Mar
18
Cirrhosis
March 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The most common result of cirrhosis of liver is the hardening and scarring of liver cells. The scarred tissue renders the liver unable to function properly, since movement of blood through the liver is impaired. Excessive alcohol consumption is the most common cause of cirrhosis. A less frequent but significant cause is the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Chronic inflammation and malnutrition can also contribute to liver malfunction.
Symptoms of cirrhosis of liver in the early stages may include:
* diarrhea or constipation
* enlarged liver
* fatigue
* fever
* generalised itching
* poor appetite and weight loss
* swelling of the abdomen and legs
* vomiting
In the latter stages of cirrhosis, you may develop anaemia, dark bruises due to bleeding under the skin, jaundice, and oedema. Strangely, you may not experience any symptoms with the most common cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, as symptoms may develop quite slowly.
As the cirrhosis of liver develops, the liver’s functioning starts to degenerate. This can lead to:
* Portal hypertension or high blood pressure in the veins connecting the liver with the digestive system. This may lead to thinning and eventual rupturing of the blood vessel walls, especially in the oesophagus and stomach.
* Ascites, or abdominal fluid build-up, or oedema, fluid accumulation in the legs or feet. Severe ascites will press upon the diaphragm, making breathing difficult, and can result in blood poisoning.
* Kidney failure, which often follows liver disease or is the result of it.
* Encephalopathy may develop when toxins usually filtered out by the liver from the blood are no longer eliminated. When the toxins arrive at the brain, they may cause anxiousness, drowsiness, disorientation, or coma.
Once you develop cirrhosis of liver, it becomes a permanent condition. But you can slow its progress by total abstinence from alcohol, changing your diet to include whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and making sure any drugs you are taking will not damage the liver.
Dietary Guidelines
* Avoid animal protein consumption. Get your dietary protein from vegetable sources.
* Change your diet to contain 75 percent raw foods. If cirrhosis is severe, go on a diet consisting only of fresh vegetables and fruits, or their juices, for two weeks.
* Eat foods with high vitamin K content, such as alfalfa sprouts and green leafy vegetables. Cirrhosis patients often lack vitamin K.
* Obtain your dietary fats only from cold-pressed vegetable oils. It is best to consume these as salad dressings and other uncooked forms.
* Keep your colon clean with adequate fibre intake. Toxins filtered out by the liver must be excreted via the colon and kidneys.
* Do not take prescription or over-the-counter drugs unless they are prescribed by your doctor. Some over-the-counter products contain propylene glycol, a form of alcohol which may cause liver problems.
* Do not drink alcohol in any form, and avoid smoking, including second-hand smoke if you have cirrhosis of liver. –>
Jan
24
Cirrhosis
January 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The most common result of cirrhosis of liver is the hardening and scarring of liver cells. The scarred tissue renders the liver unable to function properly, since movement of blood through the liver is impaired. Excessive alcohol consumption is the most common cause of cirrhosis. A less frequent but significant cause is the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Chronic inflammation and malnutrition can also contribute to liver malfunction.
Symptoms of cirrhosis of liver in the early stages may include:
* diarrhea or constipation
* enlarged liver
* fatigue
* fever
* generalised itching
* poor appetite and weight loss
* swelling of the abdomen and legs
* vomiting
In the latter stages of cirrhosis, you may develop anaemia, dark bruises due to bleeding under the skin, jaundice, and oedema. Strangely, you may not experience any symptoms with the most common cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, as symptoms may develop quite slowly.
As the cirrhosis of liver develops, the liver’s functioning starts to degenerate. This can lead to:
* Portal hypertension or high blood pressure in the veins connecting the liver with the digestive system. This may lead to thinning and eventual rupturing of the blood vessel walls, especially in the oesophagus and stomach.
* Ascites, or abdominal fluid build-up, or oedema, fluid accumulation in the legs or feet. Severe ascites will press upon the diaphragm, making breathing difficult, and can result in blood poisoning.
* Kidney failure, which often follows liver disease or is the result of it.
* Encephalopathy may develop when toxins usually filtered out by the liver from the blood are no longer eliminated. When the toxins arrive at the brain, they may cause anxiousness, drowsiness, disorientation, or coma.
Once you develop cirrhosis of liver, it becomes a permanent condition. But you can slow its progress by total abstinence from alcohol, changing your diet to include whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and making sure any drugs you are taking will not damage the liver.
Dietary Guidelines
* Avoid animal protein consumption. Get your dietary protein from vegetable sources.
* Change your diet to contain 75 percent raw foods. If cirrhosis is severe, go on a diet consisting only of fresh vegetables and fruits, or their juices, for two weeks.
* Eat foods with high vitamin K content, such as alfalfa sprouts and green leafy vegetables. Cirrhosis patients often lack vitamin K.
* Obtain your dietary fats only from cold-pressed vegetable oils. It is best to consume these as salad dressings and other uncooked forms.
* Keep your colon clean with adequate fibre intake. Toxins filtered out by the liver must be excreted via the colon and kidneys.
* Do not take prescription or over-the-counter drugs unless they are prescribed by your doctor. Some over-the-counter products contain propylene glycol, a form of alcohol which may cause liver problems.
* Do not drink alcohol in any form, and avoid smoking, including second-hand smoke if you have cirrhosis of liver. –>
