22 years
I have taken a lot of anti-fungal medicine in the past 8 months, and I take valtrex every month. I am worried that it's too much pressure on my liver. What can i eat to help it not damage
Aug 5, 2014
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Prolonged exposure to systemic and potent medications, especially certain classes of medications (in your case, it's Valtrex - valacyclovir), predisposes to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). The liver is one busy factory, it processes what you eat and drink into energy and nutrients your body can use. The liver also removes harmful substances from your blood. Overworking the liver cells (due to long-term exposure of drugs or toxins), where most of the medications and drugs we administer are metabolized (processed) into compounds that can be used by our body to produce the desired effect, can result in liver cell injury.
NAFLD is mainly caused by the build up of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol (as opposed to alcoholic liver disease). Normally, the liver does contain some fat; if the fat amount exceeds 5% - 10% of the overall liver’s weight, then it is called a fatty liver (steatosis).
NAFLD has a propensity to develop in people who are weight challenged (overweight or obese), or suffer from diabetes, high cholesterol/high triglycerides, or have the "metabolic syndrome", a constellation of risk factors that predispose to many cardiovascular complications; these include:
-A large waistline (abdominal obesity) or "having an apple shape." Excess fat accumulation in the stomach area is a greater risk factor for heart disease as opposed to excess fat in other parts of the body, such as on the hips.
-A high triglyceride level
-A low HDL cholesterol level (the "good" cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol from your arteries. )
-High blood pressure an elevated blood pressure can damage your heart on the long runand lead to plaque buildup.
-High fasting blood sugar
Additionally, rapid weight loss and poor eating habits also may lead to NAFLD.
It is worth noting that some people develop NAFLD even if they do not have any risk factors.
Often, NAFLD is asymptomatic. When symptoms occur, they may include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, spider-like blood vessels, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), itching, fluid build up and swelling of the legs (edema) and abdomen (ascites), and mental confusion.
If blood tests show high levels of liver enzymes in a setting where the patient has risk factors for the disease, NAFLD may be suspected as long as other liver diseases (like hepatitis, especially in our part of the world where Hepatitis A infection is quite prevalent) are first ruled out through additional tests. A liver ultrasound is recommended to confirm the NAFLD diagnosis.
Complications of NAFLD include:
*liver swelling (steatohepatitis), which may reasult in scarring (cirrhosis) over time, and may even lead to liver cancer or liver failure.
*The more severe form of NAFLD is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), during which the liver swells and gets damaged. This condition also usually develops in people who are overweight or obese, or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high triglycerides. But some people have NASH even in the absence of risk factors. Most people with NASH are between the ages of 40 and 60 years. It is more common in women than in men. NASH often has no symptoms and people can have NASH for years before symptoms occur.
Ways to prevent NAFLD:
Lose weight in a HEALTHY manner (if overweight or obese) or maintain healthy weight
Keep your cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar levels under check by eating a healthy diet, exercising, and having them tested regularly especially if you have risk factors (like family members with diabetes or high cholesterol)
Avoid alcohol
NAFLD is mainly caused by the build up of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol (as opposed to alcoholic liver disease). Normally, the liver does contain some fat; if the fat amount exceeds 5% - 10% of the overall liver’s weight, then it is called a fatty liver (steatosis).
NAFLD has a propensity to develop in people who are weight challenged (overweight or obese), or suffer from diabetes, high cholesterol/high triglycerides, or have the "metabolic syndrome", a constellation of risk factors that predispose to many cardiovascular complications; these include:
-A large waistline (abdominal obesity) or "having an apple shape." Excess fat accumulation in the stomach area is a greater risk factor for heart disease as opposed to excess fat in other parts of the body, such as on the hips.
-A high triglyceride level
-A low HDL cholesterol level (the "good" cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol from your arteries. )
-High blood pressure an elevated blood pressure can damage your heart on the long runand lead to plaque buildup.
-High fasting blood sugar
Additionally, rapid weight loss and poor eating habits also may lead to NAFLD.
It is worth noting that some people develop NAFLD even if they do not have any risk factors.
Often, NAFLD is asymptomatic. When symptoms occur, they may include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, spider-like blood vessels, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), itching, fluid build up and swelling of the legs (edema) and abdomen (ascites), and mental confusion.
If blood tests show high levels of liver enzymes in a setting where the patient has risk factors for the disease, NAFLD may be suspected as long as other liver diseases (like hepatitis, especially in our part of the world where Hepatitis A infection is quite prevalent) are first ruled out through additional tests. A liver ultrasound is recommended to confirm the NAFLD diagnosis.
*liver swelling (steatohepatitis), which may reasult in scarring (cirrhosis) over time, and may even lead to liver cancer or liver failure.
*The more severe form of NAFLD is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), during which the liver swells and gets damaged. This condition also usually develops in people who are overweight or obese, or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high triglycerides. But some people have NASH even in the absence of risk factors. Most people with NASH are between the ages of 40 and 60 years. It is more common in women than in men. NASH often has no symptoms and people can have NASH for years before symptoms occur.
Ways to prevent NAFLD:
Lose weight in a HEALTHY manner (if overweight or obese) or maintain healthy weight
Keep your cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar levels under check by eating a healthy diet, exercising, and having them tested regularly especially if you have risk factors (like family members with diabetes or high cholesterol)
Avoid alcohol
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