The Rainbow of Liver Disease

I am struck by how colorful liver disease is. There is jaundice, a hideous yellow color. (The word jaundice shares its origin with the French word for yellow – jaune.) Another colorful sign of cirrhosis is palmar erythema, which means red palms. Of course, we can’t forget other symptoms of cirrhosis, such as coffee-colored urine or clay-colored stools. Various liver diseases can cause the skin to have a copper or ruddy tone.  And then there is that lovely green color of bile – similar to the color you get while on treatment; that is unless you are anemic and white as a sheet.

Hepatitis C is a member of the Flaviviridae family. Flavus means yellow in Latin – yet another color reference. Who knew that liver disease would offer such a wide palette for the eye?

Hepatocytes Unite

In the news this week, we are hearing about protests in Egypt; last week it was Tunisia. Twitter and Facebook are instrumental in the organization of these political activities. I heard that our livers are organizing. They have a Facebook page, Twitter account, and are going to launch a protest to get us to stop drinking and overeating. What is the world coming to! Next week, the Symbionese Liver Liberation Army, then the Radical Renal Revolution?

Organized Liver Crime

In the news this week, there was a huge round-up and arrest of members of the Mafia or La Cosa Nostra on the East Coast. Some of these mobsters had interesting nicknames, such as Tony Bagels, Vinny Carwash and Junior Lollipop. Still at large is organized crime’s lesser known Liver Family, with members Larry Liverface, Harry Heppy, and Jerry Jaundice.

Oh Liver!

Seth Meyer and Amy Poehler used to do a news skit together on Saturday Night Live. Part of the skit included the shtick called, “Oh really!” They would end every sentence with, “Oh really!”  I think we could increase public awareness of liver health if we introduced the word liver into the vernacular, making it into an expression. Imagine your neighbor saying that it is going to rain tomorrow and you respond, “Oh liver!” Your mother calls you and tells you that her sink is stopped up and you say, Oh liver!” Your friend tells you that she needs a tooth pulled, and you tell her, “Oh liver!”  

Let’s make liver the new overused word.

Fish Pedicures and Hepatitis

This is a real news article, I swear: Fish Pedicures Could Spread HIV and Hepatitis, Says UAE Ministry of Health. http://hcvadvocate.blogspot.com/2010/12/fish-pedicures-could-spread-hiv-and.html

I didn’t think fish had feet, let alone toenails….

Happy New Year

My husband is watching the Rose Bowl. I propose a whole new event – the Liver Bowl. The stadium could be shaped like a liver and the football could be too. Since the liver is about the size of a football, it already lends itself well to the sport. Perhaps the liver isn’t very aerodynamic, but it sure is the right size.

And just imagine the half-time snacks…

A Merry Liver Christmas

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, the Solstice, or New Year’s, remember this: your liver keeps you alive. Feed it good food and no alcohol. Give is a good night’s sleep, preferably without visions of sugar plums dancing in your head. Let your liver out to play by giving it lots of joy. Laughter is the best medicine, but if your liver is sick, take it to the doctor—laughter only goes so far.

Wishing you a healthy holiday.