HEPATITIS ALPHABET: A, B, C, D, and E

Hepatitis disease
       -An inflammation of the liver, typically caused by a viral infection. There are five main hepatitis virus, they are type A, B, C, D and E. These five types are of greatest concern because great ordeal brought about by this illness, which can lead to death, and can potentially cause outbreaks and epidemia. Types B and C particularly leads to chronic disease in people and both are the most common cause of liver cancer and cirrhosis.


Hepatitis A

→ The least serious and mildest in all types of hepatitis disease, It does not become chronic. Hepatitis A is acquired through consuming contaminated food or water, sharing contaminated utensils, and sexual contact with an infected person.


Symptoms usually show up 2-6 weeks from exposure. Some of which include the following:


• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Itching
• Loss of appetite
• Low grade fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Yellow skin(jaundice)


PREVENTION: Hygiene, Hepatitis A -Vaccine


There is no found specific treatment for hepatitis A. Patients are recommended to have rest and avoid alcoholic beverages so as not to toxify the liver hence, fast recovery.


HEPATITIS B

→ Irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the liver; it is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV.


This type of infection can be transmitted through having contact with the blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and other body fluids of someone who is already infected. A Hepa B vaccine that is 95% effective has already been made available since 1982.



• Hepatitis B virus can also cause chronic liver infection, which can later develop into cirrhosis or liver cancer if left untreated.


Symptoms


• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Dark urine
• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea and vomitting
• Abdominal pain


Transmission


• From mother to baby
• Unsafe injection practices
• Blood transfusions
• Sexual contact


Note that, 


• Hepatitis B is not spread through contaminated food or water, and is not casually spread in the workplace
• Chronic Hepatitis B can be treated with drugs, including interferon and anti viral agents, which can help some patients.


HIGH RISK GROUPS


• Person with high-risk sexual behaviour
• Partners and household contacts of HBV infected person
• Injecting drug users
• Persons who frequently require blood or blood products
• Recipients of solid organ transplantation
• Health care workers
• International travellers to countries with high rates of HBV.


The best way to prevent Hepatitis B Virus is through vaccination.

HEPATITIS C

Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness that attacks the liver.

Transmission → Blood to blood

Hepatitis C can be either “acute” or “chronic.”

Acute Hepatitis C - Infection is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis C virus. For most people, acute infection leads to chronic infection.

Chronic Hepatitis C -Infection is a long-term illness that occurs when the Hepatitis C virus remains in a person’s body. Hepatitis C virus infection can last a lifetime and lead to serious liver problems, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer.

Hepatitis C is similar to Hepatitis B; however, it is "weaker" in terms of transmission compared to HBV.

HEPATITIS D

It is "co-infection" of hepatitis B and D

Co-infection occurs when both HDV and HBV are contracted simultaneously. This results in acute HDV and HBV infection. Depending on the relative amounts of HBV and HDV, one or two episodes of hepatitis occurs. Co-infections of HDV and HBV are usually acute and self-limiting infections. HBV/HDV co-infections cause chronic HDV infections in less than 5% of co-infected patients. Although clinical symptoms disappear, fatigue and lethargy may persist for weeks or months. 

• HDV is typically more severe than that of the other hepatitis viruses

• Shows typical symptoms of hepatitis disease

• NO vaccine for HDV, but there is for Hepatitis B

• Blood to blood transmission

HEPATITIS E

Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease which is transmitted via faecal-oral route. It is commonly found in contaminated water or food supplies which have been implicated in major outbreaks. It is similar to Hepatitis A in terms of acquirement but this type is this is stronger and pointed out to be an epidemic type of Hepatitis.

• Signs and symptoms are similar to all other types.

Transmission

•Eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Most outbreaks in developing countries have been associated with contaminated drinking water. Vegetables, salads, shellfish, and iced drinks are commonly implicated in outbreaks.

• Sharing contaminated utensils

• Touching contaminated surfaces and then placing your hands near or in the mouth.

• Sexual contact with an infected person (uncommon).

•Household contact with an infected person (uncommon).

Hepatitis disease is one those viral infection that needs to be treated early as it is a "health threat" to the people surrounding the infected person. It is highly recommended to be vaccinated with anti hepatitis disease to avoid infections which can lead to complications like cirrhosis or liver cancer, alongside should be the proper practice of personal hygiene.

Drink coffee; Get healthy!

  

Coffee has been one of the world's most popular beverage for a very long time, alongside with the age of its existence is the common misconception that consuming this beverage is bad for one's health. Numerous speculations of health problems brought about by drinking Coffee is all out and about. Below are some facts that contradict the common belief about Coffee.

It is an excellent source of Antioxidant.

In some studies, it is shown that it contains more antioxidant over fruits and vegetables which are generally promoted based on its antioxidant content per serving. Some of its health benefit includes the reduction of risk against Heart attack, protection against Liver and Colon cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and reduced Gall Stones.

Stimulates senses; Relaxes and freshens up your mind.

Coffee's Caffeine content helps stimulate the metabolism hence, normal bowel movement, and helps support mental alertness; moreover, those who drink Coffee have more pronounced cognitive abilities than those who does not.

These facts are based on experiments and studies conducted by medical professionals which proves that those beliefs against coffee are false, So rather than treating coffee as our common household beverage, let us look at it at a different perspective by educating ourselves about its health benefits, so we may live long and healthy. 

As cliche as it may sound but it has been and still is proving that too much of anything is not good. Coffee may bring us a lot of health benefit, but let us drink in moderation to avoid any complication.

Three most common heart diseases

One of the most popular Human disease present since ages ago is the Heart disease. It comes in different types, but the the most popular ones are Heart attack, Cardiac arrest and Stroke.

Let us get to know better the difference between the three ailments and how it affects the Heart in the circumstance of its manifestation to a person who bears this disease.

  -It occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, preventing the  Blood and Oxygen from getting to the vital organs. A person who suffers from Cardiac arrest will lose consciousness and stop normal breathing unless, resuscitative efforts are immediately performed.This disease is also called as "sudden death" by the doctors.

First aid

• Call an Ambulance or Rush to the Hospital.

• Execute Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to supply oxygen to the lungs, with chest compressions to force the blood out of the heart hence, supply blood to the vital organs.

    

  -It occurs when blood supply to the Heart is severely reduced or cut off. Lack of Oxygen can damage the Heart and it will slowly begin to die.

The symptoms of Heat attack include:

• Chest pain or discomfort which often lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.

• Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach.

• Shortness of breath, which may occur with or before chest discomfort.

• Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, light-headedness or sudden dizziness, or breaking out in a cold sweat.

First aid

• Call an Ambulance or Rush to the Hospital.

• Execute Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to supply oxygen to the lungs, with chest compressions to force the blood out of the heart hence, supply blood to the vital organs.

 A person who has high blood pressure(hypertension), high cholesterol, diabtes and smokes are at higher risk.

Here are some guidlines to help us prevent this disease.

• Check your blood pressure
• If you smoke, STOP!
• Drink alcohol moderately
• Check cholesterol level
• Take measures to control your diabetes, if you have it.
• Exercise regularly
• Low-salt diet
• If you feel any discomfort or symptoms to any Heart disease, Consult your physician right away!

While it is important to know how to diagnose any health problems, prevention should always be considered first hand, as there should be nothing to diagnose if occurrence of such has already been avoided.

Gallstones; what is it?

The Liver produces a liquid called Bile that helps the body digest fats - this liquid substance is then stored into the gallbladder until it is needed by the body. It passes through the hepatic ducts, cystic ducts and the common bile duct.

Gallstones form when bile hardens into a small pebble-like subtance that can grow as big as a golf ball due to high cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or inadiquate bile salts.

In the event, when gallstones clog these ducts, it causes inflammation to the gallbladder wherein if it stays there for a longer period of time, it can result to a severe damage or infection to the gallbladdder, liver or pancreas.

The following are at risk to the  formation of gallstones:

• Women - Excess estrogen from pregnancy, menopausal hormone therapy, and those who                     use birth control pills.

• Family history - Genetic link.

• Weight - Major risk factor for gallstones, especially in women.

• Diet - Low in fiber, high in fat diet increases risk of gallstone formation due to increased cholesterol in the bile.

• Rapid weight loss - The liver secretes extra cholesterol into bile, which can cause gallstones.

• Age - People over 60 years old are more likely to develop gallstones as the body tends to secrete more cholesterol into the bile.

• Ethnicity - American Indians have a genetic predisposition to secrete high levels of cholesterol in bile. Mexican American men and women of all ages also have high rates of gallstones.

• Cholesterol lowering drugs - Drugs that lower cholesterol levels in the blood actually increase the amount of cholesterol secreted into bile; thus, the risk of gallstones increases.

• Diabetes -People with diabetes generally have high levels of fatty acids called triglycerides. These fatty acids may increase the risk of gallstones.

SYMPTOMS

 

• Steady pain in the upper right abdomen that increases and lasts form 30 minutes to several hours.
• Back pain-in between the shoulder blades.
• Pain under the right shoulder.
• Nauseas and vomiting
• Fever(even low grade)
• yellowish color of the skin or eyes
• Clay-colored stools.

TREATMENT

CHOLECYSTECTOMY →Surgery to remove the gallbladder is one of the most common surgeries performed on adults in the United States.

>Non-surgical treatment<

• Oral Dissolution therapy → Drugs made from bile acid are used to dissolve gallstone.

• Contact dissolution therapy → Injecting a drug direclty into the gallbladder to dissolve cholesterol stone/gallstones.

>>>> <<<<

A chinese doctor named Dr. Lai Chiu Nan introduced a method on how to  remove the gallstones naturally. Various claims on this cheap alternative to be effective have mushroomed all over China.

Here it is.

1. Drink four glasses of Apply juice everyday or eat for to five apples for five consecutive days.
(During the five days, eat normal meals)
2. On the sixth day, take no dinner. 
3. At 6 PM, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water. 
4. At 8 PM, repeat the same. Magnesium sulphate opens the gallbladder ducts. 
5. At 10 PM, take half cup olive oil (or sesame oil) with half cup fresh lemon juice. Mix it well and drink it. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage.