Hepatitis - C and Alcohol Abuse

Considering that more than five million Americans have hepatitis B or C, both illnesses that can destroy the liver and which kill thousands of people each year, it's clear that the little discussed organ's time in the public spotlight has arrived.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne disease, which means that it can be contracted through contact with the blHepatitis-C and alcohol use are the major contributors to this disease. The relationship betweood of an infected person. en drinking alcohol and developing alcoholic hepatitis is not necessarily linear. In some cases, hepatitis becomes chronic and may lead to cirrhosis, (a condition of progressive scarring), which is usually associated with excessive intake of alcohol.

Alcohol

Each day we are exposed to many different toxins (alcohol consumption, sunlight, gas fumes, exercise, performance enhancing drugs, medications, over-the-counter drugs, etc. Chemicals and preservatives in our food, crop spraying, large amounts of caffeine and tannic acids in our drinks,prescription drugs and alcoholic beverages have increased the demand on theliver to detoxify the body.

What are the signs and symptoms of the liver disease alcohol. Signs and symptoms that are common to a number of different alcoholic liver disease types include:

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
Generalized itching
Abdominal pain in the upper right part of the stomach
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Muscle aches and pains
Darkened urine.

When the liver is chronically irritated by alcohol, the body often tries to heal or protect itself by telling specialized cells, called fibroblasts, to produce a tough fiber known as collagen. Make sure your are eating a diet of pure and natural foods while staying away from tobacco, alcohol, coffee, black tea, soda, and fast food. Supplements of B vitamins can support recovery from alcoholism by supporting liver detoxification, which also reduces cravings.


Because the safe level of alcohol consumption is not known, it seems prudent to advise abstinence in the face of chronic liver diseases with the information we now have available. When moderate to heavy alcohol use is present in the face of chronic liver disease, abstinence is likely to be the most important intervention made in prolonging the course and delaying the progression towards cirrhosis. Examples of effective support include Alcoholics Anonymous, in- and out-patient rehabilitation programs and individual counselors.

Liver Detoxification

The liver can become overburdened because it plays important roles in detoxification, hormonal balance, fat regulation, nutrient and enzyme activation, digestion and circulation. Supplements of B vitamins can also help with recovery from alcoholism by supporting liver detoxification and reducing cravings. Deep for Liver, an effective natural liver cleanser, is a part of the a liver detoxification diet that features a balance approach of world-renowned natural liver cleansing herbs such as Milk Thistle extract and Artichoke extract. And drinking plenty of water is essential to detoxification.

Silymarin

Silymarin, the crucial ingredient in the milk thistle plant, strengthens the liver and stimulates new cell growth. Silymarin has been shown to have clinical applications to support various applications of liver health. It acts as a powerful antioxidant to counteract detrimental toxins and free radicals that can potentially harm the liver. Silymarin helps protect liver cells by stabilizing cell membranes while maintaining antioxidant glutathione levels, thereby preventing damaging factors such as leukotrienes and free-radicals from penetrating and adversely affecting liver function. Another benefit of herbal silymarin includes reducing toxin damage from long term exposure to industrial contaminants also appears to be decreased as determined from improved liver functioning of affected patients. For this reason, milk thistle is usually found in a standardized extract form with minimum 80% Silymarin.
There are a number of issues raising awareness of liver health, including the increase in hepatitis. Unlike its cousins hepatitis A and hepatitis B, hepatitis C cannot be prevented by a vaccine. The Silent Killer Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes damage to the liver cells.

Some people live with hepatitis C for many years without knowing it. When people know their hepatitis C status they are able to make lifestyle choices to enhance their health. This may enable them to protect their liver and prevent serious liver damage, and prevent further transmission of the hepatitis C virus to others. Find out more about Hepatitis-C And Alcohol Abuse
Paul Rodgers specializes in marketing natural health and beauty products

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Rodgers

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Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

If you are suffering from pain and discomfort in the rectal area, chances are you are wondering whether or not you have hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids is the most common problem that occurs in the anal region.
It should be noted that if you think you are having a problem with hemorrhoids you should make an appointment to see a doctor.
This is especially important if there is bleeding present, because sometimes these symptoms could be the cause of a different disorder.
For the most part hemorrhoids is just a more annoying condition and not one that is very serious, but it can cause anything from mild discomfort up to severe pain and should be treated promptly when symptoms arise.

The most common symptoms of hemorrhoids are streaks of blood on your stool, or on the toilet paper. When hemorrhoids is the cause of the bleeding it is going to be bright red in color because it is fresh blood.
Also, the bleeding will likely go away fairly quickly - within one or two wipes of toilet paper.
Since hemorrhoids can occur internally or externally you may not actually see any problem on the anus but you will probably feel it. These additional symptoms include anal itching, anal swelling, and a feeling of still being full.
This feeling may present itself as a feeling like you are not done going to the bathroom.

Your treatment options are rather varied if you are suffering from these symptoms. Topical treatments can easily be applied to external hemorrhoids and suppositories can be used for internal ones.
Some natural treatments include the aloe vera plant and the natural astringent witch hazel.

You may also consider taking a sitz bath several times a day, but perhaps the most important improvement should be in your diet.
Hemorrhoids are most commonly caused by constipation and if you concentrate on making your stools softer you will be less likely to suffer in the future.
A stool softener such as Colace can be taken for temporary and fast relief.
However, it is not recommended to continue those kinds of treatments long term. The best long term treatment would be a diet rich in fibrous foods. Also be sure to drink enough fluids throughout the day.

Need to cure your hemorrhoids in 24-48 hours? You can cure your hemorrhoid symptoms fast.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lindsay_Kay

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Ketogenic Epilepsy Diet - Using the Modified Atkins Diet For Seizure Control

A very strict version of ketogenic diet has been used for many years in childhood epilepsy that failed to respond to anti-epileptic drugs. Although the mechanisms are not fully understood, the ketogenesis alters the metabolism of the brain in a way that can reduce the risk of seizures. However, this treatment for epilepsy fell out of favour over the years due to difficulty in keeping to the diet and concerns about cholesterol levels.

A new trial conducted in the UK in 2008 confirmed that a ketogenic high-fat diet can indeed significantly reduce the number of seizures in epilepsy and rekindled interest in its use. The concerns about cholesterol levels have now been shown to be groundless, so that is no longer an issue. Researchers have also discovered that the anti-seizure effect still occurs when a less strict version of the ketogenic 'epilepsy diet' is used, which means that the diet is not so difficult to follow.

Epilepsy consultant Dr Eric Kossoff has been very active in this area of research, and has shown that the traditional ketogenic diet for epilepsy is needlessly restrictive. He uses a modified version of the Atkins Diet (10 g rather than 20 g of carbohydrates for the first few months). He has also found that epileptic kids don't need to start off with a fast, so no initial hospitalization is needed, and their carers can more or less just get the Atkins book and follow it (under the epilepsy consultant's supervision). This, together with the increased availability of low carbohydrate substitutes for making bread and other foods hitherto off-limits on the ketogenic epilepsy diet, should make life much easier for epileptics and those who cook for them.

As Dr Kossoff wrote in The Lancet, 'Only a decade ago the ketogenic diet was seen as a last resort; however, it has become more commonly used in academic centres throughout the world even early in the course of epilepsy. The Atkins diet is a recently used, less restrictive, therapy that also creates ketosis and can lower the number of seizures.'

Dr Kossoff says his 'modified Atkins Diet' version of the epilepsy diet is better than the traditional ketogenic diet because no restrictions are required on fluid, calorie or protein intake. Additionally, there is no need to weigh and measure all foods. Carbohydrate counts are monitored by patients and parents. The diet is also started outside of the hospital, and doesn't require an initial fast, either. Foods can be eaten more freely in restaurants and outside the home. The diet is a 'modified' Atkins diet as it allows for less carbohydrates than traditional Atkins (10-20g/day) and more strongly encourages fat intake.

Good results have also been reported by some consultants who start the ketogenic epilepsy diet with a very low level of carbs and then increase it after a few months.

The discovery that the ketogenic epilepsy diet does not need to be as restrictive as originally thought is great news for epileptics. Even better, thanks to the explosion in popularity of the Atkins and other ketogenic diets for weight loss purposes, epileptics should have no difficulty in finding the recipes, cookbooks and substitute ingredients they need to follow the ketogenic epilepsy diet.

Copyright 2009 GoodDietGoodHealth.com

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Acid Reflux Symptoms - Could You Have Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux symptoms can sometimes be confused for symptoms of another condition, even possibly a heart attack. How do you know if you really have reflux/GERD and not something else? In this article, I'll describe to you the classical symptoms of acid reflux.

Heartburn

This is the number one symptom of this condition. The name is a bit of a misnomer because it has nothing to do with your heart - only that the pain is usually felt in the rough location of the heart.

As acid enters your esophagus, you can feel a burning sensation that can be felt anywhere from the centre of your chest and upwards as far as the throat.

A real heart attack is much more painful and feels as if someone or something is crushing your chest. Heartburn never feels anywhere near this severe, although it is still a painful nuisance.

Regurgitation

Some people experience regurgitation of the acid into their mouth where it can be detected as an unpleasant taste. If this frequently happens then it can even lead to acid erosion of the enamel on the teeth.

Difficulty Swallowing

Some people experience difficulty passing food from the mouth to the stomach. This is not a common symptom.

Belching Or Burping

Excess gas is not an uncommon symptom. However, it can also be indicative of a stomach ulcer. This is one reason why an endoscopy may be required to rule out an ulcer.

Hoarse Voice

Rarely, the acid can affect the vocal chords and make the voice change with time.

What To Do

If you have any of these symptoms you should tell your doctor and he can help diagnose if you have acid reflux or not. If you do, then I recommend you learn as much as you can about your condition to find a treatment that you agree with and are happy with.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Wilkins

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Heartburn During Pregnancy - Why Do You Get Refluxed Acid When You Are Expecting?

Heartburn during pregnancy is actually a common condition. The goods news is that it usually passes although in some cases it can remain after childbirth. In this article, I'll tell you exactly why you can get heartburn during pregnancy and what you can do about it.

Understand Your Anatomy

When you swallow food it passes down a long pipe called the esophagus. This connects to the top of the stomach via a "trap door" called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

The LES remains shut at all times unless food is passing from the end of the esophagus and into the stomach. In people with heartburn, there can be an abnormality with the LES.

Why Do You Get Heartburn During Pregnancy?

When you are pregnant, the foetus and extra body fat exerts pressure on your stomach and this flexes or "distends" it. When this happens, the lower esophageal sphincter does not work any more as it should.

Instead of remaining closed most of the time, the LES is more likely to stay open. Acid can escape the stomach and enter the esophagus. When this happens you can feel it as a burning sensation that we all call heartburn.

The goods news is that heartburn passes quickly after childbirth. There are also a number of things that you can do to ease the symptoms until then.

Drugs

One option is drugs. You can only get these from your doctor and you should tell him that you are expecting a baby. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies recommend that you can take proton pump inhibitor drugs such as omeprazole because studies appear to show no ill effects to the foetus.

Natural Remedies

There are also a number of natural remedies that you can try such as aloe vera juice.

The question you must ask yourself is "do you really trust that drugs will not harm your baby?"

Some doctors will advise against any taking any drugs during pregnancy unless your life is threatened. If you take the same view then you may want to stick to natural methods.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Wilkins

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