Surviving John

Dark chocolate has health benefits for those with cirrhosis of the liver and a related disorder known as portal hypertension, according to some recent research. This article explains the science behind this sweet news.|Dark chocolate is not only good for the heart. It can also be good for the liver, especially in anyone who has cirrhosis of the liver and a related disorder known as portal hypertension. This article explains.[/summary]

[body]Cirrhosis – often called cirrhosis of the liver – is the 12th leading disease-related cause of death in the United States. It takes between 10 and 15 thousand American their lives annually.

Needless to say, any discoveries that offer the prospect of a longer, happier and healthier life to cirrhosis patients will come as welcome news. But one recent study found some extremely interesting results about eating dark chocolate: it appears dark chocolate can actually help prolong the lives of cirrhosis patients.

The announcement came in the spring of 2010, during the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver in Vienna, Austria. Researchers reported that they had found benefits to eating dark chocolate for those suffering portal hypertension and cirrhosis.

Understanding the reseach requires some basic knowledge of portal hypertension and how it’s related to cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis is a serious condition in which healthy tissue in the liver is destroyed and replaced by fibrous scar tissue. It usually occurs over an extended period of time. A normal liver can regenerate cells up to a point. However, once a certain amount of scar tissue has built up, the damage becomes irreversible. Blood cannot flow through scar tissue, so as the scarring progresses, liver function degrades. Eventually, the liver will fail, which is a medical emergency and a life-threatening situation.

Cirrhosis is most frequently caused by hepatitis or drinking too much alcohol. It can lead to many different liver problems and complications.

One of these complications is a problem known as portal hypertension. Portal hypertension is a form of high blood pressure that occurs in the portal vein, which brings blood to the liver from the digestive organs. This rise in blood pressure in the portal vein often causes veins known as varices to develop across the stomach and esophagus to bypass any blockages. Since these blood vessels are fragile and already handling a lot of pressure, they are more likely to rupture. These cirrhosis-related ruptures, which doctors call bleeding varices, are extremely dangerous.

But a group of medical researchers working in Spain discovered that cirrhosis patients could lower their risk of bleeding varices by eating dark chocolate.

After you eat a meal, blood pressure in your abdominal area usually rises as more blood flows to the liver. This can be a dangerous time for people with cirrhosis, because they already have high blood pressure in the portal vein. Adding more pressure greatly increases the chance of a rupture.

Dark chocolate contains a lot of flavenoids, which are chemicals that have been proven to be beneficial for the body – especially the heart. Flavenoids also help reduce blood pressure because they relax veins and arteries, allowing blood to flow more easily. Many kinds of chocolate do not contain flavenoids, but they are certainly present in dark chocolate. In fact, the darker the chocolate, the more flavenoid content is present.

During the study in Spain, subjects received either a meal of white chocolate to eat, or a meal containing 85 percent cocoa dark chocolate. There was a statistically significant difference in blood pressure levels between the two groups. Blood pressure measurements were lower among those who ate dark chocolate. This prompted researchers to conclude that eating dark chocolate could ultimately lower the odds of blood vessels rupturing in cirrhosis patients.

Dark chocolate is no longer placed in the same category as other chocolate as “just candy.” The flavenoids it contains actually make it a nutritious health food when eaten moderately. The flavenoids found in high quality dark chocolate offer the same health benefits as chemicals found in darkly colored vegetables and many varieties of fruit. There are, in fact, eight times as many flavenoids in dark chocolate as there are in strawberries.

Any individual who is being treated for cirrhosis must also be wary of portal hypertension and the dangers of bleeding varices. The research reported in Spain makes it clear that eating some dark chocolate after a meal could be a good idea for people with cirrhosis.

Click on cirrhosis symptoms and causes and liver failure for more. Neal Kennedy is a retired TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He is a frequent contributor to Keeping Your Liver Healthy, a resource website about liver health and digestive wellness.

The feeling of pain in the area of the liver comes to different people in different ways. Some patients feel extreme discomfort – they describe it by saying it feels like their liver is ready to explode. Others describe their pain as “just an occasional discomfort.” They feel an aching sensation when they breathe in or cough. These people who have pain in the area of the liver say they feel somewhat swollen or bloated.

There are a number of possible causes for pain in the area of the liver. It can be a problem with the liver itself, or it result from a problem with some other organ or part of the body that is related to the liver in some way. For example, there could be trouble with the gallbladder, biliary tract, or blood vessels near the liver. Pain coming from the liver itself is usually due to inflammation of some kind. Such inflammation can result from any number of reasons.

Cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, liver cancer, liver failure and hepatitis are several of the most serious problems that can affect your liver. There are, in fact, many different types of liver problems that can trigger liver pain.

If the pain doesn’t actually originate in the liver, it may be due to an obstruction of the biliary tract, like a stone. This type of liver pain, which is also known as biliary colic, can usually come on quickly and may last as long as several hours. Pain of this type begins in your upper middle or upper right quadrant. It may extend to your shoulder, or to the region between the shoulder blades in your upper back.

Biliary colic usually happens after you’ve eaten a large fatty meal. Other causes of pain in the area of the liver include a liver abscess and cholangitis or inflammation of the biliary duct. Sometimes, liver cysts can also cause pain in the area of the liver. Poor gallbladder health can also cause what feels like pain in the area of the liver.

Several medications are available that will help relieve pain in the area of the liver. They include:

* Drugs known as NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which reduce pain and inflammation. Some NSAIDs require a doctor’s prescription, but you can get other forms over the counter.

* Demerol, which is also known as Meperidine.

* Morphine

Liver pain shouldn’t be ignored. Anytime you have soreness or tenderness near the bottom of your ribcage, it’s a good idea to call your doctor. Such discomfort could be the result of liver of gallbladder problems. These can be serious threats to your long term health and merit a call to your doctor.

Do you need more information on pain caused by the liver? Click on liver trouble.