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Gallbladder: What is it? And what does it do? Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In this current series we have mostly focused on liver and kidney health. In this blog we will be taking a left turn and focusing on the gallbladder since the overall health …
Hepatitis Part 2
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
In our last blog on this topic, we began with some background information such as just what is hepatitis? What causes hepatitis? And what are the symptoms you might experience with hepatitis? If you haven’t read the first part of this 2-part blog series on hepatitis I’d suggest reading that part first. So, moving on let’s get into important lab testing.
What lab tests can help to rule out or even diagnosis hepatitis? To start with your doctor will perform a physical exam. This may include pressing against your abdomen to determine if there is any swelling or pain in the liver. The doctor will also check for any signs of jaundice. In addition to a physical exam the doctor will ask important questions about our health, including your alcohol intake. Blood tests can help evaluate liver function and even determine if there is an infection. (1) Blood work can help differentiate between alcohol induced hepatitis and other types of hepatitis because in alcohol induced hepatitis there is usually an elevation of AST and ALT is normal. This is the opposite of other liver disorders. Another blood test for alcohol induced hepatitis is carbohydrate- deficient transferrin. The latest studies have found that CRP is a good marker of alcohol induced hepatitis. (2) An ultrasound can help confirm if the liver is showing signs of inflammation. There are some doctors who will suggest transient elastography which is an advanced imaging test. Other tests the doctor may recommend include an MRI, CT scan and liver biopsy. (1) As a PSA I want to emphasize how important it is to be honest about your alcohol intake. Being honest will help to narrow down what is going on and lead to the correct diagnosis and even treatment faster. At the end of the day your doctor wants to help you. Being honest helps give them the tools they need to do so.
Moving on, what are the risk factors for developing hepatitis? The risk factors for developing hepatitis include exposure to the virus. Alcohol induced hepatitis can be a result of long-term exposure to alcohol or heavy alcohol intake. For more information on how one can become infected with Hep A, B, C please see Allie Might’s blog “Hepatitis – The types, the support and can it be prevented?” General health risks that increase the risk of developing hepatitis include not being vaccinated, having a virus associated with hepatitis (for example EBV), having an autoimmune disorder, or being born to a mother who has contracted viral hepatitis. Remember only viral hepatitis is contagious since it’s actually the virus that then triggers the hepatitis that is spread and not the actual diagnosis of hepatitis or liver inflammation. In addition to viral and alcohol exposure other risk factors can include working around chemicals, drinking or eating unsafe food and even taking certain medications. (3) Risk factors for hepatitis can also include having hyperlipidemia, being overweight or obese and even having high blood sugar. Lastly, having high blood pressure is also a risk. (4)
There can be some dangerous complications, so I’ll review those right now. Hepatitis can lead to portal hypertension which can lead to enlarged veins. These enlarged veins (varices) can eventually rupture and can cause dangerous bleeding. Long term hepatitis can also lead to cirrhosis. Please see my 2-part blog series on this topic for more information! Chronic hepatitis can also lead to liver cancer and even liver failure. (4)
So what can you do to help reduce the risk of hepatitis?
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Hepatox Hx Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Invite Health has quite a selection of nutrients that are good for both our liver and kidneys. One such item is called Hepatox. It has a funny name I know but this particular supplement is a combination of …
What exactly is Liver Cirrhosis? Part 2 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND This is part 2 of our discussion on cirrhosis. If you haven’t read the first part I suggest you do that first since it will contain important background information. In this blog I …
What exactly is Liver Cirrhosis?
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
In my experience as a Naturopath cirrhosis of the liver is one of the most confusing disorders that people can experience. What exactly even is cirrhosis? What cause’s it? What are the symptoms one might experience? What are the possible complications? And lastly what steps can be taken to reduce the risk factors for cirrhosis and improve liver health? It’s a lot to talk about so I will be breaking this into 2 parts. This is so it doesn’t become too overwhelming.
Basically cirrhosis is severe scarring of the liver. When the cells of the liver are damaged for any reason the cells will try to repair themselves. Unfortunately in this process scar tissue forms. This scaring, or cirrhosis makes it hard for the liver to do its job well. (1) In a way it’s like when you get a scar on your skin after an injury. The skin is never quite the same. Well in this case the scar tissue that replaces the healthy liver tissue doesn’t have the same properties or abilities as a healthy liver. Thus as the cirrhosis, or scar tissue progresses (or takes over more of the liver) there is less and less healthy liver to do its job and thus symptoms get worse. Please take a look at the attached picture. (2)
So just what can cause this scarring of the liver, or cirrhosis? Well as I said anything that damages the liver can lead to cirrhosis. As I said in my blog on fatty liver have NAFLD is a possible cause of cirrhosis. Please read my blog for suggestions to help reduce the risk of fatty liver! Having a history of hepatitis, either viral or autoimmune can lead to cirrhosis. Other chronic conditions that can lead to cirrhosis include hemochromatosis, cystic fibrosis, Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, glycogen storage disease and Alagille syndrome. Wilson’s disease can also lead to cirrhosis. Certain diseases that affect our gallbladder can also lead to cirrhosis. Certain infections other than hepatitis can also lead to cirrhosis. These include syphilis. Lastly certain medications can increase your risk of developing cirrhosis. If you have any concerns about your medications it is always important to talk to your doctor. (1)
Cirrhosis is considered to be a progressive condition that worsens over time. As the disease progresses the symptoms will become worse. The reason for this is because over time more and more of the liver is replaced with that scar tissue thus as I said there is less of the healthy liver available to do its job. Please see the attached picture. (3)
As for lab work I will refer you to my blog on this topic. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me and I will be happy to review your blood work! Now just what are they signs of liver cirrhosis? Well you may notice you feel fatigue. You may notice the development of spider veins as well as bruising and easy bleeding. You may start to feel nausea which can reduce appetite and even lead to weight loss. Your skin may become itchy. There may be a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (this is jaundice) and redness in the palms of the ands. There may be edema/ swelling in the legs, feet or ankles. There may be ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen). Changes in the nails can include becoming a pale color and clubbing or roundness to the nail. (1) Later stages may include confusion, disorientation and even mood changes. There may be changes to your urine and feces in color and there may even be blood in your stool. There may also be blood in your vomit. You may develop motor dysfunctions such as tremors. You may notice that you have difficulty with digesting fats. Women may experience menstrual cycle disruptions and men may experience enlarged breast tissue and shrunken testes. Lastly in the long run there may be low urine output and even shortness of breath. (3)
In our next blog we will talk about complications of cirrhosis and even review some things that can help with overall liver health. These nutrients will include Milk Thistle, NAC and even surprisingly Turmeric!
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