Your liver is not just the largest organ but the most important, and that's why it is of utmost importance to maintain your liver's health. The liver performs numerous functions, and a healthy liver is crucial to a healthy life.
Sometimes, you cannot maintain your liver's health, leading to several types of diseases caused by infection, obesity, alcohol, etc.
Liver disease is an umbrella term used for the disorders of the liver. Various diseases that fall under it include cirrhosis, fatty liver, hepatitis, Wilson's disease, cancer, etc. These can cause many deaths worldwide, approximately 2 million per year.
It is hazardous to avoid symptoms if you have been diagnosed with liver disease. It is advisable to seek expert medical care to eliminate any disease as early as possible. Medical tourism is booming worldwide, and every year, patients travel to different countries to seek high-quality medical treatment.
Hospitals in India, Turkey, Thailand, UAE, and Germany are trustworthy and provide patient-centric and affordable medical treatment.
This blog will revolve around discussing the causes, symptoms, and prevention of common liver disorders. Let's dig in!
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Understanding the Liver and its Functions
The liver is a vital body organ present underneath the ribcage. The organ has a remarkable capacity to rebuild itself, making it a unique organ.
The liver performs numerous functions, such as:
- Metabolism: Your liver helps in converting food into energy, managing blood sugar levels, and handling fats, proteins, and carbs.
- Detoxification: It's like your body's own cleaning crew, filtering out toxins from your blood to keep you feeling fresh.
- Storage: The liver stores essential nutrients, vitamins, iron, and glucose for a quick energy boost.
- Blood Clotting: It's your body's first aid kit, producing proteins that help prevent excessive bleeding.
- Immunity: It plays a role in your body's defense system, helping remove harmful bacteria from your bloodstream.
What are the Common Liver Diseases and Their Causes?
Several things can affect the general health of the liver, ultimately making it diseased. Once the liver function gets hampered, it is managed by hepatologists. Medical professionals in India, Thailand, UAE, and Turkey are highly qualified and skilled in performing different procedures. This is the reason why patients prefer these countries for liver-related issues. They are trained by renowned medical institutes and are experts in managing all types of liver diseases.
Types of liver diseases and their causes:
Infections
Microorganisms like parasites and viruses are responsible for making your liver unhealthy. Hepatitis is a common viral infection and is of the following types:
- Hepatitis A: By ingesting contaminated food and water, you can get affected by hepatitis A. The virus is usually seen in the fecal matter of an infected person. The disease will most likely resolve on its own within six months without causing significant damage.
- Hepatitis B: Just like HIV, hepatitis B also spreads with an exchange of body fluids. A person suffering from hepatitis B can get the disease by having unprotected sexual intercourse and sharing needles with an already infected person. The chances of developing liver cancer increase if the infection stays longer than six months.
- Hepatitis C: It is just another type of viral hepatitis that is transferred through contaminated blood and body fluids. Patients who have AIDS are most likely to get infected by hepatitis C.
Immune System Disorders
The body's immune system helps you fight foreign invaders like the viruses mentioned above. There are chances that the immune system malfunctions and starts attacking the liver.
- Autoimmune Hepatitis: It causes liver inflammation and can even lead to liver failure if not treated. Women are at a higher risk of developing autoimmune hepatitis than men.
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: PCS or primary sclerosing cholangitis is a liver disease affecting the bile ducts. It causes inflammation and scarring of the tissues, ultimately blocking the ducts.
Cancer
If you have been diagnosed with liver cancer, it is most likely that it traveled from other body organs like the breast, lungs, or colon.
- Liver Cancer: A hepatocellular carcinoma is the uncontrolled division of the liver cells. Long-standing hepatitis and too much alcohol consumption are common causes of liver cancer.
- Bile Duct Cancer: It's an uncommon cancer that usually affects people aged 50 and above. The bile ducts carry bile juices that are responsible for digestion.
Genetic Conditions
There are certain liver diseases that you can get from your parents or other family members. Some common genetic liver disorders are:
- Wilson's Disease: It is an inherited liver disease that causes the accumulation of copper in the organ. The excess build-up of copper can be life-threatening, and the disease symptoms usually start to show after the age of 12.
- Hemochromatosis: A fault in the HFE gene is responsible for hemochromatosis, which causes the body to take up more iron from the food you consume.
- Hyperoxaluria: Mutations in the gene can cause the liver to produce more than average oxalates. The abnormally high levels of oxalates can cause kidney stones and kidney failure.
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: It is a genetic disease in which the patients can produce the AAT protein, but instead of going into the bloodstream, it starts accumulating in the liver, severely damaging the lungs and the liver.
Other Liver Diseases
- Fatty Liver: It is marked by fat accumulation in the liver tissues. It can be due to the consumption of alcohol (Alcoholic Fatty Liver) or other reasons (Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver).
- Drug Overdose: Taking too much painkillers like acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage in the long run.
- Acute Liver Failure: It is a disease in which the liver stops working suddenly, within days or weeks. Some common causes of acute liver failure include drug overdose, infections, and certain prescription drugs.
- Cirrhosis: Any long-term liver disease can cause permanent scarring of the liver tissue. The condition is known as cirrhosis, when the healthy liver tissues get replaced with scars. Liver cirrhosis usually progresses to liver failure, ultimately requiring a liver transplant.
What are the Symptoms of Liver Disease?
Liver diseases can be silent, often showing symptoms only in advanced stages. Some common symptoms of various liver diseases are as follows:
- Hepatitis: There won't be any specific symptoms if the virus is dormant. Once the virus gets active, it can show symptoms like nausea, vomiting, general weakness, abdominal pain, muscle aches, loss of appetite, dark urine, and pale stool.
- Fatty Liver: Early stages of fatty liver are usually without any signs. As the stage of fatty liver progresses, you may start feeling symptoms like fever, jaundice, nausea, unexplained weight loss, swelling over limbs, and itchy skin.
- Genetic Liver Diseases: Symptoms of liver diseases due to genetic conditions include joint pain, pain in the abdomen, yellow coloration of skin, low energy, and reduced appetite.
- Autoimmune Liver Disease: Early symptoms of autoimmune liver disease include itchy skin and fatigue. As the disease progresses, you will observe swelling over the abdomen, unusual bleeding, extreme tiredness, and dark-colored urine.
- Cirrhosis: Symptoms include pale fingernails, redness in palms, loss of sex drive, ascites, confusion, and slurred speech.
How Can You Prevent Liver Disease?
While medical advancements have expanded our ability to diagnose and treat liver diseases, prevention remains the most effective strategy. Here are critical preventive measures to safeguard your liver health:
- Eat Well: Have fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and good fats in your daily diet. Avoid added sugars, processed foods, and unhealthy fats.
- Stay Active: Exercise isn't just for your waistline; it's a liver booster, too. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.
- Safe Sex: Keep things safe in the bedroom—Hepatitis B and C can hitch a ride in intimate encounters. Use protection or get vaccinated if you're at risk.
- No Needle Sharing: Sharing needles for drugs or tattoos often causes trouble. Always opt for sterile equipment.
- Manage Chronic Conditions: Conditions like diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol can lead to fatty liver disease. Work closely with your doctor to keep them in check.
- Check-ups: Regular health check-ups are your ticket to early detection. Talking to your physician about your risk factors would help prevent most liver diseases.
- Medication Care: Be cautious with over-the-counter and prescription meds, as some can harm your liver. Always follow the dosing instructions and chat with your doctor if you have concerns.
Takeaway
Your liver is a remarkable organ that deserves thoughtful care and attention. By making informed choices, staying vigilant about potential risk factors, and seeking timely medical care, you can maintain optimal liver health and ensure this vital organ continues to serve as your body's steadfast guardian.
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