“The statistics on Cirrohosis by the CDC:

Number of adults age 18 and older with diagnosed liver disease: 4.5 million

Percent of adults age 18 and older with diagnosed liver disease: 1.8%

Number of deaths: 54,803

Deaths per 100,000 population: 16.4

Cause of death rank: 10”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=statistics+of+cirrhosis)

    HEALTHY LIVER               LIVER DISEASED

The liver is an organ about the size of a football that sits just under your rib cage on the right side of your abdomen. The liver is essential for digesting food and ridding your body of toxic substances.

Liver disease can be inherited (genetic) or caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses and alcohol use. Obesity is also associated with liver damage.

Over time, damage to the liver results in scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition.

What is cirrhosis of the liver?

Cirrhosis is a complication of many liver diseases characterized by abnormal structure and function of the liver. The diseases that lead to cirrhosis do so because they injure and kill liver cells, after which the inflammation and repair that is associated with the dying liver cells causes scar tissue to form. The liver cells that do not die multiply in an attempt to replace the cells that have died. This results in clusters of newly-formed liver cells (regenerative nodules) within the scar tissue.

What are the causes of cirrhosis?

There are many causes of cirrhosis including chemicals (such as alcohol, fat, and certain medications), viruses, toxic metals (such as iron and copper that accumulate in the liver as a result of genetic diseases), and autoimmune liver disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the liver.

The liver is an important organ in the body. It performs many critical functions, two of which are producing substances required by the body, for example, clotting proteins that are necessary in order for blood to clot, and removing toxic substances that can be harmful to the body, for example, drugs. The liver also has an important role in regulating the supply of glucose (sugar) and lipids (fat) that the body uses as fuel. In order to perform these critical functions, the liver cells must be working normally, and they must have a close proximity to the blood because the substances that are added or removed by the liver are transported to and from the liver by the blood.

The relationship of the liver to the blood is unique. Unlike most organs in the body, only a small amount of blood is supplied to the liver by arteries. Most of the liver’s supply of blood comes from the intestinal veins as the blood returns to the heart. The main vein that returns blood from the intestines is called the portal vein. As the portal vein passes through the liver, it breaks up into increasingly smaller and smaller veins. The tiniest veins (called sinusoids because of their unique structure) are in close contact with the liver cells. In fact, the liver cells line up along the length of the sinusoids. This close relationship between the liver cells and blood from the portal vein allows the liver cells to remove and add substances to the blood. Once the blood has passed through the sinusoids, it is collected in increasingly larger and larger veins that ultimately form a single vein, the hepatic vein, which returns the blood to the heart.

In cirrhosis, the relationship between blood and liver cells is destroyed. Even though the liver cells that survive or are newly-formed may be able to produce and remove substances from the blood, they do not have the normal, intimate relationship with the blood, and this interferes with the liver cells’ ability to add or remove substances from the blood. In addition, the scarring within the cirrhotic liver obstructs the flow of blood through the liver and to the liver cells. As a result of the obstruction to the flow of blood through the liver, blood “backs-up” in the portal vein, and the pressure in the portal vein increases, a condition called portal hypertension. Because of the obstruction to flow and high pressures in the portal vein, blood in the portal vein seeks other veins in which to return to the heart, veins with lower pressures that bypass the liver. Unfortunately, the liver is unable to add or remove substances from blood that bypasses it. It is a combination of reduced numbers of liver cells, loss of the normal contact between blood passing through the liver and the liver cells, and blood bypassing the liver that leads to many of the manifestations of cirrhosis.

A second reason for the problems caused by cirrhosis is the disturbed relationship between the liver cells and the channels through which bile flows. Bile is a fluid produced by liver cells that has two important functions: to aid in digestion and to remove and eliminate toxic substances from the body. The bile that is produced by liver cells is secreted into very tiny channels that run between the liver cells that line the sinusoids, called canaliculi. The canaliculi empty into small ducts which then join together to form larger and larger ducts. Ultimately, all of the ducts combine into one duct that enters the small intestine. In this way, bile gets to the intestine where it can help with the digestion of food. At the same time, toxic substances contained in the bile enter the intestine and then are eliminated in the stool. In cirrhosis, the canaliculi are abnormal and the relationship between liver cells and canaliculi is destroyed, just like the relationship between the liver cells and blood in the sinusoids. As a result, the liver is not able to eliminate toxic substances normally, and they can accumulate in the body. To a minor extent, digestion in the intestine also is reduced.

“Liver cancer is cancer that begins in the cells of your liver. Your liver is a football-sized organ that sits in the upper right portion of your abdomen, beneath your diaphragm and above your stomach.

Several types of cancer can form in the liver. The most common type of liver cancer is hepato-cellular carcinoma, which begins in the main type of liver cell (hepatocyte).

Cancer that spreads to the liver is more common than cancer that begins in the liver cells. Cancer that begins in another area of the body — such as the colon, lung or breast — and then spreads to the liver is called metastatic cancer rather than liver cancer. This type of cancer is named after the organ in which it began — such as metastatic colon cancer to describe cancer that begins in the colon and spreads to the liver.”

MAYO Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353659#:~:text=Several%20types%20of%20cancer%20can,hepatoblastoma%2C%20are%20much%20less%20common.)

“Your liver is a powerhouse, performing over 500 life-sustaining functions. This 3-pound organ and is located in the upper-right part of your abdomen.  Can you live without a liver? No. The liver is so crucial to existence that while you can live with only part of a liver, you can’t live without any liver at all. Without a liver:

“October is Healthy Lung  Awareness.  Tips to keeping a healthy lung are the following:

1-Cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Cigarette smoke can narrow the air passages and make breathing more difficult. It causes chronic inflammation, or swelling in the lung, which can lead to chronic bronchitis. Over time cigarette smoke destroys lung tissue and may trigger changes that grow into cancer.

2-Whether you are young or old, slender or large, able-bodied or living with a chronic illness or disability, being physically active can help keep your lungs healthy.

3-Secondhand smoke, chemicals in the home and workplace, mold and radon all can cause or worsen lung disease.”

American Lung Association (https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/wellness/protecting-your-lungs)

“Spina bifida is a type of birth defect affecting the development of the baby’s spine. It occurs when a developing baby’s spine does not develop or close properly, leaving a section of the spinal cord and nerves exposed.

In the first month of pregnancy, a special set of cells form the neural tube. The top of the neural tube forms the baby’s brain and skull, while the rest of the neural tube becomes the baby’s spinal cord and other structures surrounding the spinal cord. Normally, the neural tube completely closes 28 days after conception. In people with spina bifida, though, parts of the neural tube stay open. An open neural tube leaves the brain or spinal cord exposed and at risk for damage, potentially causing physical and intellectual disabilities.”

Radiology Affiliates Imaging-RAI  (https://4rai.com/2022/09/15/october-is-spina-bifida-awareness-month/)

“If longevity runs in your family, you have a better chance of living longer. But genetics is only part of the equation: the lifestyle choices you make play a big role in living longer, staying healthy, and being able to continue doing the things you love.

Longevity simply refers to long life. In the U.S., life expectancy has increased dramatically since 1900, when the average lifespan was 47 years. Today, people born in 2022 can expect to live 77.5 years.

Experts estimate that about 25% of the variation in human life span is determined by genetics. But the rest can be attributed in large part to how we take care of our bodies.

There are simple things you can do to be your healthiest, most active, most productive self while living longer. The keys to perhaps living to age 100 or more are a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and good lifestyle choices.”

Harvard Health Publishing (https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/longevity-lifestyle-strategies-for-living-a-healthy-long-life)

We live for generations relying more on treatment versus prevention (secondary versus primary care).  Yes we have drastically improved in the health care system leaning more to primary through further research and technology.  Also, we have advanced in practicing prevention to some degree; that would be regarding certain illnesses/disease but the society in our nation is still too high on being the ones relying on treatment rather than prevention.  Adults alone are 65% obese which is a main cause for certain diseases remaining on the rise in this country.  These diseases are still on the rise due to some of our cultural eating habits in our homes.  For American culture that includes the restaurant industry and social acceptance of the do’s and don’ts in our communities.  Out of homes in America we are exposed to fast foods, lack of allowing kids to play in a baseball fields with safe/ responsible adults because they don’t have a permit, no desire to be active due to being in the computer too many hours or even watching TV instead of 30 to 60 minutes of exercise squeezed in our daily schedules somewhere.  Due to this behavior we inflict on ourselves either increasing risks of or the cause of or worsening of diseases or illnesses in American citizens or any citizen in some country who lives the same life style; ending line its due to the diet or the poor health habits practiced in the individual’s life.  If you and others knew in our country the baby steps in becoming healthier NOW not tomorrow it would benefit your health and your life line extending it dramatically, especially if you start in your younger years with no illness/disease or very little.  You’ve heard the line I’ll start next month with next month never happening or this will be my New Year’s resolution on Christmas and it’s already forgotten on Jan. 1st.  Unfortunately a lot end up with the poor health due to their sedentary life style being their diet and poor healthy habits.  Don’t put it off anymore, take the first step, and increase the changes you need to a better mind and body.  Join me with others in learning healthy habits.   Prevent the following diseases that obesity alone can cause, which are: 

1. High Blood Pressure–High blood pressure is the primary cause of death among Americans older than 25. About 75 million people suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. Blood pressure tends to increase with weight gain and age. It is not known why obesity is a major cause of high blood pressure. However, research has shown that obese patients displayed an increase in blood volume and arterial resistance causing more stress to the heart. For people who are overweight and have high blood pressure, losing as little as 8 pounds can help reduce blood pressure to a safe level.
2. Diabetes–Obesity is considered one of the most significant factors in the development of insulin resistance, and insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, more than 90 percent of diabetes patients worldwide have type 2 diabetes. Being overweight or obese contributes to the development of diabetes by making cells more resistant to the effects of insulin. A weight loss of 15-20 pounds can help you decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes 
3. Heart Disease — According to the American Heart Association, obesity is a major risk factor for developing coronary heart disease, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. People who are overweight are at a greater risk of suffering a heart attack before the age of 45.  Obese adolescents have a greater chance of having a heart attack before the age of 35 than non-obese adolescents. If you are overweight, losing 10-15 pounds can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. If you exercise regularly, the risk of developing heart disease falls even more.
4. High Cholesterol levels — High cholesterol is one of the leading causes of heart attacks. Cholesterol is transported through your blood in two ways: the low density lipoprotein (LDL), which transports cholesterol to the cells that need it, and the high density lipoprotein (HDL), which is the healthy cholesterol that reduces your risk for heart attack. Having high LDL levels raises your risk of having heart disease by 20 percent. Losing 11-20 pounds can help you significantly reduce your cholesterol level.
5. Cancer — A study by the American Heart Association found that being overweight increases your chances for developing cancer by 50 percent. Women have a higher risk of developing cancer if they are more than 20 pounds overweight. Regular exercise and a weight loss of as little as 12 pounds can significantly decrease the risk.
6. Infertility — Being obese can cause changes in the hormonal levels of women, which can result in ovarian failure. Women who are 15-25 pounds overweight are at a higher risk of suffering from infertility and ovarian cancer. Our bodies need to be at an appropriate weight to produce the right amount of hormones and regulate ovulation and menstruation. Don’t think men are immune to infertility. Overweight men have a greater chance of developing motility and a lower sperm count. Shedding 12-14 pounds can help you lower the risks.
7. Back Pain — Obesity is one the contributing factors of back and joint pain. Excessive weight can cause injury to the most vulnerable parts of the spine, which carries the body’s weight. When it has to carry excess weight, the odds of suffering from a spinal injury or structural damage increase. Being overweight also raises the risk of developing osteoporosis, lower back pain, arthritis, and osteoarthritis. Losing 10-15 pounds can help you decrease the risk of developing these problems.
8. Skin Ulcers & leading to infected ulcers — Obese and overweight individuals may have skin that folds over on itself. These creased areas can become irritated from the rubbing and sweating, which can cause alteration in the skin from a rash first forming to an actual ulcer of the skin occuring that can lead to ulcer skin infections (local infections) that can go further into systemic infections (which is an infection throughout the circulatory system).
9. Gastric Ulcers — According to a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), obesity can be a contributing factor to the development of gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers occur when there is an imbalance between the amount of hydrochloric acid that is secreted and the enzyme pepsin. Overweight men are at a greater risk of developing gastric ulcers than women. A weight loss of as little as 7 pounds can help reduce the risk.
10. Gallstones — Being severely overweight increases the risk of developing gallstones, especially in women. Gallstones are caused when the liver releases excessive amounts of bile, which is stored in the gallbladder. Gallstones are more common in older women and those with a family history of gallstones. Losing 4-9 pounds reduces the risk of developing gallstones. Moderate exercise also can help lower your risk.

If you suffer from type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, cardiac disease including high blood pressure or cholesterol and need to lose weight I can help you manage the disease through nutrition and fitness education including behavior modification.  You will  learn healthy habits that will help you lose weight through Dr. Anderson and many other references in books or on the net .  Take the right step in moving towards a healthier, happier and even longer lifestyle.   I hope you like myself and so many others take the step in reaching a healthier body and spread the news to make America overall a healthier country.  It is recommended anyone with a disease or illness to first check with your doctor for clearance before doing any diet or activity changes you plan to add to your life to prevent injury.

References

American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, mediweightlossclinics.com and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Yersinia enterocolitica is a gram-negative bacillus shaped bacterium that causes a zoonotic disease called yersiniosis. The infection is manifested as acute diarrhea, mesenteric adenitis, terminal ileitis, and pseudoappendicitis. In rare cases, it can even cause sepsis.Infection is transferred predominantly through the fecal-oral route. Pork consumption especially undercooked or raw pork products are responsible for yersiniosis.”

National Library of Medicine (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499837/)

Yersiniosis is an infection caused most often by eating raw or undercooked pork contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria. CDC estimates Y. enterocolitica causes almost 117,000 illnesses, 640 hospitalizations, and 35 deaths in the United States every year. Children are infected more often than adults, and the infection is more common in the winter.

Yersinia are bacteria that can cause illnesses in humans.

Yersiniosis refers to the illnesses caused by Y. enterocolitica and less often by Y. pseudotuberculosis infections.

Y. enterolitica are the most common species causing human enteric (intestinal) yersiniosis.

Pigs are the major animal reservoir for the few strains of Y. enterocolitica that cause human illness, but rodents, rabbits, sheep, cattle, horses, dogs, and cats also can carry strains that cause human illness.

The Symptoms:

The symptoms of yersiniosis depend on the age of the person infected. Infection occurs most often in young children. Common symptoms in children are fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Symptoms typically develop 4 to 7 days after exposure and may last 1 to 3 weeks or longer. In older children and adults, right-sided abdominal pain and fever may be the predominant symptoms and may be confused with appendicitis. Complications are rare, and may include skin rash, joint pains, or spread of bacteria to the bloodstream.

CDC estimates that infections with Yersinia enterocolitica cause almost 117,000 illnesses, 640 hospitalizations, and 35 deaths in the United States every year. Children are infected more often than adults, and the infection is more common in the winter.

How Humans get this illness:

Most people become infected by eating contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked pork, or through contact with a person who has prepared a pork product, such as chitlins. For example, babies and infants can be infected if their caretakers handle contaminated food and then do not wash their hands properly before handling the child or the child’s toys, bottles, or pacifiers.

People occasionally become infected after drinking contaminated milk or untreated water, or after contact with infected animals or their feces.

On rare occasions, people become infected through person-to-person contact. For example, caretakers can become infected if they do not wash their hands properly after changing the diaper of a child with yersiniosis.

Even more rarely, people may become infected through contaminated blood during a transfusion.

How this illness is diagnosed:

Yersiniosis usually is diagnosed by detecting the bacteria in the stool of an infected person. Many laboratories do not routinely test for Yersinia, so it is important that the clinician notifies the laboratory when yersiniosis is suspected so that special tests can be done.

The long-term consequences of yersiniosis:

Most symptoms go away completely. However, some people may experience the following:

• Joint pain, called reactive arthritis, most commonly in the knees, ankles, or wrists. These joint pains usually develop about 1 month after yersiniosis illness begins and generally go away after 1 to 6 months.
• A skin rash, called “erythema nodosum,” on the legs and torso. The rash is more common in women and usually goes away within a month.

How you can protect yourself and the family from this infection?

• Avoid eating raw or undercooked pork.
• Consume only pasteurized milk and milk products, such as soft cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating and preparing food, especially touching raw meat.
• After handling raw chitlins, clean hands and fingernails carefully with soap and water before touching infants or their toys, bottles, or pacifiers. Someone other than the person handling food should care for children while chitlins are being prepared.
• Prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen by using one cutting board for raw meat and another cutting board for fresh produce. Carefully clean all cutting boards, countertops, and utensils with soap and hot water after preparing raw meat.
• Dispose of animal feces (poop) in a sanitary manner.

Treatment:

1-Care in patients with this illness infection is primarily supportive, with good nutrition and hydration being mainstays of treatment.

2-First-line drugs used against the bacterium include aminoglycosides and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ). Other effective drugs include third-generation cephalosporins, tetracyclines (not recommended in children under 8 y), and fluoroquinolones (not approved for use in children under 18 y).