Medical Articles, Medicine Information. Health related information and news from around the world.

Jaundice, or a yellow discoloration of the body, may occur when the outflow of bile is obstructed. It may also occur if too many red blood cells are being broken down, exceeding the liver’s capacity to deal with them.

Interference with the function of the liver cells may allow the bile to accumulate in the liver and spill over into the blood rather than passing freely down to the gallbladder and into the duct.

The liver makes the proteins in the blood and many of these are concerned with normal clotting mechanism so that impairment of liver function can lead to a bleeding disorder.

Glucose is stored in the liver ready to be released when the blood sugar levels drop. Vitamins Â12 and A are also stored in this organ, which is also the major site for the breakdown of most drugs.

The liver can suffer injury, infection or cancer. Primary cancer of the liver is rare but secondary spread of cancer from other organs is common.

Drugs, particularly alcohol, may damage the liver and, if the insult is severe and, in the case of alcohol, prolonged, the liver cells can be destroyed and replaced with scar tissue. This is cirrhosis.

This hard-working and fascinating organ is hardly thought of by most people until, for some reason, its function starts to fail.

*489/71/1*

A feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowel is another common symptom, usually of cancer of the rectum.

This may lead the person to go to the toilet several times a day. Yet all that is passed is a little wind and sometimes some blood-stained mucus.

Alteration in bowel habits is the next most frequent symptom, and the commonest deviation from normal is constipation.

This may lead to taking increasing amounts of laxatives and so diarrhoea may be caused.

Pain is a late symptom.

Although any of these symptoms should take the sufferer to the doctor for a full examination to exclude the possibility of bowel cancer, they may not be due to this cause.

Routine screening tests for bowel cancer are becoming common, although these may be too expensive in terms of both time and money when applied to the whole population.

You don’t need to totally change your diet until there is more proof.

But eating more fibre and less animal fat and sugar is probably good for your health, and all forms of alcohol — not only beer — ought to be taken in moderation.

In case you did not know, moderation is three to four drinks a day.

*233/71/1*