Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that affects over a million people throughout the world each year. It causes the liver to swell and triggers symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, and nausea. Generally, the symptoms are mild and subside within a few weeks, but some cases can be serious. Fortunately, if you understand how hepatitis A is transmitted, you may reduce your chances of acquiring it or passing it along if you should happen to get it. Poor-Quality Drinking Water or Well ... [Read More]
Liver Disease
What Causes Hepatitis B?
There are approximately 1.2 million people in the United States who have hepatitis B, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a division of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). This is a type of liver infection that is caused by the hepatitis B virus, or HBV. There are two main types of hepatitis B: acute and chronic. If you have acute hepatitis B, you should be able to recover from the disease within about six months; however, it can become chronic. ... [Read More]
Liver Diseases and Causes
The liver is the second-largest organ in the body behind the skin. It helps the body digest food, store energy, and filter out toxins. Liver disease can occur due to many possible sources – basically, any condition that can damage the liver can cause or contribute to liver disease. Hepatitis A, B, and C are common causes. Heavy drinking and drug use are common causes of fatty liver disease (a buildup of fat in the liver) and cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver. Genetics can predispose a person ... [Read More]
What is Cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is the buildup of scars (or fibrosis) in the tissue of the liver. The areas that have formed scars are unable to perform liver functions, such as helping fight infections, cleaning the blood, producing proteins from the food we eat, and assisting digestion and production/storage of energy. In the United States, two of the most common causes of cirrhosis are chronic alcoholism and viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and hepatitis C). Apart from impacting the functions of the liver, ... [Read More]
Dr. Carl Frank and Liver Disease Patient Raise Awareness and Warn Others
Austin Gastro physician, Dr. Carl Frank and his patient, Patricia Murphy, were interviewed by the Williamson County Sun on the issue of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and why it is so important to take action quickly if you are diagnosed with this increasingly common liver condition. Patricia Murphy didn't take Dr. Frank seriously when he diagnosed her with fatty liver disease in 2009. He explained to her that the only treatment for this is good old-fashioned diet and exercise, and he ... [Read More]
