An Independent supplement by medIAplAnet to tHe sAn frAncIsco cHronIcle
conquering Hepatitis the importance of early detection
liver transplants misconceptions, concerns, and advancements
Addiction & liver disease A change in mentality can be the cure
Liver HeaLtH
March 2011
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To The he edge and back
Photo: chrisklug.com
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Chris Klug talks about overcoming liver disease to win an Olympic medal
HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD THERE IS NO HOPE? YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Liver Disease? Advanced Cancer? Tumors in your liver?
Find resources, information and FRIENDS for the Journey.
Call our toll free Survivor Line at (877) 937-7478 Every donation helps us deLIVER hope!
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CHaLLeNGeS
achieving liver wellness
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he liver is a vital organ. A person simply cannot live without their liver. The liver helps the body digest food, store energy, manufacture proteins and remove poisons from air, exhaust, smoke and chemicals that a person may breathe. The American Liver Foundation offers 10 ways to keep your liver healthy: eat well. Eat a well-balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight.The liver makes the cholesterol your body needs, but too many high calorie foods can cause fatty liver disease,one of the fastest growing conditions leading to severe liver disease. Avoid aerosol sprays. Your liver has to detoxify what you breathe in. So when you use aerosols, make sure the room is ventilated or wear a mask. 10x2_alf_ad_PRINT.pdf 1
Wash your hands. Several types of liver disease are spread through contact with contaminated water or other items.Washing your hands is a valuable defense to avoid these diseases. Use alcohol responsibly. It is known that too many alcoholic beverages can create many health problems including scarring your liver. This means no more than three ounces of alcohol per day. Follow directions on all medications. Some medications can affect the liver and everyone needs to read labels carefully. Get vaccinated. There are now vaccines for hepatitis A and B. Don’t share razors, toothbrushes or nail clippers. These have been known to transmit hepatitis C infection. Get tested if you think you are at risk. Simple blood tests can determine many types of liver disease. Ask your physician for a complete 2/28/11 5:10 PM liver analysis.
“get tested if you think you are at risk.”
Diann Rohde Vice President of communications, American liver Foundation
Chris Klug, from the transplant list to the olympic podium
pAge 7
Combating Liver Disease
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Liver transplants
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A case for Washington What you need to know
liVer heAlth 2nd edition, mArch 2011 Managing Director: Allan chiu allan.chiu@mediaplanet.com editorial Manager: Jackie mcdermott jackie.mcdermott@mediaplanet.com responsible for this issue: publisher: Kevin mancuso kevin.mancuso@mediaplanet.com Business Developer: rebecca ramgren rebecca.ramgren@mediaplanet.com Designer: missy Kayko missy.kayko@mediaplanet.com Contributors: dr. Karen Khaleghi, dr. morteza Khaleghi, chris Klug, dr. John roberts, diann rohde, American liver foundation, martha sally Distributed within: tHe sAn frAncIsco cHronIcle, mArcH 2011 this section was created by mediaplanet and did not involve the san francisco chronicle or its editorial departments.
The American Liver Foundation
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Dedicated to the fight against liver disease
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Liver Fact: One in every 2500 children born have a liver disease
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practice safe sex. Unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners increases your risk of hepatitis B and C. Learn more about liver disease. Go to www.liverfoundation. org for more information on liver disease and ways you can keep your liver healthy. The American Liver Foundation (ALF) is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization promoting liver health and disease prevention.ALF provides research, education and advocacy for those affected by liverrelated diseases, including hepatitis. ALF has many events throughout the year that need people like you to help with fundraising and educational programs.Get involved today! Call ALF to volunteer! Make a donation.Help make a difference. For more information about liver disease go to the American Liver Foundation, www.liverfoundation. org or call 1-800-GO-LIVER. (800465-4837).
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www.liverfoundation.org | 1-800-GO-LIVER
Photo: the AmericAn liVer FoundAtion
Liver disease does not discriminate. It can strike children, people in their prime and career building years, families and the elderly. Often people have little understanding of what functions the liver performs to keep the body healthy or steps to take to achieve liver wellness.
An Independent supplement from medIAplAnet to tHe sAn frAncIsco cHronIcle
iNSpiratioN
mArcH 2011 · 3 step
1 VoLUnteeR Ro oR R pARtiCipAte in eVents
UnitinG CoMMUnities
Photo: the AmericAn liVer FoundAtion
Walk for your health ALFie is the mascot of the American Liver Foundation and a regular participant in the Liver Life Walk,which will take place in the Bay Area on September 24 and throughout the nation on various spring and fall dates. More than a walk, the Liver Life Walk unites communities in the fight against liver disease and the campaign for all Americans to have a healthy liver.Walk for your health or in honor of a loved one.Visit www.liverfoundation.org/walk to learn more or sign up.
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insight
step
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Question: Is the battle against hepatitis winnable? Answer: Yes, with the proper education and foresight.
Don’t Miss A negative liver panel breaks the DAM
After 21 years of treating addiction, we never tire of seeing a person’s unlimited potential to change. What drives change can be many different things and a negative liver panel can be a significant one. The liver tells the true story of addiction and, as it is the only internal vital organ capable of regeneration it also tells the tale of the individuals ability to cleanse and renew. Simply put, the liver is a complex vital organ with a wide range of functions, including detoxification. The reality of addiction manifests in liver function and the likelihood that a negative liver panel can turn into a transformative experience is greatly increased through the involvement of an addiction specialist. With the results of a liver panel in hand, the Denial, Avoidance & minimization (DAM) can be broken. The DAM is the addict’s defense mechanism that allows the addict to mask the pain of what is at the heart of their addiction. It is essential that we meet the addict with the facts at hand as well as the belief that they can heal what ails them emotionally and physically. With help they can choose to heal their spirit, rebuild relationships and regenerate their vital organs. Dr. Morteza KhalegHi and Dr. Karen KhalegHi
Get checked regularly for hepatitis
Washington takes action on hepatitis crisis
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early six million Americans are estimated to be infected with chronic hepatitis B or C and 65 percent to 75 percent of people who are infected don’t know it. Baby Boomers, African Americans, Americans of Hispanic heritage, and Asian Americans are among those who are at the highest risk for infection. Without proper screening and early intervention, hepatitis B and C can lead to far more serious and expensive medical conditions, including cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. These costs are often borne by Medicare and Medicaid, further straining federal and state budgets. An overwhelming majority of liver cancer cases result from chronic hepatitis B or C infec-
tion. Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and is one of the top ten occurring cancers in the United States. If our system would better promote screening and early intervention on hepatitis B and C, we would be virtually certain to see a long-term decline in liver cancer cases and deaths—and a corresponding reduction in health care costs.
Winning the battle Fortunately, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are both winnable battles. Hepatitis B is preventable through a vaccine and treatable when detected early. Hepatitis C can be cured in about 50 percent of cases—and that number is poised to grow significantly with the advent of upcoming new therapies. Next month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Ser-
Martha Saly Director of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable
“Hepatitis C can be cured in about 50 percent of cases— and that number is poised to grow significantly with the advent of upcoming new therapies.”
Doc Misha’s
Hepatitis C Help Program Our experienced team of integrated Chinese medicine experts works closely with your Western medical team to help you Conquer Hepatitis C WWW.DOCMISHA.COM • WWW.HELPHEPATITISC.COM/BLOG • 415-861-1101
vices is slated to unveil a longawaited national strategy on how best to respond to this epidemic. The HHS Viral Hepatitis Strategy will provide an important pathway for policymakers. The challenge will be translating that report into action. Federal resources must be marshaled at the highest levels and key agencies can then begin to coordinate their efforts. States should be supported in their outreach efforts and adequate funding made a priority. While budgets are in distress, the cost of inaction could result in hundreds of billions of dollars in unnecessary health care costs. With the release of next month’s report, we are optimistic that the decades of neglect for the viral hepatitis community are finally over. Martha Saly Director of the National Hepatitis Roundtable editorial@mediaplanet.com
iNSiGHt
the truths and facts about liver transplants What is the number one post-op concern for new liver recipients?
long-Most patients are concerned howabout rejecting their liver emic.following their transplant. ategyAlthough patients are mainpath- tained on immunosuppreschal- sant medications to prevent at re- rejection, there is a risk of urces rejection following transghest plant. The medications do then have many side effects associfforts.ated with them and they can their require changes in the dosage. quateOver time, the risk of rejection Whilegoes down and the drug dosost ofages are decreased. dreds eces-
What is the biggest misconception regarding liver transplants? Many people still think that liver disease comes only from the use of alcohol. This is not true. Although we do transplant patients with alcohol related liver disease who have been clean and sober, there are many other diseases that cause liver failure. The most common liver disease leading to liver transplantation is hepatitis C. Among the many others are hepatitis B, liver cancer and some autoimmune diseases.
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Where do you see liver transplant heading in the future, and with regards to research? Dr. John Roberts chief of ucsF transplant service, ucsF medical center
“many people still think that liver disease comes only from the use of alcohol. this is not true.”
Immune tolerance is one area of great interest and research. Research focuses on who has tolerance, meaning their body has accepted the transplanted liver as their own. The UCSF Transplant Service is currently conducting a trial of withdrawing immunosuppression in children. We have found that for children who have received a living donor transplant, we can stop immunosuppression in a surprisingly high proportion. The key is how long it’s been since the child has had the transplant and how the drugs are withdrawn.
tiPs And PreVention In conjunction with a doctor’s help, there are steps that can be taken to control or prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. ■■Lose weight. If you’re overweight or obese, reduce the number of calories you eat each day, (particularly carbohydrates) and increase physical activity in order to lose weight. ■■Choose a healthy diet. Eat a healthy diet that’s rich in fruits and vegetables,healthy unsaturated fats, and whole grains. ■■exercise and be more active. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.Incorporate more activity in your day. ■■Control your diabetes. Follow your doctor’s instructions to stay in control of your diabetes. ■■Lower your cholesterol. A healthy diet, exercise and medications can help keep your cholesterol at healthy levels. aMericaN liver fouNDatioN, great laKeS office editorial@mediaplanet.com
A National Leader in Liver Transplantation Largest liver transplant center in Northern California. Best outcomes for liver transplant in the Bay Area, exceeding national average survival rates. Our experts offer options for patients that make more organs available, reduce wait time for recipients and improve the chances of transplant success.
www.ucsfhealth.org/livertransplant
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iNSpiratioN
step
3 Keep A positiVe MinDset
MAKinG stRiDes Chris making a frontside turn in 2002. Photo: Dennis schroeDer
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iNSpiratioN The first American athlete on the first ever U.s. olympic snowboarding team had to overcome more than just the competition.
Don’t take a turn for granted
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he powder flew out from under the snowboard as Chris Klug cut down the Utah mountain slope. His excited family and friends waited at the bottom of the hill. The fact that he was doing so well was a bonus; his presence there alone was already inspiring. A few years before, it did not seem possible. In 1991, three-time Olympian snowboarder Chris Klug was diagnosed with a rare degenerative bile duct condition. Primary Scleros-
ing Cholangitis (PSC) is indeed as scary as it sounds, and it required a transplant.There are currently over 110,000 people on a waiting list for an organ transplant, with the majority waiting for kidneys. A liver transplant, the kind Chris needed, is not common.As a result, he waited for six years before finally having the transplant in 2000.
early detection Degenerative conditions worsen overtime, and the damage caused is often permanent. By getting checked early and isolating the problem, Chris’ doctors were able
Chris Klug three-time olympic snowboarder pHoto: tIm mutrIe
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to treat him and keep him active throughout the waiting period. “The hardest part of the process was the waiting game leading up to my transplant. It’s not like an orthopedic injury. You can’t just get the MRI or X-Ray, find out what’s wrong, and get it fixed. Your life is put on hold; you hope and pray daily for a second chance,” Chris says. Finally,he got the call. Apparently, Chris was not interested only in breaking records on the slopes with his snowboard, he was also determined to go through the surgery the same way.“I worked hard preparing for the surgery both
mentally and physically. I was out of the hospital in record time, four days, and back in the gym lightly riding a stationary bike and lifting my arms within a week.” A year and a half later, as Chris slid past the finish line at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake Cityto cheering fans and a bronze medal,he achieved a dream that he had held since he first started competing. His recovery from the transplant shows how modern medicine and determination can overcome nearly anything. toNy hyMeS editorial@mediaplanet.com
Which came first is different for everyone.
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trauma
anxiety
depression
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Treating them both is key to your successful recovery.
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