This symptom in your day-to-day life can be an indicator of a liver problem

Excessive alcohol consumption poses great risk to the liver

Several factors pose risk to the liver health of which excessive alcohol consumption is a prominent one. Alcohol related liver disease, commonly known as ARLD, is the damage caused to the liver due to years and years of continuous and heavy alcohol consumption. This damage leads to a severe condition called Cirrhosis.

​What causes liver disease?

Lifestyle habits like alcohol use, obesity impair the liver's functioning ability. Infections due to viral attacks are also responsible for abnormal functioning of the liver.

Years of alcohol overconsumption can cause inflammation and swelling in the liver leading to a condition called cirrhosis.

In case of an infection or a disease, the liver's basic function like removing toxins from blood, maintaining blood sugar level, production of bile, production of proteins for blood plasma and all other important bodily functions is impaired.

What is that common symptom that can signal a ARLD problem?

Just like every other disease associated with major body organs like heart and brain, liver diseases are not easy to spot initially. They do not show distinct symptoms.

However there are certain effects of these diseases on the day to day activity of the human being once it starts developing in the body. But the effect of these symptoms are so mild and common that it goes unnoticed.

Hard to believe, but brain fog or confusion is associated with ARLD. Periods of confusion, inability to focus on common things, frequent mood changes, poor judgment ability are some of the indications towards a liver issue.

If you are experiencing mood swings and are unable to concentrate on even daily activities, considering your lifestyle habits, it is important to consult a doctor.

What are the other symptoms of liver disease?

The other symptoms that are distinct to liver disease are:

• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Swelling in ankles
• Abdominal swelling
• Loss of appetite
• Yellowish eyes and skin
• Drowsiness
• Vomiting blood
• Passing blood in stools; dark bowel movement
• Increased thirst

​What are the critical complications of ARLD?

Several complications can arise if you have ARLD:

Portal hypertension and varices: Otherwise known as alcoholic hepatitis, this happens when the liver is scarred to a higher extent. At this stage the blood is unable to pass through the liver. As a result of which the blood uses smaller blood vessels to reach the heart; thus weakening the smaller blood vessels which eventually rupture causing bleeding. These blood then come out as vomit or are passed through stools.

Ascites: This is when fluid builds up around the abdomen. While this can be treated, a major problem associated with this is the infection of the fluid which can impair the kidney and can also be fatal.

Hepatic encephalopathy: This happens when the liver is unable to remove toxins from the blood. In this the blood contains a higher amount of toxins as the liver is unable to filter. This requires hospital admission.

What are the risk factors of liver disease?

There are several factors which pose a threat to the normal functioning of the liver. Ranging from genetics to pathogenic attacks, these factors are potentially enough to bring down one of the biggest functioning organs of the body.

The risk factors are:

• Viral attack
• Obesity
• Genetic
• Autoimmune disease
• Fatty accumulation in liver
• Certain medications
• Type 2 diabetes

Regular medical checkups are a must

While it is always said that one should visit doctors and do regular health checkups after a certain age, it is advisable to check every symptom with a doctor.

Do not allow a symptom to go on its own; in that way you are allowing ample time for the disease to grow. Timely medical intervention can save you from the severity of the disease. 

 

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

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Mild Covid side effects: Common long Covid symptoms to watch out for

COVID-19 infections caused by Omicron strain is mostly causing mild symptoms like cough, cold, sore throat, fever, weakness, back pain and headache nowadays and many people may not be following Covid-appropriate behaviour like social distancing, washing hands or wearing masks thinking Covid is now a lot like flu and is no longer a threat. But experts say one should not undermine Covid infection as even those with mild infections are at risk of developing serious long covid complications days, months or even years later.

"Most of the Covid-19 infections now are mild to moderate and self limiting within 5-7 days of self isolation and home management. The Omicron strain causes mild symptoms which are flu-like comprising of cough, cold, sore throat, fever, muscle pain, weakness, back pain and headache. But the people should not undermine this infection, especially the senior citizens with other co-existing health conditions who are at a higher risk of developing long term complications," says Dr Charu Dutt Arora, Infectious Diseases Specialist.

"Even asymptomatic people who did not have symptoms when they were infected can have post Covid complications.

These complications can have different types and combinations of health problems for different lengths of time," says Dr Santosh Jha, Med sup., Consultant Pulmonologist.

What are the common long mild Covid symptoms?

According to Dr Jha, the mild post covid symptoms can include body pain, joints pain or headache, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), mild fever, fatigue, feeling of tiredness or lack of energy, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, coughing or chest pain, new onset diabetes, inability to focus or difficulty thinking or a lack of mental clarity (brain fog), rapid or fast heartbeat (heart palpitations), insomnia, anxiety disorder or depression and dizziness or lightheadedness.

Some of the common long Covid symptoms and complications as per Dr Arora are:

Distorted smell and senses: It is documented worldwide that even mild symptoms convert into long term distortion of smell and taste. Patients can have persisted issues of smell disorder that can result in mood issues, anxiety, appetite problems and other drastic effects.

Brain fogging: Even patients who suffer from mild to moderate self limiting illness can have confusion, decreased attention span, impaired memory and mental fogging for a long time.

Weakness: Covid-19 inflammation leads to severe weakness and issues such as muscle pain and back pain for 6-9 months post recovery.

Cardio-respiratory issues: Long term complications such as shortness of breath, decreased lung capacity, early tiredness, sweating and chest pain are well known in old aged patients.

Hair fall: One of the most devastating and psychologically traumatising complications include hair fall. This is seen in middle aged women during their post Covid period.

"With these documented complications, it is imperative to understand that mild Covid is not "flu" and should be treated well under supervision of the Covid expert physician during the acute period," says Dr Arora.

Long Covid syndrome in patients with mild symptoms: Precautions to follow

To prevent such complications, here are precautions for patients suffering from mild Covid, suggested by Dr Jha.

1. Maintain adequate hydration

2. Maintain adequate nutrition: Include fibres, proteins and multivitamins in daily diet. Have more fruits and juices. Try to have a balanced diet.

3. Regular exercises are recommended but exertion should be avoided. So one should gradually increase exercises. Cardio respiratory and breathing exercises are recommended for fast recovery.

4. Adequate rest and proper sleep is very important during post covid phase.

5. Visit your physician or pulmonologist for relevant investigations and evaluations.

6. Consult a psychiatrist for problems like anxiety, nightmares or stress disorders.

 

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

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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