nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) describes a range of conditions that affect people who drink little or no alcohol. The mildest type is simple fatty liver (steatosis), an accumulation of fat within the liver that usually causes no liver damage. A potentially more serious type, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is associated with liver-damaging inflammation and, sometimes, the formation of fibrous tissue. In some cases, this can progress to either cirrhosis, which causes progressive, irreversible liver scarring, or to liver cancer. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis can develop as a consequence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. It is considered a "silent" disease, with most sufferers feeling well, in spite of inflammation and damage to the liver. But NASH can progress to cirrhosis in up to 20 percent of cases. With obesity becoming more prevalent in the U.S., the health care burden related to cirrhosis due to NASH is expected to rise. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affects more women than men and is found in all age groups, including children. Most often, it's diagnosed in middle-aged people who are overweight or obese, and who may also have diabetes and elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels (hyperlipidemia).With the increasing incidence of obesity and diabetes in Western countries, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has become a growing problem. Although its true prevalence is unknown, some estimates suggest it may already affect as many as one-third of American adults.One of the liver's jobs is clearing germs from the blood. Occasionally, however, the germs get the upper hand. A chronic infection by the hepatitis C virus is the most common cause of nonalcoholic cirrhosis in the United States. In most cases, it takes many years for the infection to lead to scarring. In rare cases, chronic infections of hepatitis B can also lead to cirrhosis. The virus that causes hepatitis A never sticks around long enough to cause cirrhosis.Some people can trace cirrhosis to an overactive immune system. For unknown reasons, they produce antibodies that attack liver cells as if they were intruders. The liver becomes damaged and inflamed, a condition known as autoimmune hepatitis. A good way to protect and help your liver is to use Liver Combo from Nepatica. Read more!

what is hepatitis A?

The liver is located on the right side of the abdomen, just beneath the lower ribs. The liver performs many functions, including processing most of the nutrients absorbed from intestines, removing drugs, alcohol and other harmful substances from the bloodstream, and manufacturing bile — the greenish fluid stored in the gallbladder that helps digest fats. The liver also produces cholesterol, blood-clotting factors and certain other proteins. The liver has an amazing capacity for regeneration, it can heal itself by replacing or repairing injured cells. It's also constructed so that healthy cells will take over the function of damaged cells. Hepatitis A virus is one of six currently identified strains of viral hepatitis — the others are B, C, D, E and G. The strains differ in severity and in the way they spread. Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. Although not usually as serious as other types of viral hepatitis, hepatitis A causes inflammation that affects the liver’s ability to function. Hepatitis A virus is usually transmitted via the fecal-oral route. That means that someone with the virus handles the food you eat without first carefully washing his or her hands after using the toilet. You can also contract the virus by drinking contaminated water, eating raw shellfish from water polluted with sewage or being in close contact with a person who's infected — even if that person has no signs or symptoms. In fact, the disease is most contagious before signs and symptoms ever appear. Mild cases of hepatitis A don't require treatment, and most people who are infected recover completely with no permanent liver damage. Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A doesn't develop into chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis — both potentially fatal conditions. Practicing good hygiene — including washing your hands often — is one of the best ways to protect against hepatitis A. Effective vaccines are available for people who are most at risk. Some people may have hepatitis A and never develop signs or symptoms. Young children, especially, tend to have mild cases, but signs and symptoms in older children and adults are likely to be more severe. In general, you'll have the virus for up to one month its average incubation period before developing any problems. When signs and symptoms appear, they often come on suddenly, and you may mistake them for intestinal flu (gastroenteritis). Liver Combo with Milk Thistle (200 mg), Dandelion (200 mg), Licorice (50 mg), Nettle Leaf (50 mg) and Schisandra (50mg) is a powerful combination in order to protect the liver.

what is hepatitis?

Hepatitis means inflammation (itis) of the liver (hepar), an irritation or swelling of the liver cells. The different types of hepatitis are caused by different things, but they all produce inflammation of the liver. Viral hepatitis refers to several common diseases caused by viruses that attack the liver. The most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Hepatitis A is considered the least threatening since it generally does not lead to liver damage, and 99% of those infected fully recover. Hepatitis B is a serious viral disease that attacks the liver. Approximately 2-10% of adults and 25-80% of children under the age of 5 will not be able to clear the virus in six months and are considered to be chronically infected. Hepatitis C also causes inflammation of the liver, with an estimated 80% of those infected developing chronic hepatitis. Many can develop cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and some may also develop liver cancer. Newly discovered forms of viral hepatitis also include hepatitis D, E, and G. Non-viral forms of hepatitis can be caused by toxic agents (drugs or chemicals), alcohol, or autoimmune processes. Another form of hepatitis is toxic hepatitis. Globally, it is estimated that around 250 million people are affected by hepatitis C. Moreover, an estimated 400 million people are chronic carriers of hepatitis B. Liver Combo with Milk Thistle (200 mg), Dandelion (200 mg), Licorice (50 mg), Nettle Leaf (50 mg) and Schisandra (50mg) is a powerful combination in order to protect the liver.