Description

The liver is an organ that is located just below the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen. It can weigh up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms). The liver is needed to help digest food, rid the body of waste products and make substances called clotting factors, which keep the blood flowing well, among other tasks.

Liver disease can be passed through families, called legacy. Anything that damages the liver can also cause problems in the liver, including viruses, alcohol use and obesity.

Over time, conditions that damage the liver can lead to scarring, called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition. But early treatment can give the liver time to heal.

Symptoms

Liver disease does not always cause symptoms, which can be seen or felt. If there are symptoms of liver disease, which may include:

  • Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, called jaundice. Yellow discoloration of the skin may be more difficult to view in Black or brown the skin.
  • Abdominal pain and swelling.
  • Swelling in the legs and ankles.
  • Itching in the skin.
  • Dark-colored urine.
  • The light-colored stools.
  • Constant tiredness.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Bruising easily.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your health care professional if you have any duration of symptoms that worry you. Seek medical help right away if you have pain in the belly that is so bad you can't stay still.

Causes

Liver disease has many causes.

Infection

Parasites and viruses can infect the liver, causing swelling and irritation, called inflammation. The swelling keeps the liver works as it should. The viruses that cause liver damage can be spread through blood or semen, the bad food, or water, or close contact with an infected person.

The most common types of liver infection are hepatitis a virus, including:

  • Hepatitis A.
  • Hepatitis B.
  • Hepatitis C.

Condition of the immune system

Diseases in which the immune system attacks certain parts of the body are called autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases of the liver include:

  • Autoimmune hepatitis.
  • Primary biliary cholangitis.
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Genetics

A mutation of one or both of the parents can cause substances to accumulate in the liver. This can cause damage to the liver. Genetic diseases of the liver are:

  • Hemochromatosis.
  • Wilson's disease.
  • Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Cancer and other tumors

Examples include:

  • Cancer of the liver.
  • Cancer of the bile duct.
  • Liver adenoma.

Other

Other common causes of liver disease include:

  • Long-term consumption of alcohol.
  • The fat that accumulates in the liver, termed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease.
  • Certain prescription drugs or other medications.
  • Certain mixtures of herbs.
  • Be in touch often with toxic chemicals.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of liver disease include:

  • Course of moderate to high consumption of alcohol.
  • Obesity.
  • Type 2 diabetes.
  • Tattoos or body piercings.
  • Sharing needles to inject drugs.
  • Blood transfusion before 1992.
  • The contact with other people's blood and body fluids.
  • Sex without protection.
  • Contact with harsh chemicals or toxins.
  • The family history of liver disease.

Complications

The complications of liver disease depends on the cause of liver problems. Without treatment, the liver disease can progress to liver failure. Liver failure can be fatal.

Prevention

To prevent liver disease:

  • If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.
  • Avoid risky behaviors. The use of a condom during sex. If you have tattoos or body piercings, choose a shop that is clean and safe. Seek help if you inject illicit drugs. Do not share needles to shoot drugs.
  • Get vaccinated. If you are at higher risk of contracting hepatitis, talk with your healthcare provider about the introduction of the vaccine against the hepatitis a and hepatitis B vaccines. This is also true if you have been infected with the hepatitis a virus.
  • Be careful when taking medicines. Taken with prescription and other medications only when necessary. Take only what is shown. Do not mix drugs and alcohol. Talk with your health care professional before mixing herbal supplements or prescription or other drugs.
  • Stay away from other people in the blood and body fluids. The Hepatitis virus can be transmitted by accidental needle sticks or bad the clean-up of blood or body fluids.
  • Keep your food safe. Wash hands thoroughly before eating or manufacture of the food. If you are traveling in resource poor countries, the use of bottled water for drinking, washing hands and brushing teeth.
  • Be careful with the spray. Make sure to use these products in an open area. Use a mask when spraying insecticides, fungicides, paints and other toxic chemicals. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Protect your skin. When using insecticides and other toxic chemicals, wear gloves, long sleeves, a hat and a mask so that the chemicals do not remain on your skin.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver, which is now called metabolic associated to the steatotic liver disease.

Diagnosis

Find the cause of liver damage and how bad it is to help guide the treatment. Your health care professional begins with a medical history and complete physical examination.

Your health care professional may then suggest:

  • Blood tests. A group of blood tests called liver function tests can diagnose the disease of the liver. Other blood tests may be done to look for certain liver problems or diseases caused by changes in genes.
  • Imaging tests. An ultrasound, ct scan and mri can show liver damage.
  • The checking of a sample of tissue. Removing a sample of tissue, called a biopsy of the liver can help diagnose liver disease. A liver biopsy is most often done using a long needle through the skin to obtain a sample of tissue. The sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Treatment

The treatment for liver disease depends upon the diagnosis. Some liver problems can be treated with lifestyle changes. These can include weight loss, or not to drink alcohol. Often, these changes are part of a health program that includes the observation of the function of the liver.

Other liver problems can be treated with medication or surgery.

Disease of the liver that causes liver failure may require liver transplantation.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Change some lifestyle habits can often help to improve the health of the liver. If you have been diagnosed with liver disease, your healthcare provider may suggest that you:

  • Drink little alcohol, if any.
  • Eat a healthy diet. Eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Do not eat foods with too much sugar or fructose.
  • Limit the amount of fat that you eat. Eating healthier fats, such as fish, olive oil, and nuts. Limit red meat.
  • Try to stay at a healthy weight. Lose weight slowly if you are overweight.

Alternative medicine

There is No alternative medicine therapies have been tested for the treatment of liver disease. Some studies show that the potential benefits. But more research is needed.

Some of the diet and herbal supplements may cause liver damage. More than 1,000 medications and herbal products have been linked to liver damage. They include:

  • Vitamin A.
  • Ma-huang.
  • Germander.
  • Valerian.
  • The mistletoe.
  • Skullcap.
  • The Chaparral.
  • Comfrey.
  • The Kava.
  • The oil of pennyroyal.

To protect the liver, it is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks before taking any alternative medicine.

Preparing for your appointment

You may be sent to a doctor who specializes in the liver, called a hepatologist.

What you can do

When you make your appointment, ask about any thing you need to do, as for example not to eat before your appointment. Ask a relative or friend to go with you, if possible, to help you remember the information that is obtained.

Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms and when they began.
  • All the medications, vitamins and supplements, including doses.
  • Your key medical information, including other conditions you have and the family history of liver disease.
  • Key personal information, including any recent changes or stressors in your life.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

Questions include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need? Do I need to prepare for any of the tests?
  • Are my problems in the liver likely to go away or to the last?
  • What treatments are there?
  • I need to stop taking certain medications or supplements?
  • Should I stop drinking alcohol?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions?
  • Are my children at risk of liver disease?

Be sure to ask all the questions that you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask you questions, such as:

  • How bad are the symptoms? Are constant or come and go?
  • Nothing seems to improve symptoms, or worse?
  • Have you ever had the skin or eyes turn yellow?
  • How much alcohol do you drink per week?
  • Do you have tattoos?
  • Does your work put you in contact with chemicals, blood, or bodily fluids?
  • Have you ever had a blood transfusion?
  • You have said that you have had liver problems?
Symptoms and treatment of Liver disease