An epidemic of fatty liver disease
Everyone is invited to attend the annual Brudenell Pioneers Memorial Service to be held Sunday, July 22, 3 p.m., in the Activity Centre of Brudenell River Provincial Park (rain or shine).
The service is held every year to commemorate the anniversary of the arrival of a group of settlers from Scotland in the fall of 1803, who came to be known as the Brudenell pioneers.
The guest speaker will be Mary Gallant, chairwoman of the Glenaladale Historic Trust.
Special music will be provided in advance and during the service by piper Larry Fitzpatrick. The service will also feature a reading of a Scottish poem by Elizabeth Smith, traditional fiddle tunes by well-known Island fiddler Sheila MacKenzie, the laying of a memorial wreath and congregational singing.
The master of ceremonies will be Ed MacLaren, president of the Brudenell Pioneers Society Inc.
A picnic will follow, so bring a lunch to share, as well as lawn chairs.
The next problem is there are not enough livers to supply the need. Moreover, we have already reached the point where our health-care system is crying for more money.
The good news is that if NAFLD if suspected before inflammation and scarring occurs, it can be reversed by weight loss.
But here’s the bad news. Doctors dealing with this problem say that children with NAFLD often return to the clinic heavier. And that only one in four loses a significant amount of weight.
Moreover, the majority of children and adults with NAFLD go undiagnosed for years as it’s a slow, silent killer. The only definitive diagnosis is by liver biopsy. A blood test of liver enzymes can identify those developing this condition.
So, we have to get over the idea that only alcohol causes liver damage. In fact, in the past, adult patients were thought to be lying when they denied consuming alcohol.
Is there a possibility that North Americans will get smart and finally realize what the No. 1 killer is? I doubt it, as history shows the number of obese North Americans continues to increase year after year.
It’s often said that heart attack tops the list as the most frequent cause of death. But I’ve claimed for years it’s really obesity, as it leads to so many medical complications that shorten lives.
The secret for longevity remains the same – following a healthy lifestyle early in life and sticking with it. Too many people attempt it unsuccessfully at the end of life.
Add it all up, and it’s moderation throughout life that wins the day. Just consider alcohol. At least 20 studies show that moderate drinkers live longer than either teetotalers or alcoholics. Alcohol lowers blood cholesterol and decreases the risk of a fatal blood clot.
So, beer in moderation never killed anyone on the Mayflower or anywhere else. In fact, beer contains no cholesterol, fat, triglycerides or sugar and is low in sodium. It also contains vitamins, calcium for bones, potassium to lower blood pressure and magnesium to regulate the heart’s rhythm.
The government doesn’t prevent the sale of cars because some idiots drive too fast. Yet ironically, and possibly criminally, it prohibits beer and liquor companies from stating that moderate drinking is a healthy habit.
My advice? Buy a bathroom scale and step on it every day. This will help to keep you a moderate consumer of food, alcohol and exercise. But, if the scale continues to show increasing weight?
Need I say more?