4 B
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
Nonalcoholic
fatty liver is
increasingly
common
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 59 years
old and am having problems with my
lower abdomen. After colonoscopy
and ultrasound, my doctor called to
say I have a fatty liver. When asked
what that means, I was told to lose
weight. I weigh 170 pounds, and am 5
feet, 6 inches tall.
Research online suggests that alco-
hol is an issue, but I don’t drink. I may
have a drink or a beer when I go out,
but most times I am the designated
driver, so I don’t drink. The only med-
ication I take is estradiol-norethin-
drone 0.5-0.1; I take one daily.
Diabetes does not run in my family,
and I have not been tested for it.
Can you give me information on
“fatty liver” and treatment? — J.A.
ANSWER: Non-alcoholic fatty
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Your
batteries should be fully recharged by
now, making you more than eager to get
back into the swing of things full time.
Try to stay focused so that you don’t
dissipate your energies.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)
You’re eager to charge straight ahead
into your new responsibilities. But
you’ll have to paw the ground a little
longer, until a surprise complication is
worked out.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Rival
factions are pressuring you to take a
stand favoring one side or the other. But
this isn’t the time to play judge. Bow
out as gracefully as possible, without
committing yourself to any position.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22)
Reassure a longtime, trusted confidante
liver disease is an increasingly com-
mon problem; in fact, it is the most
common liver disorder in industrial-
ized countries. Recent studies have
suggested that 30 percent to 46 per-
cent of people in the U.S. have
NAFLD. Most people are diagnosed
in their 40s or 50s.
Obesity, particularly abdominal
obesity (as opposed to fat around the
hips and thighs) is common in fatty
liver disease. People with suspected
NAFLD should have other possible
causes evaluated, especially viral hep-
atitis (types B and C), hemochromato-
sis and autoimmune hepatitis.
Simple fatty liver is a benign condi-
tion; however, some people will
develop the more serious condition
non-alcoholic
steatohepatitis
(NASH). Seventy percent of people
with NASH are obese, and up to 75
percent have Type 2 diabetes. NASH
without treatment can lead to fibrosis
and even cirrhosis of the liver.
Your body mass index is 27, so you
are considered overweight, not obese.
Still, I would recommend gradually
losing 10 pounds or so. I also would
recommend that you continue to drink
very moderately or not at all. Exercise
also can help.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 77,
female and in great health except for
being diagnosed with achalasia. I
know it is rare, and I was happy to
find out why my digestive system had
discomfort. Do yoga twists or shoul-
der stands worsen this? It seems worse
when I do these. — E.H.
ANSWER: Achalasia is a disease
of abnormal movement in the esopha-
gus, the muscular tube that carries
food from the back of your throat to
the stomach. It is caused by damage to
the nerves in the esophagus, possibly
from destruction by the body’s
immune system. Because of the nerve
damage, the food gets stuck in the
esophagus, leading to difficulty swal-
lowing and vomiting of undigested
food. Both solids and liquids are
affected, as opposed to esophageal
cancer, in which the problem is most-
ly solids.
Gravity helps us swallow, so being
upside down will make gravity work
against you, and I would expect the
condition to worsen with yoga posi-
tions that turn the esophagus upside
down. I wouldn’t recommend those
types of positions, especially since
they may cause or worsen vomiting.
Treatment of achalasia should be
done by an expert in the condition,
and may include dilation of the esoph-
agus, injection with Botox into the
muscle or surgery.
that you appreciate his or her words of
advice. But at this time, you need to act
on what you perceive to be your own
sense of self-interest.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) You
need to let your warm Leonine heart
fire up that new relationship if you hope
to see it move from the “just friends”
level to one that will be as romantic as
you could hope for.
VIRGO (August 23 to September
22) There’s still time to repair a misun-
derstanding with an honest explanation
and a heartfelt apology. The sooner you
do, the sooner you can get on with other
matters.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) Expect a temporary setback as you
progress toward your goal. Use this
time to re-examine your plans and see
where you might need to make some
significant changes.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November
21) Some missteps are revealed as the
cause of current problems in a personal
or professional partnership. Make the
necessary adjustments and then move
on.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
December 21) Jupiter’s influence helps
you work through a pesky problem,
allowing your naturally jovial attitude
to re-emerge stronger than ever. Enjoy
your success.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) Set aside your usual reluc-
tance to change, and consider reassess-
ing your financial situation so that you
can build on its strengths and minimize
its weaknesses.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to
February 18) Some recently acquired
information helps open up a dark part of
the past. Resolve to put what you’ve
learned to good use. Travel plans con-
tinue to be favored.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
Act on your own keen instincts. Your
strong Piscean backbone will support
you as someone attempts to pressure
you into a decision you’re not ready to
make.
Siuslaw N ews
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