| > | | | | than 4 million Americans have been infected with |
| The number of cases for many forms of cancer | | | | hepatitis C, and about 1.5 million have been |
| has been on the decline in recent years. But liver | | | | infected with hepatitis B. A vaccine is available to |
| cancer death rates are on the rise, and the | | | | protect against the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis C |
| causes seem fairly clear. It's not only what we | | | | can be treated with the help of a medical |
| eat and drink--it's how much. | | | | professional. |
| Liver cancer claimed about 13-thousand lives in | | | | Fatty liver can also be caused by drinking too |
| the United States about ten years ago. Since | | | | much. But fatty liver can result from a poor diet. |
| then, deaths from liver cancer have shot up | | | | Fatty liver disease can result from overeating, eat |
| almost 40 percent. The American Liver | | | | food that's not healthy, or from not getting |
| Foundation says liver cancer deaths will soon | | | | enough exercise. In these circumstances, large |
| reach 19-thousand a year, and the rate is | | | | droplets of fat begin to form in the liver. When |
| expected to continue to climb as Americans | | | | this happens, the liver starts producing more |
| abuse their livers in a variety of ways. | | | | enzymes. Abnormal amounts of enzymes may |
| Liver cancer is often preceded by other liver | | | | inflame liver tissue, leading to scarring. |
| conditions, especially fatty liver disease and | | | | Obesity and diabetes are major causes of fatty |
| cirrhosis. These conditions usually result from | | | | liver disease. Recent statistics say as many as 1 |
| drinking too much alcohol (cirrhosis), and by eating | | | | in 5 Americans now have it. |
| too many foods that are not, in the long run, liver | | | | Health authorities in both the United States and |
| friendly (fatty liver disease). | | | | Canada agree that fatty liver disease, caused by |
| And cases of hepatitis, a viral infection that | | | | obesity, is now a larger general threat to health |
| attacks the liver, are on the increase too. In | | | | than cirrhosis. |
| cases of cirrhosis, which is usually brought on by | | | | Fatty liver disease and cirrhosis can be prevented |
| overuse of alcohol, the liver becomes scarred. | | | | by avoiding alcohol and eating a modest, balanced |
| The scar tissue starts replacing healthy liver | | | | diet. |
| tissue. When the liver is scarred, the liver tissue | | | | Liver function tests can detect many forms of |
| becomes harder and the liver doesn't function as | | | | liver disease. These can be especially important |
| it should. | | | | since many symptoms of liver disease (and even |
| Cirrhosis can also be caused by hepatitis. Hepatitis | | | | liver cancer) sometimes don't appear until the |
| C, is now the fourth-leading cause of deaths | | | | disease has progressed significantly. |
| related to liver cancer in the United States. More | | | | |