Understanding Hepatitis An Introduction for Patients and Caregivers Digital Download
Uploaded by
hongboang.doetsac.hUnderstanding Hepatitis An Introduction for Patients and Caregivers Digital Download
Uploaded by
hongboang.doetsac.hUnderstanding Hepatitis An Introduction for Patients and
Caregivers
Visit the link below to download the full version of this book:
https://medipdf.com/product/understanding-hepatitis-an-introduction-for-patients
-and-caregivers/
Click Download Now
Also by Naheed Ali
Understanding Fibromyalgia: An Introduction for Patients and Caregivers
Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Introduction for Patients and Caregivers
Understanding Lung Cancer: An Introduction for Patients and Caregivers
Understanding Celiac Disease: An Introduction for Patients and Caregivers
Understanding Alzheimer’s: An Introduction for Patients and Caregivers
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease: An Introduction for Patients and Caregivers
The Obesity Reality: A Comprehensive Approach to a Growing Problem
Arthritis and You: A Comprehensive Digest for Patients and Caregivers
Diabetes and You: A Comprehensive, Holistic Approach
UN D E R STANDING HEPATITIS
An Introduction for Patients
and Caregivers
Naheed Ali
ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD
Lanham • Boulder • New York • London
Published by Rowman & Littlefield
An imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
www.rowman.com
Unit A, Whitacre Mews, 26-34 Stannary Street, London SE11 4AB
Copyright © 2018 by The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by
any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retriev-
al systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer
who may quote passages in a review.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ali, Naheed, 1981- author.
Title: Understanding hepatitis : an introduction for patients and caregivers / Naheed Ali.
Description: Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and
index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018019972 (print) | LCCN 2018022027 (ebook) | ISBN 9781538117255 (Elec-
tronic) | ISBN 9781538117248 (cloth : alk. paper)
Subjects: | MESH: Hepatitis—etiology | Hepatitis—complications | Liver Diseases | Caregivers |
Popular Works
Classification: LCC RC848.H425 (ebook) | LCC RC848.H425 (print) | NLM WI 715 | DDC
616.3/623—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018019972
TM
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
Printed in the United States of America
Understanding Hepatitis is dedicated to my readers, to
hepatitis sufferers, and to all who provided encourage-
ment and support for my research.
CONTENTS
Author’s Note ix
Preface xi
I: BASIC PICTURE
1 Introduction: Importance of Liver Health 1
2 Anatomy of Hepatitis 5
3 Physiology of Hepatitis 9
4 Digestive Health 13
5 Circulatory System Health 17
6 History of Hepatitis 21
7 Global Scale of Hepatitis 25
II: CLINICAL PICTURE
8 Pathology of Hepatitis 31
9 Risk Factors and Causes 37
10 Diagnosis of Hepatitis 43
11 Role of Primary Care Physicians 47
12 Role of Hepatologists 51
13 Role of Gastroenterologists 55
14 Role of Hospitals 59
vii
viii CONTENTS
III: MANY FACES OF HEPATITIS
15 Hepatitis and Cholesterol 65
16 Hepatitis and Obesity 69
17 Hepatitis and Heart Disease 73
18 Hepatitis and Liver Cancer 77
19 Types of Liver Disorders 83
20 Related Nonhepatic Disorders 87
IV: RESOLUTIONS
21 Natural Approaches for Hepatitis 93
22 Exercise for Hepatitis Patients 97
23 Pharmacological Approaches to Hepatitis 101
24 Hepatitis and Surgery 105
25 Mental Aspects 109
26 Adjusting to Life as a Hepatitis Patient 111
27 Advancements in Hepatitis Research 115
28 Collective Efforts 121
V: HOMESTRETCH
29 Hope, Patience, Confidence, and Responsibility 127
Glossary 131
Notes 135
Further Reading 165
Index 167
About the Author 175
AUTHOR’S NOTE
This book is not meant for medical professionals; however, the non-
medical reader may encounter advanced medical terminology through-
out the writing. This is often necessary for the intended comprehensive
review of the subject and because certain medical concepts necessitate
clarification well beyond a modest introduction. A glossary has been
placed near the back of the book to explain complex lexicon to those
unfamiliar with the language of medicine.
ix
PREFACE
Hepatitis is a disease centered around the inflammation of the liver.
The term hepatitis is a rather general one and can include illnesses
caused by many different sources. Five virus strains have been iden-
tified: A, B, C, D, and E viruses. Hepatitis is often induced by toxic
substances such as alcohol and certain drugs, autoimmune diseases, the
accumulation of fat in the liver, and other rare ailments. 1
To understand how hepatitis affects the whole body, this book first
examines the basics of how it affects the liver. The liver is the largest
organ of the human body, apart from the skin, and performs many
important functions. The hepatic globules in the liver filter all the blood
in the body, eliminating harmful substances, removing both bacteria
and worn-out blood cells, as well as forming clotting factors to control
bleeding. After a meal, the liver stores nutrients to provide energy. The
liver also produces bile, a substance that aids the digestive process in
the small intestine. When the hepatitis virus enters the liver, it invades
the liver cells and replicates itself. In response, the body directs im-
mune cells to attack both the virus and the liver cells infected with the
virus. These liver cells become inflamed and ultimately die. Over time,
scar tissue forms around dead and infected liver cells, preventing the
liver from working properly. 2
Depending on the length of the condition, hepatitis can be charac-
terized as acute (lasting less than six months) or chronic (lasting for six
months or even for life). Viral hepatitis A and E are acute, while B, C,
and D can be chronic. A person with a chronic hepatitis infection has a
xi
xi i P REFA CE
large amount of scar tissue (a sign of cirrhosis) on the liver, which limits
blood flow and shrinks and hardens the liver. 3
IMPORTANCE OF READING ABOUT HEPATITIS
The number of reported cases of viral hepatitis is shockingly high: 1.4
million infections yearly, and that is for the hepatitis A virus alone.
However, a large number of persons with hepatitis remain undiag-
nosed, meaning that the total number is actually significantly higher. In
fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approxi-
mately 2 billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus
and more than 400 million people today suffer from chronic hepatitis B
or C. The disease is more prevalent in developing countries, where
systematic and timely vaccination is more difficult to achieve and
densely populated communities can quickly become hotbeds for infec-
tion. 4
Considering how extensive hepatitis is, as well as the large number
of deaths it causes, there is surprisingly very little awareness of this
disease. Governments often neglect educating the public about how
viral hepatitis can be prevented and treated, compared to other fatal
viruses like HIV, despite similar numbers of annual victims. As much as
nongovernmental organizations work to address this, it remains essen-
tial for society to be informed for their own and their family’s protec-
tion. 5
The biggest reason hepatitis remains hidden from public conscious-
ness is that frequently its symptoms are unapparent; individuals can be
infected with the virus for years and not realize it. This, however, gives
the virus time to do its damage and greatly increases the risk of cirrhosis
and liver cancer. In such cases, a liver transplant may be necessary, and
death becomes a real possibility. It also means that the risk of infecting
others greatly increases. This is why proper hepatitis education is im-
portant. 6
The symptoms of hepatitis commonly include loss of appetite, fa-
tigue, muscle or joint aches, fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal
pain. It is easy to see how these symptoms can be mistaken for the flu or
other illnesses. A fever or belly ache does not immediately point to
hepatitis, and people generally think little beyond immediate care and
PRE FACE xiii
pain relief. There is one symptom that is usually linked to hepatitis:
yellowing of the skin, also known as jaundice. Although most people
associate it with liver disease, there is the assumption that all hepatitis
patients develop jaundice, which is not the case. Jaundice does not
appear frequently, but when it does, it means that there is already
severe liver damage. 7
Hepatitis A is usually associated with insufficient hygiene practices.
The virus is found in the feces of those infected, and the illness is most
often transferred through contaminated water or food. The virus can
survive for months at room temperature. Infection is common in chil-
dren in developing countries (nearly 100 percent become infected), but
following infection, these children are immune indefinitely. 8
Patients and caregivers should also know that, in the case of the
hepatitis B, C, and D, viruses are transmitted through exposure to in-
fected bodily fluids, most commonly blood. This can occur with sexual
contact, transfusions with infected blood, contaminated medical equip-
ment, drug use, tattooing, or body piercing. The virus can live on such
household objects as razors or toothbrushes. It is also commonly trans-
mitted from infected mothers to infants at the time of birth. The hepa-
titis D virus only infects those who already have hepatitis B. 9
Similar to hepatitis A, hepatitis E is found in contaminated food and
water. It is most common in hot climates and is also spread by eating
raw shellfish that have come from water contaminated by sewage. 10
In most cases, hepatitis is self-limiting. Treatment consists mainly of
maintaining comfort and healthy nutrition. In the case of chronic ill-
ness, however, there are certain drugs, such as interferon and ribavirin,
that are effective. Unfortunately, interferon is not widely available glo-
bally, and not all patients respond well to it. 11
A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH IS VITAL
To counter hepatitis, there must be multiple avenues of attack. First,
the public must be educated about hepatitis and how to stay protected.
To raise awareness, World Hepatitis Day was instituted on July 28,
2010. In 2014, more than one hundred countries participated in pro-
grams around the world. By fostering awareness among people and
xi v P REFA CE
improving living conditions, nutrition, vaccination, and treatment, hep-
atitis can be brought under control and possibly even eradicated. 12
