Jaundice: Widely misunderstood due to liver’s regen capacity

The liver has enormous capacity to regenerate unlike many other organs. As long as people do not damage it with alcohol, hepatotoxic drugs, etc., the jaundice infection comes as a mild infection and subsides on its own even without medication, says Dr R Surendran, MIOT Hospital, Chennai.

Jaundice in India is so widely misunderstood because of the regenerating capacity of the liver. Sometimes jaundice in mild form resolves on its own without any treatment. This is the reason for the misunderstanding, said Dr R Surendran, director of hepato-pancreato-biliary centre for surgery and transplantation, MIOT Hospital, Chennai, in an interview with Sinduja Jane. Edited excerpts:

Why is jaundice so widely misunderstood in India?

Jaundice is so widely misunderstood because of its presentation. On one side it may be mild like in the case of hepatitis A virus infection which sometimes goes unnoticed or becomes alright with simple measures like rest, food, maintaining hygiene etc. In some cases it may be very serious like protracted illness due to hepatitis B and C infection or use of psychedelic drugs.

Can jaundice infections lead to liver damage?

Jaundice, the yellow colouration of the sclera of the eye in the mild form, is more often self-limiting, while yellow colouration of skin and the deep colouration of the sclera often needs attention. The mild form of jaundice is caused by infectious liver diseases like viral infections with hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses. Hepatitis A and B virus infections can be prevented by taking vaccines. Infections like C, D and E can be prevented by hand hygiene and avoiding exposure to the body fluids of the infected patients. 

The liver has enormous capacity to regenerate unlike many other organs. As long as people do not damage it with alcohol, hepatotoxic drugs, etc., the jaundice infection comes as a mild infection and subsides on its own even without medication.  Though hep A virus causes mostly self limiting disease, the B and C viruses are dangerous and lead on to chronic liver diseases, fibrosis and later cirrhosis and cancer. It can be prevented by vaccines, early detection and treatment. 

Are protein restriction, bland diets advised in liver disease?

Absolute protein restriction and bland diets are no longer advised. In fact, the patient needs protein which can be easily digestible and does not stress the liver. It is advised to take plant protein and milk animal protein, and avoid red meat etc. High protein intake was believed to be detrimental as it liberates high volumes of ammonia, which again has to be cleared by the liver. But the present consensus is to give easily assimilable protein, mostly plant based and eggs to avoid breakdown of muscle protein which is more harmful.

How to protect the liver and keep it healthy?

To protect the liver one needs to avoid alcohol in any form and drugs that are toxic to the liver. Healthy diet and exercise are advised to avoid fatty liver, while obesity is really a cause of concern these days. 

When does one reach the liver transplant stage?

Liver transplant may be required to save the patient in severe acute liver failure and late stages of chronic liver disease (cirrhosis) due to various causes.

Does liver disease only affect alcoholics?

The liver does not get affected only in alcoholics. Poor dietary habits, obesity, hormonal problems can lead to fatty liver and become a serious problem. Use of contaminated syringes can also lead to hepatitis B and C, and HIV infections.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for food, medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Home Remedies to Help Prevent Liver Disease

Located just below our right-hand rib cage, our liver plays a crucial role in many essential bodily functions of the body, such as producing bile that reduces the amount of fat in the body. It maintains our sugar, fat and iron levels, and is also involved in the production of protein.

Liver diseases are a group of disorders, infections and medical conditions that affect the liver tissue and its structure, and may cause damage or stop its functioning altogether. 

 

Common Symptoms of Liver Disease:​ 

• Yellowing of the skin 

• Fever

• Upper right side abdominal tenderness 

• Jaundice

 • Dry mouth • Weight gain 

• Dark urine 

• Loss of appetite 

• Vomiting blood 

• Breast development in males 

• Weight loss 

• Enlarged liver 

• Diarrhea 

• Joint aches  

 

 

Main Causes of Liver Disease: 

- Lack of sleep at night (sleeping more in the morning, less at night). 

- High consumption of food in a single sitting. 

- Inability to urinate in the morning. 

 - Consumption of too many artificial preservatives and sweeteners. 

- Consumption of fried food when tired. 

 - Hepatitis A, B or E infection. 

- Autoimmune diseases that attack liver cells and cause inflammation. 

 - Alcohol abuse can directly cause liver inflammation.

Dandelion Root Tea

This is one of the best home remedies for liver disease. You can make tea out of dandelion leaves twice a day. For even better results, you can boil some roots of the dandelion in water. 

 

Milk Thistle 

This remedy can be very effective for dealing with liver disorders. Consume about 850 ml of milk thistle twice a day with food. This will keep your liver in good condition and also supply relief for certain liver problems. Studies have shown that it can be a very effective agent in the fight against liver problems such as cirrhosis, hepatitis (viral), high toxicity and others. 

 

Indian Gooseberry - amla / nellikai

Besides being a fantastic source of vitamin C, which helps keep your liver healthy, it is known that gooseberries help protect your liver. It is recommended to eat about 5-6 raw gooseberries every day or add them to food (salads, for example). Recent studies have shown that consuming the Indian gooseberry leads to an improvement in liver function caused by a normalization of the liver-specific enzyme, alanine transaminase. 

 

Turmeric 

Turmeric, or better yet its active ingredient, curcumin, is well-known for its antioxidant and antiseptic properties. Consuming turmeric or adding it to foods on a regular basis will keep your liver in good condition. Studies have shown that turmeric can protect the liver from the viruses that causes hepatitis A, B and E. You can add it to food, milk or just ingest half a tablespoon of turmeric with one teaspoon of honey once per day.  

 

Papaya Fruit

The papaya fruit is really good at getting rid of liver disorders. It also offers good relief to those who suffer from cirrhosis of the liver. Consume one teaspoon of lemon juice with three teaspoons of papaya juice once a day and repeat for four to six weeks to relieve the condition.

Apple Cider Vinegar

 

This is a cleansing remedy that will help flush out toxins from inside the liver. Drinking it before meals will help you maintain a healthy level of body fat. Take one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and mix it with a glass of water, then add one teaspoon of honey and mix again. Drink this concoction three times a day to really cleanse your liver.

 

 A few more tips for taking care of your liver  

~ Drink green tea every day. It contains catechins that aid the function of the liver. 

 

 ~ Physical activity, even mild, will reduce your toxin levels through perspiration and keep your body fit. 

 

~ Drink a lot of water. It's always a healthy choice and it will flush the toxins out of your system. 

 

 ~ Eating apples and leafy vegetables is a good idea, as they also help flush out toxins from the body. 

 

 ~ Avoid alcohol like the plague.

 

 ~ Avocados and walnuts also offer protection against liver disorders.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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