induced by alcohol abuse. A number of years of excessive drinking can cause alcoholic liver disease. Acute alcoholic hepatitis can result from binge drinking. Malnutrition comes from consuming empty calories from alcohol and a reduction in appetite. The actual toxicity of the ethanol, genetic factors and individual susceptibility to alcohol-induced liver all play a role in the development of alcoholic liver disease.

Fever

Jaundice

Nausea

Loss Of Appetite

Dry Mouth

Fatigue

Abdominal pain and tenderness

Mental confusion

Also bloody or dark bowel movements

Redness on feet or hands

Vomiting blood

Breast development in males

Alcoholic liver disease is a pandemic problem that should be brought out in the open through more education and prevention.

As more information is uncovered this article will be updated.

DISCLAIMER

The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practitioner/ patient relationship with its readers.

What Are The Symptoms Of Alcoholic Liver Disease?

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Omega-3 Prevents Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Omega-3 supplements can prevent a number of lifestyle and nutrition-related conditions, from heart disease to ADHD. Current studies reveal that fish oil can also relieve a liver disease that plagues a significant number of the population - non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. As you can guess from its name, this liver disorder is not caused by excess alcohol consumption, although it's not uncommon for alcohol drinkers to experience this disease. Rather, non-fatty liver disease is connected to a high level of triglycerides and low amounts of omega-3 fat in the diet.

A healthy liver should have little or no fat; for most of the population, having just a small amount of fat in the liver is enough to cause health problems. A fatty liver is when your liver has a build-up of triglycerides, the most common type of fat found in the human body and the fat responsible for cell growth and energy. Triglycerides usually come from the diet, but they can also be manufactured and processed by the liver. Before they are released into the bloodstream, the liver combines them with proteins to create lipoproteins. However, this process can get interrupted, causing an increased flow of triglycerides into the liver and a delay in their secretion to the bloodstream. This is what causes the fat build-up in the liver.

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Not long ago, having a fatty liver was considered to be harmless, and rarely progressed into a serious, life-threatening condition. Today, however, a large number of the population have this disease and experienced complications like hepatitis and fibrosis. In a few cases, these complications have developed into a dangerous condition called cirrhosis.

There is good news for adults at risk for this condition disease. Increasing your consumption of omega-3 fats found in fish, legumes, and fish oil pills plays a role in reducing triglyceride levels and lowering levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects, omega-3 can reducing swelling in the liver. Animal studies reveal that diets with higher levels of omega- fat decreases the fat build-up in the liver. Another study on fatty liver patients discovered that omega-3 supplementation can improve the liver's texture among those with steatosis, a simple form of fat build-up. Higher intake of this supplement also reduces the liver's fatty deposit, and improves overall liver function.

While more research needs to be done on this subject, patients who have tried fish oil supplementation have experienced significant improvements. Just make sure that you choose pharmaceutical-grade fish oil instead of cod liver oil, whose vitamin A content can place stress on the liver.

Omega-3 Prevents Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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Diagnosing Liver Disease

The liver is very well connected to the other organs and systems in your body. This is the reason why it is very difficult to diagnose a disease that is connected to the liver. The only way to find out for certain that the disease is indeed related to the liver is by doing a very thorough examination. It is not uncommon for a person who is suffering from a liver disease to experience symptoms that is characteristic of another disorder relating another organ or system.

Medical History

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Since the symptoms of liver disease are very subtle, it is very difficult to diagnose during its early stages. This is why it is very important to have routine checkups, along with urine and blood samples if you know that you have a family history of liver disorders. Liver problems can also occur in situations where a person?s diabetes is poorly controlled.

Physical Exam

There are many symptoms that may show up during a physical examination that will indicate possible liver problems. Some of the possible symptoms that may be detected if you have liver problems would be enlarged lymph nodes. This could be caused by a secondary bacterial infection. Other symptoms include bruising and a high fever.

Urinalysis

There are many things a urine examination can tell about what is going on with the body. They can tell us what types of toxins there might be in the body, as well as tell what your body is lacking.

Blood Panel

Getting a complete blood count, as well as a biochemistry panel done by your health care provider would be a smart decision if you know that you are at risk for a potential liver disorder. This is to make sure that you are in good health and that your liver is in good working order. If you are already suffering from any symptoms that might indicate a liver disorder, then you should get these tests performed as soon as possible.

Diagnosing Liver Disease

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Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Treatment

Alcoholic fatty liver disease not unlike other forms of fatty liver is reversible. When the cause of fatty liver is alcohol, it is more likely to develop into cirrhosis and cancer, so it is very important to reverse it and prevent it from haunting you again.

alcoholic whipped cream

Alcohol damages your liver cells by overloading them with work. When that happens fat accumulates inside them because they can't handle taking care of both fat and alcohol (fatty liver, or steatosis stage). As more fat accumulates, less damage the liver can endure and cells start to die and be replaced by fibrotic tissue (cirrhosis stage). Fibrotic tissue does not function and leads to chronic liver failure. Damage to the liver also increases the probability of developing cancer.

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But even when you already have alcoholic fatty liver disease, treatment is possible. The first step is, of course, reducing alcohol intake or, better yet, remove it completely. Alcohol not only damages your liver directly, but it is causes malabsorption of nutrients essential for liver recovery.

The next step is adjusting your diet. Make sure you eat a balanced diet and, if at all possible, become vegetarian. Meat, fish, eggs, and milk put extra load on the liver, which you want to avoid. On the other hand, fruit, vegetables, grains, and beans are rich in nutrients and poor in calories, providing the nutrients necessary for liver regeneration while keeping calories low to signal the liver to burn the fat inside it.

Finally, one last step is taking supplements. A few herbs have been proven to cause liver regeneration and fight liver cancer, and they have healed people with steatosis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer. The most important of these are milk thistle, and artichoke, but the list is very long. You can either try to take one supplement of each or, better yet, use one of the many combinations available.

Alcoholic fatty liver disease treatment is one of the best steps you can take towards health. It is beneficial for everyone who takes, or took, alcohol, because even moderate amount have been shown to cause some degree of liver damage.

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Treatment

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Fatty Liver Disease Is a Ticking Time Bomb: Get Yourself Examined Today

Fatty liver disease is often ignored for its slow evolution process. Since the ailment is time dependent, a patient normally misunderstands the initial curveballs that this disease throws out. To make matters more complicated, Fatty Liver problems aren't strongly tied to alcoholics.

In biological terms, the liver disease is referred to as Alcoholic Liver Disease. By default, every healthy human being has a thin film of fat molecules that cover the muscle area. If the imbiber takes too much carbs and drinks a lot of beverages that are heavy on alcohol, the amount of fat inside the liver increases exponentially.

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This increased amount of fatty tissues can result in a variation of liver related problems. However, it was mentioned earlier that the problem isn't strongly reliant on alcohol intake. Henceforth, any obese person could be the next victim of this vile disease.

Due to overgrowing obesity levels, there are 35% individuals in America who're prone to liver diseases. The initial symptoms of this disease can be dished out as:

• Consistent level of discomfort and fatigue
• Dizziness and "weird gut" feeling in the upper abdominal cavity

In addition to above symptoms, a normal version (non-alcoholic) of fatty liver is regarded as Steatosis. Regardless of your drinking antics, patients with Steatosis based profile can also develop the following features, under the non-alcoholic fatty liver category:

• Rashes on skin with itchy feeling
• Vomit normally consists of blood strings
• Skin becomes hyper sensitive to bruises
• Memory loss
• Body loses muscle retention process. Palms get mottled and skin develops a yellowish color

An advanced stage of fatty liver disease is called fibrosis. It normally occurs when the liver delves into the Non-Alcoholic Hepatitis stage, which further develops scar tissues inside the liver. A consistency in fibrosis condition can lead to sever and often irreversible damage to the liver.

The abdominal ailment spreads over the following series of changes:

• Initial weight loss problems give vent to first stage of fatty liver disease
• With a Body Mass Index of 25.0+, the patient advances to the next level, which is T-2 Diabetes
• At this point, the affected body becomes resistant to insulin treatment
• Liver goes into fibrosis stage and increases blood pressure levels

Cure:

There is no permanent short termed cure for this disease. The patient has to be exposed to a series of drugs, over a scheduled interval of various months. After carrying out several tests that are spread over Ultrasound, blood tests, CAT and CT scans, doctors issue their prescription.

If your fatty liver disease was strictly a result of alcohol inhibition, you'll be advised to hold up on alcohol intake immediately. Mild cases are normally treated through prevention and medicine based prescriptions. Patients are always instructed to follow a decent diet and exercise regimen, which would result in rapid weight loss.

In worst case scenario, the subject is prepped for a liver transplant with serious repercussions as a result of the surgery.

Fatty Liver Disease Is a Ticking Time Bomb: Get Yourself Examined Today

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Metabolic Liver Disease

The primary function of your liver in your body is to regulate your metabolism. Without the liver, you will not be able to metabolize your intake of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It accomplishes this function by working closely with your other systems such as you lymphatic system, circulatory system, as and endocrine system. In order for your liver to metabolize the fats, carbohydrates, and proteins in your body, it must be healthy and free of any diseases.

Bile Production

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Your liver produces and secretes a product called bile. This is what makes it possible for your liver to metabolize your intake of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. This fluid is a very important presence in your body due to the fact that it aids in the elimination of contaminants in your body, such as drugs. The bile system is also responsible for re-circulating your red blood cells.

Failure to Produce Bile

It is possible for a type of liver disease to cause the liver to stop the secretion of bile. When this happens, the liver loses the capability to metabolize the fats, carbohydrate, and proteins.

The only way fats can be absorbed into your blood system is if bile is present. This is why it would be impossible for your body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins without bile. These vitamins, such as vitamins A, K, D, and E, are essential for your liver to function properly. Without bile present in your system, your body will not be able to absorb and metabolize these vitamins.

Red Blood Cell System

Another important function the liver performs is that it cleanses your body from the damaged, or old, red blood cells. The liver will also store iron in your body, as well as breakdown hemoglobin. This is the reason why many people who suffer from liver disease may suffer from anemia. Along with the spleen, the liver stores blood. Therefore, in case of blood loss severe enough to threaten your life, the liver will expel its stored blood to replace the lost blood in your bloodstream.

Metabolic Liver Disease

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The Three Types of Alcohol Liver Disease

Alcohol liver disease is, sadly, well-known in our country. One kind is better known than the other two, but they all affect many people.

How does the liver process alcohol? It breaks down alcohol so that your body can eliminate it. If you consume more than your liver is able to process, the imbalance that results can injure your liver by not allowing it to do its normal breaking down of carbohydrates, fats and protein.

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There are three types of alcohol liver disease. Fatty liver is caused by a buildup of cells of fat within the liver. There are generally no symptoms, even though the liver could be enlarged. Sometimes, victims will experience upper abdominal discomfort. Almost all heavy drinkers develop fatty liver, but it will improve if and when they stop drinking.

Alcoholic hepatitis is also caused by alcohol. Liver disease of this type is found in almost thirty-five percent of people who drink heavily. The symptoms are jaundice, fever, abdominal tenderness and pain, vomiting, nausea and loss of appetite. If the victim only has the mild form of this disease, it may last for years, and during this time will cause more liver damage. This damage may be reversible, assuming that the victim stops drinking. The severe form of alcoholic hepatitis may come on suddenly, usually after a bout of binge drinking, and the complications can be life-threatening.

Alcoholic cirrhosis is easily the most serious form of alcohol-induced liver disease. In this disease, the normal tissue in the liver is replaced by scar tissue. Between ten and twenty percent of heavy drinkers will develop cirrhosis, and it usually occurs after more than ten years of drinking. Cirrhosis' symptoms are much like those of alcoholic hepatitis. The damage that cirrhosis causes is not reversible, and it can threaten your life if you keep drinking. Your condition may or may not stabilize if you quit drinking.

Quite a few people who drink heavily will contract fatty liver disease that will progress to alcoholic hepatitis and then to cirrhosis, though the actual incidence of progression may vary from person to person. Alcohol liver disease of one type or another is probable if you drink heavily, and the risk for developing cirrhosis is especially high for drinkers who already have another liver ailment like viral hepatitis C.

The complications of alcohol-induced liver disease usually begin to make themselves known after a period of years in which the victim drinks heavily. Some of these include high blood pressure in your liver, accumulation of abdominal fluids, an enlarged spleen, bleeding from esophageal veins, liver cancer, kidney failure and changes in mental function, including possible coma. To be safe, it's best not to engage in heavy drinking. If you already do drink, the safest course of action is to stop drinking, even if some damage cannot be reversed.

The Three Types of Alcohol Liver Disease

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Liver Disease Stages

The liver is one of the largest organs in the human body and is essential to the proper functioning of the body. The liver synthesizes proteins, bile, acids, and cholesterol. It maintains a balance of many nutrients and chemicals like glucose, fat, cholesterol, vitamins, and hormones and aids in the excretion of many waste products such as bilirubin, cholesterol, poison, and drugs. Liver disease is thus a serious condition that can be cured if it is cared for in the early stages. There are four stages for any malfunction of liver: inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and cancer.

Inflammation

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The liver can get inflamed due to certain conditions, use of alcohol and certain chemicals. The conditions that can cause liver inflammation are Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Autoimmune Hepatitis, and Wilson's disease. Extensive alcohol use also causes inflammation of the liver. Some drugs and industrial pollutants may affect the liver. Inflammation is characterized by redness, swelling, heat and possible pain in the liver.

Fibrosis

The second stage of liver disease is fibrosis or scar tissues. After the liver has been inflamed for a long period, connective tissues of the liver accumulate. At this stage the liver functions slowly degrade.

Cirrhosis

The third stage of liver disease is called cirrhosis. When liver has been damaged due to inflammation and fibrosis, it does not function properly. Accumulation of scar tissues blocks blood flow through the liver, preventing it from functioning normally. Some of the symptoms of end stage cirrhosis are edema, bruising and bleeding, jaundice, gallstones, and an increase of toxins in the blood, enlarged blood vessels, and diabetes.

Cancer

If liver disease is not treated in the earlier three stages, cancer may develop. Liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma, affects approximately 4% of patients with cirrhosis. A liver transplant is one of the options for treating liver cancer.

Liver Disease Stages

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Fatty Liver Diet - Do's and Don'ts to Get Rid of Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

In her e-book, the "Fatty Liver Diet Guide", veteran liver nurse, Dorothy Spencer, tells us:
"Fatty Liver is not life threatening, but it has a high tendency to advance into more dangerous liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer of the liver and the worst-case condition which is hepatic necrosis."

She goes on to emphasize the importance of regulating your food intake with a highly nutritious diet focused on weight loss. 

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a complex health problem that may worsen by a high-fat or high-carbohydrate diet, obesity, type 2 diabetes (diabetes milletus), insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and metabolic disorders.

By far, the most important things to consider for reversing fatty liver are nutritional changes and weight loss. The best diet plan for getting rid of a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) will focus on giving you correct nutritional guidance and helpful advice that is easy to follow.

Here are some "Do's and Don'ts" to think about when planning your fatty liver diet. These tips are aimed at bringing down excess fat in your liver and incorporating these changes into your daily diet and lifestyle:
Do eat vitamin particularly foods that are high in vitamin C, vitamin E, and B-complex vitamins. Do eat mineral rich foods, especially foods that are high folic acid (folic acid), manganese, and selenium. Do avoid compulsive eating by sticking to a balanced diet. Do eat small meals throughout the day, rather than only a couple of big meals. Don't eat meals late in the evening, eat more of your meals earlier in the day. Don't eat high-fat foods, especially saturated fats. Don't consume too much alcoholic beverages or high sugar beverages like energy drinks and soft drink. Do workout on a regular basis to lose weight slowly, inch by inch. Don't try "lose it all at once" weight-loss methods as these can be harsh on your liver. Don't eat red meat, ham, pork or fried foods. Do eat lean white meats, including chicken, turkey and fish. Do eat extra servings of veggies every day, especially fresh vegetables and leafy vegetables. Don't eat simple carbohydrates, which include white refined sugar, candy and sugary desserts. Do eat fresh fruits every day, in particular citrus fruits and lemons. Do eat complex carbohydrates, such as brown rice, beans, and whole grain cereals. Do eat foods that are high in fiber such as oats, bran cereals, and whole wheat breads.

Fatty Liver Diet - Do's and Don'ts to Get Rid of Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

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How Does Alcohol Lead to Liver Disease?

In order to understand how alcohol leads to liver disease, you must first understand the function of the liver and alcohol's effects on this function. The liver helps your body break down fat and protein compounds by producing bile which enters the stomach to help the digestive process. It also helps to remove poisons and toxins which enter your body, including alcohol. When you consume alcohol, it is absorbed into the bloodstream through your stomach and intestines. All of the blood from your stomach and intestines then passes through the liver for cleaning before it is circulated around your entire body. However, your liver can only clean a certain amount of alcohol per hour. Therefore, if you consume alcohol faster than your liver can process it, your blood alcohol content level rises.

Consuming too much alcohol can lead to various different liver conditions, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and fatty liver. These conditions can occur together in the same person, at the same time. Fatty liver is the beginning of hepatitis, in which a large fat build up occurs in the liver of people who drink heavily. By its self, the condition is not really serious and usually reverses its self. However, continued drinking can lead to hepatitis. Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver. There are mild to severe cases of hepatitis, with the most severe sometimes causing liver failure, blood clotting problems, coma, and even death. Cirrhosis is the most severe condition of the three, in which regular liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. Scar tissue development is gradual and usually occurs in heavy drinkers of more than ten years. If enough scar tissue develops, it can lead to liver failure and perhaps even death. The scarring of Cirrhosis is usually permanent and cannot be fixed by any current medical procedures.

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How Does Alcohol Lead to Liver Disease?

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Is Alcoholism A Disease?

If you were to ask any person who is an alcoholic if they have a disease, they will not hesitate to tell you that no, they do not. Now ask any recovering alcoholic if they have a disease and without a moments hesitation they will tell you yes.

There is much debate amongst people if alcoholism is a disease or not. It doesn't fit the mold of a disease and most of the time we deny it exists. Even though alcoholism has been recognized by the medical community as a chronic, progressive and even fatal disease, those who suffer from it sometimes refuse to admit they have a disease. Even though alcoholism has some of the same characteristics of diseases. Alcoholism has a predictable course just like any other disease and comes with recognized symptoms also.

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So what is alcoholism? The most simple way to put it is that alcoholism is a mental obsession that causes a physical compulsion to drink alcohol. A alcoholic has no control over his urge to drink and the only way to stop that urge is to take a drink. Alcoholism also progresses overtime. You don't start out automatically drinking 10 drinks a day, instead you start off with maybe 2 drinks, and then 2 becomes 3 drinks and so on. This happens slowly sometimes over the course of a few years and more often than not, you will never even realize when alcohol has taken over your life.

Many people are hesitant to call alcoholism a disease because the cause of the disease is alcohol dependence. It is not a germ or anything invades your body. Some could argue that alcohol is a toxin that enters your body and causes the disease. Not everyone buys that though. To some of us alcoholism might just be an excuse to drink.

However the medical field feels differently. Some doctors have begun to refer to alcoholism as "alcohol dependence syndrome". Many also state that it is a progressive disease and moves through stages. There is an early stage, which is when it might take only one or two drinks to get the cravings to stop. As it moves into the middle stage it takes more drinks to stop the cravings. Alcohol begins to have more control in the middle stages of alcoholism. Finally in end stage alcoholism, an alcoholic has no control over his or her own life. Alcohol is calling the shots. Most alcoholics do not even know that they lost control as time goes on. This is why denial is a symptom that almost all alcoholics suffer from.

Doctors can diagnose alcoholism after a full exam that includes a behavioral evaluation and a medical evaluation. A behavioral evaluation will look at your history, drinking patterns and even environmental issues like your stress level to determine what your alcohol use is. A medical evaluation is when your doctor will look for physical symptoms of alcohol dependence. You might be submitted to tests to see if there is any neurological damage or any damage done to your organs.

Just as with many diseases, alcoholism can be treated and managed but there is no cure for it. You can not say you were an alcoholic but rather you are a recovering alcoholic.

Is Alcoholism A Disease?

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Chronic Liver Disease and Disability

Chronic liver disease is often used to describe several types of progressive liver problems that often involve the destruction of vital liver tissues and cause serious problems to a person's health. People who suffer from the diseases may find it difficult to work and adequately perform other necessary life functions. Individuals who are suffering from various liver diseases may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.

Disability benefits exist to support individuals suffering from serious injuries, illness, or diseases that may prevent them from working and earning enough money to support themselves and their dependents. Liver diseases are often progressive diseases that may last a long time and can cause serious health problems for the rest of the person's life.

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Diseases often include:

· Cirrhosis
· Cancer of the liver
· Hepatitis B
· Hepatitis C
· Alcoholic liver disease
· Epstein Barr virus
· Fatty liver disease

Although specific symptoms may be unique to each individual, some common symptoms that individuals suffering from liver disease experience include:

· Nausea
· Fatigue
· Appetite loss
· Abdominal pain
· Thirst/dry mouth

People afflicted with diseases known to be chronic and long-lasting may want to consider filing for disability benefits, especially if the symptoms of the disease make it difficult for the person to execute the required daily duties of his or her profession.

Filing for disability benefits often requires organization on the part of the applicant. Applicants suffering from chronic liver disease should make sure to keep all medical records, employment history, and financial statements well-organized and in a safe place. Applicants may consider hiring an experienced Social Security disability attorney to help guide them through the process and help represent them at any required disability hearings.

Occasionally, applicants may find that their initial claim has been denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA). If your application for disability benefits has been denied, you have the right to appeal the administration's decision and may still be able to prove your case. It may be helpful to appeal a decision promptly after receiving notice, and it is important to not get discouraged and keep pursuing benefits if needed.

Chronic Liver Disease and Disability

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Alcoholic Liver Disease - Beyond Mere Alcoholism

Liver transplants are a politically super-charged issue, as who gets on the list, who gets to the top of the list and who gets the benefits of a liver transplant are questions people ask, and sometimes the answers to those questions are infuriating.

The CBS news magazine show 60 Minutes ran a story about Japanese mobsters coming to the U.S. for liver transplants at UCLA Medical Center. The fact that these criminal gang leaders could put million in cash down on the table might have had something to do with it. Gee, do you think? Even the iconic baseball hero, Mickey Mantle, got some bad press when he went to the top of the list.

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Money, invariably in America, plays are greater role in determining care than any other issue. It's political more than medical.

One of the reasons there is so much political argument is because 75% of liver disease is entirely avoidable. There are three alcohol-related liver conditions. The first is a fatty liver, which can be completely reversed if the person doesn't drink anymore.

Fatty liver is not necessarily a trigger for disease. However, if the person insists on drinking, the fatty liver can progress into alcoholic hepatitis, a chronic inflammation of the liver. People develop a fever, jaundice and abdominal pain. This is not to be confused with other abdominal conditions, such as cholecystitis, which is gall bladder inflammation. Alcoholic hepatitis can also be confused with pancreatitis or even appendicitis. The reason it is important to diagnose the situation properly is due to the fact that persons with alcoholic hepatitis do not do well following surgery. Appendicitis and pancreatitis call for surgical intervention. Alcoholic hepatitis can be reversed with abstinence, but it can also be fatal.

Cirrhosis is the most serious form of alcoholic liver disease and occurs when scare tissue on the liver develops to the point where blood no longer flows through the vessels. The liver actually shrinks and becomes hard. It's function is destroyed. Transplant is the only treatment for this condition. While it is understood that there might be a progression, from the fatty liver to alcoholic hepatitis to cirrhosis, the end condition, cirrhosis, can occur without going through the other stages. Alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis are common causes of death in severe alcoholics.

The alcohol and drug addiction-related liver diseases can also be a step to the development of liver cancer. In alcoholics, the sheer amount of alcohol can contribute to the development of cancer. Hepititis B Virus (HBV) and Hepititis C Virus (HCV) are the two leading causes of liver cancer worldwide. Hepatitis C is a serious concern for drug users who inject their substance of choice. This disease is often caused by dirty needles, and infection rates are very high. Again, this is avoidable. Some communities have a needle exchange program, just to attempt to prevent the spread of Hepatitis C. Once the liver has failed, patients must have a transplant or they will die. Human nature goes both ways on this issue. People will say "too bad, but you did it to yourself," while others look at the same situation with compassion and a desire to help. This is an emotionally-charged issue.

Of the people who receive transplants, nearly 50% of them use some alcohol, and as many as 10% of the transplant recipients are addictive drinkers. If this is the case, those who screen applicants for liver transplants understandably have the difficult task of sorting through the candidates and determining who is likely to receive the greatest benefit from the procedure. If one is to continue drinking heavily, regardless of the consequences, the transplant will only delay the inevitable. The best candidate is the one who does not have that issue. Again, the other 50% of transplant patients are not drug and alcohol abusers.

Once an alcoholic has been selected to receive a liver, there really is not a standard therapy to follow, other than abstinence. Drug users, who are on methadone treatments and can avoid using, are likely to do well. Aside from the liver issues, there are other factors that can be used to determine success rates, such as use of tobacco and dietary habits.

When a liver transplant is necessary, ScienceDaily reported that only 6% of former alcoholics and 4% of former drug addicts will relapse following a transplant. This is an encouraging statistic, but it depends on the individual's willingness to abstain from alcohol and drugs. There are those who will view that as an injustice and argue that it is not fair. However, the numbers tell a compelling story. Drug and alcohol liver disease can be reversed, with abstinence, if diagnosed early enough. In those cases, the only injustice is what we do to ourselves.

Alcoholic Liver Disease - Beyond Mere Alcoholism

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Fatty Liver Disease Treatment

The appropriate treatment for fatty liver disease depends on what is causing it. It is a condition that is reversible if treated at an early stage. People who have this condition have fat in their liver cells. It can be seen in people who ingest a lot of alcohol or people who are obese.

There is not one routine treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Doctors work to treat the cause. If the cause is obesity, doctors work with the patient to lose weight through changes in diet, exercise, weight loss surgery or medications. It is also important to refrain from alcohol.

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Alcoholic fatty liver disease is the second type. Symptoms may include: weight loss, fatigue, or pain in the upper right stomach. There may be no symptoms at all. The majority of people in the United States who abuse alcohol end up with this condition. The liver ends up enlarged which causes discomfort. Quitting drinking is the first step of treating the alcoholic version of this disease. Continued alcohol use can lead to advanced diseases. Advanced diseases include alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Treatments that are appropriate for this disease caused by obesity are also appropriate for the disease that is induced by alcohol use.

Eating healthy, losing weight, and exercising are good for both forms of fatty liver disease as well as for overall health. It is important to get routine checkups with a medical doctor because that is the most common way this disease is found. A fatty liver may show up on x-rays or ultrasounds and may be confirmed with a biopsy. After anesthesia, a doctor removes a tiny part of the liver which is looked at under a microscope. The doctor looks for inflammation, signs of fat, and damage. The diagnosis is fatty liver if inflammation and damage are not present.

Treating fatty liver disease is important because not treating it can cause liver problems to get worse. The liver has many functions that are very important to the body. Here is a list of some of the things the liver does: it produces substances that break down fat, produces cholesterol, filters harmful things from the blood, and makes certain amino acids. That is why it is very important to make sure the liver remains healthy.

For more useful information on this subject go to http://fattyliverdiseasediet.org/

Fatty Liver Disease Treatment

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Drug-Induced Liver Disease

The liver is the organ that is responsible for a variety of functions of the human body, including removal of toxins and filtration of waste products. The liver has many enzymes that aid in drug metabolism. With increasing use of various drugs, drug-induced liver disease has become quite common. Symptoms may or may not be similar to other liver diseases. When the symptoms are similar, it becomes difficult to understand whether the symptoms have been caused by disease or drugs. Drug-induced liver disease can be classified as predictable and unpredictable.

Predictable Drug-induced Liver Disease

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Intrinsic drug reactions can cause liver damage. Predictable drug-induced liver disease is related to the dosage of drugs that cause liver injury. Certain drugs, when taken in excessive amounts, have toxic effects on the liver. This kind of liver disease can be treated easily upon careful examination of the patient's drug history. Toxic doses of acetaminophen that result in hepatocellular necrosis is the most frequently recorded case of drug induced liver failure. Other drugs that cause different liver diseases are amiodarone, bromfenac, tetracycline, niacin, cyclosporine, and certain oral contraceptives.

Unpredictable Drug-induced Liver Disease.

Idiosyncratic drug reactions can cause liver injury. This type of drug reaction occurs mostly in persons who cannot tolerate a particular drug. Use of one particular drug may cause liver disease only in a fraction of individuals. It is not related to dosage, i.e., even small amounts of the drug can cause adverse reactions and are usually due to some genetic disorder. Enzymes required to metabolize certain drugs may not be present in liver cells causing damage to the liver. Isoniazid and diclofenac may cause hepatocellular necrosis. Drugs like chlorpromazine and estrogen may cause cholestasis. Use of certain oral contraceptives and anabolic steroids may result in hepatic or liver tumor.

Toxicity of the drug administered is determined and methods are then adopted to detoxify the patients suffering from drug induced liver disease.

Drug-Induced Liver Disease

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Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver is a condition in which fat accumulates in the liver cells. However simple fatty liver does not damage the liver. Fat accumulation in the liver can be caused by weight gain or diabetes mellitus. Fatty liver can occur with a lean diet and ailments such as tuberculosis and intestinal bypass surgery for obesity. It can also occur while certain drugs like corticosteroids. The condition is also caused by heavy alcohol use. A patient is diagnosed as having a fatty liver when fat makes up at least 10% of the liver.

Fatty food does not cause a fatty liver. It is a common condition that is seen in people who are overweight or suffer from diabetes. Explanations for a fatty liver include the transfer of fat from other parts of the body, or a spurt in the extraction of fat presented to the liver from the intestine. Another argument is that the fat accumulates because the liver is unable to change it into a form that can be removed.

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Fatty liver is diagnosed by eliminating the chances of chronic liver disease, particularly from alcohol abuse. Images of the liver obtained through an ultrasound test, a CT scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can diagnose a fatty liver. In an ultrasound test, a fatty liver produces a bright image in a ripple pattern. A CT scan will show a picture in which the liver will appear less dense than normal.

The treatment of fatty liver is linked with the cause. A simple fatty liver does not need treatment, because it does not damage the liver cells. Overweight patients with fatty liver will have to reduce their weight. Control of diabetes also decreases the fat content in the liver.

Another condition that causes fat deposit in the liver is the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). But, unlike a simple fatty liver, it causes damage to the liver cells. It is not linked to other causes of chronic liver disease, like hepatitis B and C viruses, autoimmune disorders, alcohol, drug toxicity, and the accumulation of copper (Wilson's Disease) or iron (hemochromatosis).

Fatty Liver Disease

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What Causes Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a range of disease states, from steatosis (fatty liver) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (also called NASH; steatosis with inflammatory changes) followed by progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

The above may mean very little to the average person until you understand what function the liver actually has in your body.

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The liver, believe it or not, is the second largest organ in your body and is located under your rib cage on the right side. The liver takes care of many jobs in your body. Most importantly it processes what we eat and drink into energy and nutrients our body can use. The liver also filters the blood and removes harmful substances from the blood. It breaks down and removes cholesterol and regulates the blood sugar throughout the body.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the build up of fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol. It is normal for the liver to contain some fat. However, if more than 5% - 10% percent of the liver's weight is fat, then it is called a fatty liver (steatosis).

NAFLD tends to develop in people who are overweight or obese or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high triglycerides. Rapid weight loss and poor eating habits also may lead to NAFLD. However, some people develop NAFLD even if they do not have any risk factors. NAFLD affects up to 50% of overweight people in the United States alone and the figures are similar in other westernised states.

In a few of the cases, fatty liver does not cause any harm; however, for some, the long-term presence of fat in the liver leads to inflammation. This is characterised by swelling and tenderness (hepatitis).

As is the case for a large number of diseases our diet plays a very important role. That being said you would think that by simply going on a diet and losing some weight would be enough to reverse NAFLD.

Well yes, a specific diet can reverse fatty liver disease, but a random diet plan will more than likely fail because of the following reasons.

1. The primary source of energy in people is Glycogen (which is a form of carbohydrates)

2. Glycogen is stored in the muscles and once they are full, it is stored in the liver. This means that once the liver is full the body recognizes that it is full of carbohydrates.

3. Body fat is burned only when glycogen from the blood, muscles and finally liver is depleted.

In people with fatty liver, the liver holds on to the carbohydrates in it's tissues and thus imitates a situation where the body is full of carbs. In this situation, the body "thinks" that there is no need to reach for the body fat because it has all the carbs it needs. Therefore a fatty liver can actually prevent you from losing weight.

On very rare occasions it can even result in our body decomposing muscle for energy instead of burning fat. This wreaks havoc in the body of a fatty liver sufferer.

What Causes Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)?

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18 Little Known Facts About Liver Disease

Did you know that 10% of Americans are, or have been affected by a liver, biliary or gallbladder disease? A vast number of the millions of people suffering from liver disease are unaware of the extent to which it truly affects our society. The disease can remain undetected for years without pronounced symptoms. When symptoms do present themselves, they typically include nausea, jaundice, fatigue, depression, reduced libido, muscle aches, and more.

There are numerous misconceptions about the liver. Unbeknownst to some, the liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself, and is responsible for removing toxins from our bodies. Another largely unknown fact is that, even though they may not be alcoholics, social drinkers also run the risk developing alcoholic hepatitis.

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Also cause for some confusion is chronic Hepatitis C infection, one of the leading causes of cirrhosis in the United States. Hepatitis C can be a deadly disease but is not necessarily fatal to all of its carriers, due in large part to the multitude of variables affecting the virus’s path.

Incorporating liver wellness into our daily routines can help prevent liver disease and lead to longer, healthier lives. For example, getting enough sleep and reducing stress can both be instrumental in the healthy upkeep of your liver, as these two factors help strengthen your immune system. Eliminating the consumption of foods that are fried or processed can also impact liver wellness, because both types of food create excessive strain to the liver. Additionally, the antioxidant milk thistle has been clinically proven to dramatically affect the protection of liver cells.

Click here to read this article in its entirety and learn about the magnitude of liver disease, as well as many more interesting facts about your liver, Hepatitis C, and additional suggestions to help maintain your body’s most vital organ.

18 Little Known Facts About Liver Disease

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Cholestatic Liver Disease

The term "cholestasis" literally means "standing still of bile." When the flow of bile in your body is disrupted, anicteric cholestasis levels in the body will rise. Middle-aged women over the age of 40 are the ones who usually suffer from the chronic type of cholestatic liver disease. This type of disease is called "primary biliary cirrhosis."

Diagnosis

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About 90 percent of patients diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis are women over the age of 40. Women living in northern Europe tend to be more susceptible to this disease compared to women in other parts of the world. Women in Japan have the lowest rate of diagnosed cases of this disease.

The diagnosis of cholestatic liver disease is based on a combination of many findings and tests. Some of these factors include findings of cholestatic liver enzymes, a positive anti-mitochondrial antibody, and characteristic liver biopsy. The most common laboratory finding is the detection of elevated serum alkaline phosphates of liver origin. The presence of anti-mitochondrial antibody is the most characteristic laboratory finding in cholestatic liver disease. Over 95 percent of all who suffer from this disease will test positive for anti-mitochondrial antibody.

Signs and Symptoms

Fatigue is the most common symptom of this disorder. Seventy to eighty percent of all the patients suffering from this disease experience this symptom. However, fatigue is generally not an indication of the severity of this disorder. As the disorder progresses, other symptoms may arise, such as hypertension. As the disorder progresses even more, the ability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins will continue to decrease. As the disorder progresses further, autoimmune disorders will begin to develop. For example, a patient with this disease may begin to develop an autoimmune thyroid disease, as well as an inflammatory bowel disease once this disorder is left to progress.

Cholestatic Liver Disease

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