Liver is a vital body organ, and it performs various activities to keep you healthy. The liver is an essential organ for digesting food and also remove your body’s waste material. It converts nutrients to into chemical your body needs, filters toxic substance, and convert food into energy. Thus a healthy and adequately working liver is crucial for living a healthy life.
Any disturbance in the liver function, which causes illness, is considered as liver disease or hepatic disease. It is responsible for many critical functions in the body, and any injury in the liver may affect your body significantly.
What Causes Liver Disease?
Consumption of too much alcohol and medicines are a significant factor for liver diseases. But there are several other factors which lead to liver disease. Out of all, some most common element of liver diseases are given below:
1. Infection
Infection caused by any parasites and virus leads to the inflammation in the liver resulting in reduces liver function. The virus which causes the liver illness may spread through the blood, semen, contaminated food or water. The most common type of liver infections is Hepatitis A. B and C.
2. Cancer and Tumor
Most of the time cancer spread in your body through lungs, colon or breast but some of the tumours may initiate in the liver are
- Liver cancer
It is most common in women than in men. Liver cancer is also known as hepatocellular carcinoma. This may occur due to the excess consumption of alcohol.
- Bile Duct cancer
It mainly strikes the tube which runs from the liver to the small intestine to carry bile. Bile duct cancer primarily affects those whose age is more than 50 years. It is a very uncommon type of cancer.
3. Genetic
Abnormal inherited genes form your parents can cause the various substance to buildup in your liver which leads to the liver abnormality. Some genetic liver diseases are
- Hemochromatosis
In this condition, your body stores too much iron from the food which may get deposited into the vital organ such as the heart. This leads to life-threatening conditions such as liver diseases, heart disease, etc.
- Hyperoxaluria
It occurs when you experience a high concentration of oxalate in your urine. Oxalate naturally occurs in your body and liver release a chemical which control it. Due to the lack of production of an enzyme which lowers the concentration of oxalate in your body, the concentration oxalate increase. Presence of excess amount of oxalate leads to the Kidney stone and Kidney failure.
- Wilsona’s Disease
In this condition, your body experiences a high level of copper. It only affects your liver but also leads to the nerve and psychiatric problem. It is most common in teenagers.
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
It is a chemical which helps your lungs to resists infections. In reasonable condition, your liver produces alpha-1 anti-trypsin which resists liver infection, but due to liver abnormalities, this is not provided by your liver. This your liver becomes more prone to the disease.
Symptoms Of Liver Disease?
Different people may experience various symptoms, but classic symptoms of liver diseases are
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Jaundice
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Dark urine
- Swollen ankles, legs or abdomen
- Itchy skin
How To Treat Liver Illness?
Most of the liver disease is chronic. It means that it will last longer and will never go away. But you can also control your liver diseases by adopting some changes which are
- Start consuming more amount of water
- Lower the intake of Alcohol
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Intake liver-friendly diet
- Depending upon the liver disease you may have your doctor may ask you to consume some medicine such as antiviral drugs, steroids to reduce liver inflammation, antibiotic and others
- In some cases, you need to undergo surgery to remove liver or some parts of it.
- Liver transplantation. It only happens when all the other treatment have failed
When To Visit Your Doctor?
Generally, the liver is gradual, and there is no such condition which needs immediate treatment. But fatigue, weakness, and unexplained weight loss is something you should never ignore.
Jaundice is symptoms of liver disease, and it is some which are not typical. Thus these are the condition when you should consult your doctor.
