Factors Influencing Disorder of Liver.—Errors in diet: (a) overeating; (b) excessive drinking; and (c) unbalanced diet, especially as regards the amount of fats and carbohydrates in the diet.
The Bowels, in most of the disturbances affecting the liver, become constipated, thus causing much additional work on the part of the liver in handling the products produced as the result of putrefactive bacteria upon the accumulated mass in the colon.
Tissue Changes in the liver have been caused by the taking of alcohol, which should therefore be avoided by all individuals having any disease involving the liver and by those with a predisposition to liver disturbances.
Exercise and Lack of Exercise are potent factors in the treatment of conditions involving the liver. First, because the liver requires exercise to enable it to empty itself more completely and assure a free flow of bile; second, because exercise directly affects the energy output of the body, causing an increased rate of metabolism and a better utilization of the food ingested. Lack of exercise acts in exactly the opposite direction, and it has been found that with the majority of patients suffering from diseases of the liver too little exercise and too much food are at the bottom of the trouble.
Dietetic Treatment in the majority of diseases affecting the liver is much the same. The keynote in each is a balanced diet. Constant overeating and excessive drinking have proved the foundation of the majority of such diseases, especially of the bilious type, while an excess of fat and carbohydrates in the diet lead to the more serious disorders.
Biliousness requires abstinence from food for a short period and a cleansing of the entire gastro-intestinal tract, the measures being directed by the physician. After the bilious symptoms have subsided, a simple, well-regulated diet should be established, in which no rich foods of any sort are allowed. All condiments and spices which have an astringent effect upon the bowels are strictly prohibited, and alcoholic beverages had best be eliminated from the diet.
Cirrhosis of the liver is apt to be insidious in its development, taking a firm hold before the character of the disorder is discovered. Dietetic treatment of this disturbance is most important and should be directed toward overcoming not only the liver symptoms but other symptoms as well.
Gastro-intestinal Disturbances, manifested in cirrhosis of the liver, are treated by the diet used in chronic gastritis (see p. [250]).
Heart Symptoms sometimes occur during the course of the disease and require especial attention to the diet. The fluids at times must be restricted, in which case a modification of the Karell Cure will prove valuable (see p. [342]).
Kidney Complications develop in a certain percentage of cases, and it then becomes necessary to institute one of the various diets devised to meet the needs of those special conditions (see Chapter [XVIII]).