What Is Liver Disease?
Diseases that directly impact the liver are referred to as liver diseases. There are various kinds of liver diseases (hepatic diseases) and conditions. The disease may run in families (genetic). Many factors are responsible for causing liver disorders; they are as follows:
- Viruses such as
hepatitis A
, hepatitis B,
hepatitis C
and hepatitis E
- Excess alcohol consumption and Drugs
-
Obesity
, Uncontrolled
Diabetes Mellitus
, Hyperlipidemia disease ( Fatty liver Diseases)
- Genetic diseases, such as Wilson disease and hemochromatosis.
If left untreated, all the above can lead to
Liver cirrhosis
and HCC. Therefore, early treatment can prevent the severity of the condition.
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Where Can the Liver be Located?
The liver is on the right side of the abdomen under the ribs. The liver is crucial for food digestion and detoxifying the body from harmful toxins. The organ separates the nutrients as they move through the digestive system. It also produces bile, a fluid that aids digestion and removes toxins from the body.
What are the Types of Liver Disease?
The liver is a vital organ responsible for a multitude of functions in the body. Liver diseases can vary widely in their causes, symptoms, and severity. Here are five main types of liver disease:
-
Hepatitis : Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by viruses (such as hepatitis A, B, or hepatitis C), excessive alcohol consumption, autoimmune diseases, or medications. Hepatitis can be acute (short-term) or (long-term), and it can lead to liver damage or failure if not treated.
-
Cirrhosis : Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis and alcoholism. Over time, the liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, which impairs liver function. Cirrhosis is irreversible but can be managed to slow its progression.
-
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) : NAFLD is a condition in which excess fat is stored in the liver. It is not caused by alcohol consumption and is commonly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, high blood sugar, and high levels of fats (triglycerides) in the blood. NAFLD can range from simple fatty liver (steatosis) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which involves inflammation and liver cell damage.
-
Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) : ALD is a range of liver conditions caused by excessive alcohol consumption. It includes fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), and cirrhosis. ALD typically develops after years of heavy drinking, but not everyone who drinks heavily will develop liver disease.
-
Liver Cancer :
Liver cancer
can either start in the liver (primary liver cancer) or spread to the liver from another organ (metastatic liver cancer). Primary liver cancer, most commonly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), often develops in individuals withliver diseases such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.
These are just some of the main types of liver disease, but there are other less common conditions as well. Early detection and treatment are crucial for managing liver disease and preventing complications.
What are the Symptoms of Liver Disease?
There are not many liver disease symptoms. The symptoms observed in this condition are:
What are the Causes of Liver Disease?
There are various reasons of liver disease, they are as follows:
Infection
The liver can become infected by viruses, which results in inflammation and decreased liver function. The viruses that harm the liver can be transmitted through blood or semen, contaminated food or water, or direct contact with an infected individual. Hepatitis viruses are the most prevalent causes of liver infection, the viruses include:
After Infections the below are the important causes of liver disease:
- Long-term alcoholism
- A buildup of fat in the liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)
- Certain over-the-counter or prescription drugs
- A few herbal ingredients
Immune system dysfunction
The liver may be impacted by autoimmune diseases, which occur when the immune system attacks particular body organs. Various autoimmune liver conditions include:
- Hepatitis auto-immune
- Biliary cholangitis primary
- First-stage sclerosing cholangitis
Genetics
The build up of numerous harmful substances in the liver can result in liver disorders if you have a faulty gene received from your parents. The genetic hepatic conditions comprise:
- Hemochromatosis
- Wilson's illness
- A lack of alpha-1 antitrypsin
Cancerous growth such as:
- Liver tumor
- Biliary duct cancer
What are the Risk Factors of Liver Disease?
The risk of developing liver disorders increases in the following conditions:
- Heavy drinking
- Obesity
-
Diabetes
(type 2)
- Body art or piercings
- Sharing infected needles
- Transfusion of blood
- Exposure to bodily fluids and blood of infected people
- Exposure to certain acidic substances
- An inheritance of liver illness
What are the Complications of Liver Disease?
Untreated liver infections may develop into liver failure,
liver cirrhosis
and liver cancer problems that pose a serious risk to life.
What are the Preventions of Liver Disease?
For the prevention of liver problems follow these points:
-
Quit taking alcohol : Do not take alcohol, it is one of the best ways to prevent all kinds of heart problems and liver disorders.
-
Hepatitis vaccination : Consult your doctor about receiving the hepatitis A and B vaccines if there is a higher chance of developing hepatitis.
-
Take medicines : as directed. Take only prescription and over-the-counter medications as directed by the doctor. Before combining herbal supplements with prescription or over-the-counter medications, consult your doctor.
-
Maintain food hygiene : Before consuming food or preparing it, properly wash your hands. Use bottled water when going out, wash your hands frequently and maintain personal hygiene.
-
Maintaining a healthy weight : Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can result from obesity, hence maintain a good body weight.
Diagnosis of Liver Disease
The key to treating liver damage is determining its cause and knowing its severity. The doctor will begin by taking a comprehensive medical history and physical examination. A doctor might advise the following tests:
-
Blood test : The diagnosis of liver disease can be made by blood tests known as liver function tests. In order to check for specific liver issues or genetic diseases, additional blood tests can be performed.
-
Imaging tests : Liver damage can be detected by an ultrasound test, CT scan, or MRI.
-
Examination of a tissue sample : In order to diagnose liver illness a tissue sample (biopsy) is taken from the liver. A long needle is used during a liver biopsy to remove tissue samples from the organ that are then sent to a lab for analysis.
Treatment for Liver Disease
The diagnosis will determine liver treatment. Some liver conditions can be managed with lifestyle changes, such as giving up drinking or decreasing weight, eating less salt longwith a medical plan that also includes continuous liver function monitoring.
Other liver problems can need surgery or drug treatment. A
liver transplant
may be needed in case of liver failure or ESLD(End Stage Liver Disease)
Dos and Don’ts
Liver disease (hepatic disease) of various types requires proper management. Follow a set of do’s and don’ts to treat it and its related symptoms and complications of liver.
Liver Disease Care at Medicover Hospitals
At Medicover Hospitals, we have the most trusted team of doctors and medical experts who are experienced in providing empathetic healthcare services. Our diagnostic department is equipped with modern technology and equipment to conduct the tests required for the diagnosis of liver disease, based on which a dedicated treatment plan is designed. We have an excellent team of
gastroenterologists
and hepatologists who diagnose and treat hepatic diseases with utmost precision resulting in successful treatment outcomes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The first stage of liver damage is typically inflammation, which can progress to fibrosis (scarring) and eventually cirrhosis if left untreated.
The normal range for
liver function tests (LFTs)
can vary slightly depending on the laboratory and the specific tests being performed. However, common reference ranges for LFTs include:
- Total bilirubin: 0.1 to 1.2 mg/dL
- ALT (alanine aminotransferase): 7 to 56 units per liter (U/L)
- AST (aspartate aminotransferase): 10 to 40 U/L
- ALP (alkaline phosphatase): 44 to 147 U/L
- Albumin: 3.4 to 5.4 grams per deciliter (g/dL)
Liver pain typically starts in the later stages of liver disease when there is significant inflammation or stretching of the liver capsule. However, not everyone with liver disease experiences liver pain, and other symptoms like fatigue,
jaundice
, and abdominal swelling may be more common.
Liver disease can affect anyone, but certain populations are at higher risk, including those with hepatitis B or C infection, heavy alcohol drinkers, people with obesity or diabetes, individuals with genetic liver disorders, and those with a family history of liver disease.
The main problem of liver disease is the impairment of liver function, which can lead to a range of complications including jaundice, ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen), hepatic encephalopathy (brain dysfunction due to liver failure), portal hypertension, and an increased risk of liver cancer.
Various diseases can lead to liver damage or destruction, including viral hepatitis (such as hepatitis B and C), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Liver disease can be detected through a combination of medical history, physical examination, blood tests (including liver function tests and tests for viral hepatitis markers), imaging studies (such as
ultrasound
,
CT scan
, or
MRI
), and sometimes liver biopsy for definitive diagnosis. Early detection and intervention are key to preventing progression to advanced liver disease.
