Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Hepatitis 411 And Support: It's time to change course on liver disease
Hepatitis 411 And Support: It's time to change course on liver disease: It's time to change course on liver disease by Dr. Eric Yoshida, Chairman, Canadian Liver Foundation Medical Advisory Committee Only 1...
It's time to change course on liver disease
It's time to change course on liver disease
by Dr. Eric Yoshida, Chairman, Canadian Liver Foundation Medical Advisory Committee
Only 10 per cent of an iceberg can be seen above the water. When the Titanic hit an iceberg in 1912, it wasn’t the part above the water that did all the damage – it was the 90 per cent that lurked below the surface that ultimately sank the ship.
Recently Statistics Canada released a report on cancer prevalence in Canada that showed that liver cancer has increased 8.5 per cent in the past ten years (more than double the rate of any other cancer except thyroid) with an annual increase of 6.1 per cent among women and 9.1 per cent in men. These statistics are what might be described as the ‘tip of the iceberg’ for liver disease in Canada. What we should be most concerned about is what the statistics do not show.
The majority of liver cancer cases are the result of underlying – and often undiagnosed – conditions. The leading causes of liver cancer are hepatitis B and hepatitis C, but cirrhosis can be from any cause, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is now very common in Canada. An estimated 600,000 Canadians are living with chronic hepatitis B or C and as many as 1.4 million have fatty liver disease. These are not fast moving diseases and the transformation to cancer takes many years to decades. This is more than enough time to sound the alarm and do something to prevent more people from suffering a personal tragedy. There are many reasons for the increasing rate of cancer but the fact is that individual Canadians, government agencies and the medical community/health care community must be expected to do more in the future.
The keys to reducing these liver cancer rates are early diagnosis of the underlying liver disease, effective treatment, screening for liver cancer in those at increased risk and active medical research. Today we have antiviral therapies that can effectively treat the majority of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Unfortunately, these treatments are not yet accessible to everyone who needs them.
Last November, the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL) which represents the liver specialists of Canada, held its fifth viral hepatitis consensus meeting since 1994. The proceedings of this meeting will be published with updated clinical guidelines for treating hepatitis B and C. These guidelines will advise the use of drug therapies which are licensed for use in Canada and commercially available but may not currently be part of the provincial formularies and therefore not eligible for patient reimbursement (or eligible only under restrictive criteria). Once the new guidelines are published and freely available to healthcare professionals and patients alike, the CLF will be working with CASL to encourage the provinces to adopt the new Canadian recommendations and revise their policies to the benefit of the many Canadians with viral hepatitis.
Like an iceberg, much about liver cancer remains hidden. Researchers are studying it from all aspects but as yet we still do not understand enough about how liver cancer and other forms of liver disease develop, how they might be prevented and, of course, effective therapies are needed. As you will see in our Good News section, the CLF has committed $1 million to liver research for 2012. These funds will allow Canadian researchers to conduct studies in liver cancer, pediatric liver disease and other forms of liver disease. Improving the current situation can only come about via good research and the research funded by the CLF will help provide answers and hope for the future.
In the meantime, we can all play an effective role in preventing liver cancer or ensuring it is detected at an early stage. Since March is Liver Health Month, the CLF encourages you to take charge of your liver health by following these steps:
1. Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
2. Ask your doctor to include liver tests as part of your annual health assessment and screen you for viral hepatitis.
3. If you have hepatitis B or C, ask your doctor about treatment and regular liver cancer screening.
4. Adopt a healthy diet with vegetables, fruit and lots of fibre. Avoid excess table sugar, high fat and high calorie foods.
5. Get regular exercise
6. If you drink alcohol, do not drink more than one to two drinks per occasion and do not drink everyday. If you have liver disease, avoid alcohol completely.
Liver cancer may be on the horizon but with decisive action by all concerned we can avoid a collision course. Death from liver cancer should be preventable. Let’s make it a thing of the past.
Only 10 per cent of an iceberg can be seen above the water. When the Titanic hit an iceberg in 1912, it wasn’t the part above the water that did all the damage – it was the 90 per cent that lurked below the surface that ultimately sank the ship.
Recently Statistics Canada released a report on cancer prevalence in Canada that showed that liver cancer has increased 8.5 per cent in the past ten years (more than double the rate of any other cancer except thyroid) with an annual increase of 6.1 per cent among women and 9.1 per cent in men. These statistics are what might be described as the ‘tip of the iceberg’ for liver disease in Canada. What we should be most concerned about is what the statistics do not show.
The majority of liver cancer cases are the result of underlying – and often undiagnosed – conditions. The leading causes of liver cancer are hepatitis B and hepatitis C, but cirrhosis can be from any cause, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is now very common in Canada. An estimated 600,000 Canadians are living with chronic hepatitis B or C and as many as 1.4 million have fatty liver disease. These are not fast moving diseases and the transformation to cancer takes many years to decades. This is more than enough time to sound the alarm and do something to prevent more people from suffering a personal tragedy. There are many reasons for the increasing rate of cancer but the fact is that individual Canadians, government agencies and the medical community/health care community must be expected to do more in the future.
The keys to reducing these liver cancer rates are early diagnosis of the underlying liver disease, effective treatment, screening for liver cancer in those at increased risk and active medical research. Today we have antiviral therapies that can effectively treat the majority of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Unfortunately, these treatments are not yet accessible to everyone who needs them.
Last November, the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL) which represents the liver specialists of Canada, held its fifth viral hepatitis consensus meeting since 1994. The proceedings of this meeting will be published with updated clinical guidelines for treating hepatitis B and C. These guidelines will advise the use of drug therapies which are licensed for use in Canada and commercially available but may not currently be part of the provincial formularies and therefore not eligible for patient reimbursement (or eligible only under restrictive criteria). Once the new guidelines are published and freely available to healthcare professionals and patients alike, the CLF will be working with CASL to encourage the provinces to adopt the new Canadian recommendations and revise their policies to the benefit of the many Canadians with viral hepatitis.
Like an iceberg, much about liver cancer remains hidden. Researchers are studying it from all aspects but as yet we still do not understand enough about how liver cancer and other forms of liver disease develop, how they might be prevented and, of course, effective therapies are needed. As you will see in our Good News section, the CLF has committed $1 million to liver research for 2012. These funds will allow Canadian researchers to conduct studies in liver cancer, pediatric liver disease and other forms of liver disease. Improving the current situation can only come about via good research and the research funded by the CLF will help provide answers and hope for the future.
In the meantime, we can all play an effective role in preventing liver cancer or ensuring it is detected at an early stage. Since March is Liver Health Month, the CLF encourages you to take charge of your liver health by following these steps:
1. Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
2. Ask your doctor to include liver tests as part of your annual health assessment and screen you for viral hepatitis.
3. If you have hepatitis B or C, ask your doctor about treatment and regular liver cancer screening.
4. Adopt a healthy diet with vegetables, fruit and lots of fibre. Avoid excess table sugar, high fat and high calorie foods.
5. Get regular exercise
6. If you drink alcohol, do not drink more than one to two drinks per occasion and do not drink everyday. If you have liver disease, avoid alcohol completely.
Liver cancer may be on the horizon but with decisive action by all concerned we can avoid a collision course. Death from liver cancer should be preventable. Let’s make it a thing of the past.
March 28th, 2012 - Posted by The Migraine Girl
March 28th, 2012 - Posted by The Migraine Girl
When I was at an American Booksellers Association conference in January, I attended a seminar on consumers’ book buying behavior. Note: this is of immense interest to me since I own a bookstore. I realize this is not that thrilling for you all so I’ll keep it to the basics that relate to health.
See also
Ahem. So I’ll continue.
The presenter was telling us booksellers that we don’t need to focus so much on ebook versus paper book sales. Rather, we need to consider what people are choosing to do in their leisure time. He held up his smart phone and, after a few comments about how much time we used to spend reading that we now spend with technology.
I considered this question from a bookseller’s perspective, of course, but in the weeks since the presentation I’ve been focused as much or more on the health ramifications of this. I now own a handful of computers (two for work, one for home), an iPhone, and iPod Touch, an iPod Shuffle, and an iPad. I also have cable TV. I spend hours upon hours each day staring at screens. Instead of reading for a couple of hours a day, I check email just one last time before bed and and up messing around on my iPhone before I even think about picking up a book.
I already know that looking at screens before bed can affect people’s sleep. It’s best to try to stick with our natural circadian rhythm and limit screen time before bedtime. We migraineurs whose attacks are triggered by flickering lights and fluorescents should probably exercise even more caution than the regular Joe Schmo, yet I do not follow my own advice.
How have you adapted to this age when we are in front of screens all day? Do you notice any vision, migraine, or headache issues that seem to be related to your increase in screen time? What do you do to make sure interactions with computers, smart phones, and TVs don’t take up too much of your day?
STOPHepC Mission Statement
STOPHepC
STOPHepC Mission StatementSTOPHepC is dedicated to raising the level of awareness of the public and medical professionals about Hepatitis C as well as HCV/HIV co-infection and providing Support, Testing, Outreach and Prevention information in order to STOP Hepatitis C.
Specifically STOPHepC offers:
Support by providing factual information about this disease through educational programs, support materials, & screening; provides emotional support to patients living with this insidious disease as well as referral services for disability insurance, benefits and other assistance as needed;
Promotes awareness of Hepatitis C through Outreach programs that educate people about risk factors and the necessity of protecting their livers with treatment of the virus if needed, and /or practicing healthy behaviors through lifestyle changes;
Encourages testing of individuals who are at high risk and hepatitis A & B vaccinations for persons infected with hepatitis C;
Strives through advocacy initiatives, to help de-stigmatize the disease for all people living with the Hepatitis C virus and to bring the importance of organ donation to the forefront of the public’s mind;
& Advocates legislation that puts Hepatitis C on an equal level of importance with other major diseases.
STOPHepC envisions communities that are fully aware of the Hepatitis C disease and actively provide broad support and understanding to those infected. STOPHepC supports this vision through its advocacy, education, information sharing and support initiatives.
STOPHepC is a 501(c)3 tax exempt, non-profit organization
Specialty: Liver Disease and Ascites Prior Location: University of California Irvine/Sand Canyon Medical Center New Location: 15825 Laguna Canyon Rd # 106, Irvine CA 92618
Specialty: Liver Disease and Ascites
Prior Location: University of California Irvine/Sand
The Liver Specialty Center is located in the?Spectrum Medical Plaza?Suite?106 at?15825 Laguna Canyon Rd.?We are conveniently located?at the corner of?Laguna Canyon Road?and Waterworks.
The Liver Specialty Center specializes in hepatology, the study and treatment of liver disease, and liver related problems such as ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy and primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma ? HCC). Dr Hoefs has been a hepatologist in Orange County for 30 years as Director of the Liver Disease Program at the University of California Irvine. He now seeks to employ his skills in the management of liver patients outside of UCI. The cause of liver disease determines the treatment so diagnosis is essential for hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic hepatitis (NASH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (ACAH), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), hemachromatosis (and other forms of iron overload) and numerous other less common liver diseases. Some patients have more than one cause.
We particularly emphasize the treatment of chronic hepatitis C since we can cure 50 % of patients, and with the new antiviral agents that will be released later this year, as many as 70 %. We are expectantly awaiting these new agents and are signing up patients for "triple therapy" treatment as soon as they are available. Hepatitis B is a particularly difficult decision for treatment despite very effective medications since treatment at the wrong time may prolong treatment unnecessarily. We believe in education of the patient so they are aware of all the issues pertinent to their care.
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| Optimize Your Liver Health Today |
Dr. Hoefs is currently accepting new patients. Visit the new patient corner to download forms you may need for your visit or call or email us at the contact listed at the top of this page. We want to help you into optimal liver health.
Current patients, we want to help you maintain your optimal liver health. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call. If you are due for an appointment give our office a call or email. If you need copies of educational material provided by our office please go to the patient portal.
Referring physicians are our partners in helping our patients achieve optimal liver health. To refer a patient click here. To view Dr. Hoefs credentials and publications please follow the links above. To contact Dr. Hoefs directly please email his nurse at the link above and he will get back to you within 48 hours.
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