Liver Fibrosis

1. Liver Fibrosis www.liversupport.com

2. Liver Cleanse What is Liver Fibrosis? Fibrosis of the liver is excessive accumulation of scar tissue that results from ongoing inflammation and liver cell death that occurs in most types of chronic liver diseases. Nodules, abnormal spherical areas of cells, form as dying liver cells are replaced by regenerating cells. This regeneration of cells causes the liver to become hard. Fibrosis refers to the accumulation of tough, fibrous scar tissue in the liver. Causes Fibrosis occurs when excessive scar tissue builds up faster than it can be broken down and removed from the liver. Chronic infection with hepatitis C or  hepatitis B virus (HCV or HBV), heavy alcohol consumption, toxins, trauma or other factors can all lead to liver fibrosis.  Only in rare instances is liver fibrosis the primary problem; more often, it is secondary to some other liver disease such as cirrhosis. Normally, the body’s response to injury is the formation of scar tissue. In the case of fibrosis, the healing process goes haywire.  When hepatocytes (functional liver cells) are injured due to a virus, alcohol, toxins, trauma or other factors, the immune system goes to work to repair the damage.  During the fibrosis process, the injured hepatocytes cause substances to be released into the liver causing the buildup of the scar tissue. www.liversupport.com

3. Fatty Liver Diet Who is at Risk? Risk factors are as follows:   Chronic infection with hepatitis B or C virus   Gender (fibrosis occurs more rapidly in men than in women)   Age (people over 50)   Compromised immune system (due to coinfection with HIV or use of immunosuppressive drugs after a liver transplant)   Heavy alcohol consumption   Fatty liver (steatosis)   Insulin resistance (the condition in which the cells of the body become resistant to the effects of insulin, that is, the normal response to a given amount of insulin is reduced. As a result, higher levels of insulin are needed in order for insulin to have its effects) Symptoms In the early stages, few people experience symptoms because the liver functions relatively well. Fibrosis is the initial stage of the formation of scar tissue in the liver. An individual may have no symptoms and live a normal, sometimes very active life, for decades, and remain unaware that he or she has liver disease. As scar tissue builds up, due to inflammation and the continuance of liver injury, it connects with existing scar tissue, which can eventually disrupt the metabolic functions of the liver. If the disease progresses, it can lead to cirrhosis, a condition in which the liver is severely scarred, its blood flow is restricted, and its ability to function is impaired. www.liversupport.com

4. Liver Detox Supplements If poked, a healthy liver is very soft. A liver that has developed fibrosis is firmer, and if the condition progresses to cirrhosis, the liver can be almost rock-hard. How is it Diagnosed? Early fibrosis can be difficult to diagnosis because it is often asymptomatic. If a blood test indicates fibrosis of the liver, typically, a liver biopsy will be performed.  A liver biopsy requires a needle to remove a small sample of liver tissue so that doctors can assess the extent of liver damage and stage the degree of fibrosis. Several scales are used to stage fibrosis. One common classification is a scale from 0 to 4 where   stage 0 indicates no fibrosis;   stage 1 indicates enlargement of the portal areas by fibrosis;   stage 2 indicates fibrosis extending out from the portal areas with rare bridges between portal areas;   stage 3 indicates many bridges of fibrosis that link up portal and central areas of the liver; and   stage 4 indicates cirrhosis. The degree of fibrosis can be assessed as none, minimal, mild, moderate or severe. www.liversupport.com

5. Milk Thistle Bene?ts Considered the “gold standard” for determining the extent of liver disease, several points of interest regarding liver biopsy should be considered.  Liver biopsy is not always accurate and has several shortcomings. The procedure is invasive and not without potential complications such as bleeding and infection.  At least 20 percent of patients have pain that requires medications after liver biopsy. Rare complications include puncture of another organ, infection, and bleeding. Significant bleeding after liver biopsy occurs in one out of 100 to one out of 1,000 cases, and deaths are reported in one out of 5,000 to one out of 10,000 cases. Researchers have been seeking less invasive ways to diagnose liver disease, developing and testing clinical tools such as a highly sensitive imaging procedure called Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) in which a special kind of mechanical energy called “shear waves” to probe the mechanical properties of tissue is used. MRE can measure elasticity – detecting abnormal hardening of liver tissue – sparing some patients the need for a biopsy and allowing physicians to begin intervention aimed at treating their disease before it progresses to cause irreversible damage. Treatment The process leading to cirrhosis can often be slowed and sometimes even halted. The liver has an amazing ability to regenerate itself once the underlying cause of the fibrosis is controlled or cured. www.liversupport.com

6. Liver Cleanse   Abstain from drinking alcohol (drinking alcohol may cause further liver damage)   Treat any infections promptly (avoid people who are ill, use good hygiene by frequent hand washing, get vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, influenza and pneumonia)   Eat a low sodium/low fat diet (excess salt can cause the body to increase fluid retention in the abdomen and legs)   If diagnosed with hepatitis, take medications to treat it which can slow disease progression and possibly reverse fibrosis   Avoid inhaling toxic substances by wearing a protective mask   Avoid the use of recreational drugs   Get regular exercise and rest Alternative Treatments There are very few safe alternative methods for treating liver diseases. Some alternative treatments that have proven safe are milk thistle, SAMe and green tea. Unsafe alternative treatments that are known to cause liver damage are:   Pennyroyal   Camphor   Skullcap   Chaparral   Kava   Ma-huang (a Chinese herb) www.liversupport.com

7. Since we are not medical advisors, any medical questions you have about your personal condition and treatment options should be directed to your health care provider. Please contact our Customer Care Team with any other questions or suggestions. We are here to serve you! Contact Information Address : 2331 State Route 17K, Montgomery, NY 12549 Phone: 1-800-364-5722 or (845) 361-3900 Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm EST Mail : info@liversupport.com www.liversupport.com