Aciphex is the brand name for rabeprazole, a medication prescribed for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It reduces the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Drugs.com states that it is also used to treat other conditions like...
The liver is an organ in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. It functions to detoxify the body and purify the blood. Cirrhosis and hepatitis are serious health conditions that affect the liver. Cirrhosis refers to scarring of the liver....
Hepatic encephalopathy is a decline in the functioning of your brain due to the accumulation of toxins in the blood. It is a reversible disorder, if managed properly through diet, laxatives and antibiotics. However, hepatic encephalopathy is a...
Liver failure is when the liver fails to fulfill its function or is unable to meet the demands made on it. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports the annual deaths due to hepatic failure to be 60,000. Diet plays a very important...
According to the Mayo Clinic, the liver is the body's major multitasker. The liver plays a primary role in the body's digestive, metabolic and regulatory systems. Some of its functions include regulation of blood sugar, converting consumed fats...
The liver processes food and chemicals in the blood and stores carbohydrates and other nutrients. It also makes bile that is excreted into the small intestine to aid in digestion. Furthermore, it helps manage fluid balance and makes proteins for...
The kidneys play a crucial role in maintaining the body's water, electrolyte and acid-base balance. They filter out toxins and the end products of metabolism. They secrete hormones that affect the blood pressure and production of blood cells. One...
A healthy liver has many essential functions such as purifying the blood, manufacturing nutrients and detoxifying harmful substances in the body. Over time, certain conditions such as alcohol abuse, cystic fibrosis and hepatitis B and C can scar...
Natalizumab is a medication used to manage multiple sclerosis (an autoimmune disease affecting your spinal cord and brain) and Crohn's disease (inflammatory bowel disease). Natalizumab is given intravenously (through your vein) every four weeks at...
Jaundice is a medical condition characterized by an abnormal yellow coloring of the skin and whites of the eyes. This condition is caused by the buildup of bilirubin--a digestive fluid produced by the liver--within the body. Jaundice is common in...
Your doctor may prescribe lactulose if you have liver disease, such as cirrhosis. You might expect lactulose to affect your hemoglobin levels, because your liver is involved in hemoglobin metabolism, but lactulose does not play a major role....
Your liver is the largest organ in your body and serves as your detoxifying system, removing harmful particles in your food and helping digest what you eat into usable substances for your body. Compromised liver function can cause health problems...
A healthy liver cleans your blood, helps you fight infection, assists with food digestion and stores energy. When you have liver disease and your liver can no longer perform these functions, your doctor may suggest a liver transplant....
Cirrhosis, a chronic liver disease, occurs when the liver cells become damaged leading to the buildup of scar tissue. Viral hepatitis and excessive alcohol consumption commonly lead to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis develops slowly over time, often only...
The portal vein transports blood from the intestines to the liver. Increased pressure within this blood vessel is termed portal hypertension. Cirrhosis most commonly causes portal hypertension. Other causes of portal hypertension include a blood...
Thiamine, also known as thiamin or vitamin B1, is an organic nutrient found in some plants and animals. You usually get enough thiamine through your diet by eating foods such as lean meats, nuts, grains and some dairy products. Thiamine plays a...
Alcohol withdrawal occurs when a person has been drinking excessive alcohol on a regular basis but then suddenly stops. Symptoms of withdrawal may range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms include headache and tremor, while severe symptoms such as...
Pineapple is a citrus fruit full of vitamins for a healthy diet. Pineapples are grown in tropical countries like Brazil and Paraguay. The fruit is commonly known for its sweet, yellow interior and its prickly outer skin. Pineapples are used as...
The prolonged use and subsequent abuse of legal and illegal substances can have profound and often irreparable effects on the body. Continued abuse and an inability to stop can lead to years of exposure to a substance and possible negative effects...
Cirrhosis of the liver signals permanent damage to the organ. Cirrhosis, or scarring, typically takes years to reveal itself and by the time symptoms become apparent, patients have chronic liver failure nearing the end-stage of the disease...
Cirrhosis is a disorder characterized by damage to the liver tissue due to chronic injury. Liver cells are able to regenerate after they have been damaged, but when the damage is extensive and occurs over an extended period of time, then the liver...
Your liver is vital for a number of important bodily functions. It's necessary for filtering blood, making bile, processing and hooking fats to carriers, storing sugars, helping the body transport and save energy, and making proteins. Your liver...
Your liver is such an essential organ that you would survive no longer than two days without it. It is the largest internal organ of your body, and it serves as the "engine" that keeps all the body's systems running smoothly. Because of its...
The popularity of low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets have changed the way some Americans eat. Because your body is wired for using carbohydrates as your main energy source, making changes that put proteins as the energy source can change your...
There is no evidence that coffee kills brain cells. In fact, the benefits of drinking moderate amounts of coffee probably outweigh the risks for most people, says MayoClinic.com. Other problems, including alcoholism, Alzheimer's disease and...
Ethyl alcohol is the type of alcohol that manufacturers turn into alcoholic beverages, and it is a common substance of abuse. Alcohol is one of the most widely abused drugs because, according to Drugs.com, it creates feelings of relaxation,...
Primary carnitine deficiency is a genetic disorder in which the body is unable to properly metabolize or use fat for energy due to a deficiency in the enzyme carnitine. It is a very rare disorder present at birth that can lead to serious...
Cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, occurs after long-term disease of the liver on an injury involving the liver, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The liver fights infections, stores energy and...
Alcoholism doesn't just affect a person socially and occupationally. It can also have long-lasting affects on health. People who drink heavily and regularly can damage their brain, liver, pancreas and heart. If someone you know drinks often and...
