The lever is the second-largest organ of the human body. It serves as a filter, which separates the nutrients and waste as the food moves through the digestive system. The waste is nothing but toxins, and the liver is responsible for eliminating these toxic substances from the body.

In the case of liver disease, the liver will fail to get the toxins out of the body, which can affect the person’s overall health significantly.The liver might malfunction because of factors such as genetics, viral infection, obesity, and alcohol abuse.

Several conditions can lead to the development of liver disease, which can in turn cause cirrhosis or scarring. The scar may spread on the liver surface, as the scar issues replace the healthy tissues. If it is not treated early, it might lead to liver failure or cancer.

Various factors might contribute to damage to the liver over time and potentiate the risk of liver failure, which can be fatal. The damage can be prevented when the treatment is taken on time. Early treatment will reduce the risk of life-threatening complications.

Symptoms

Generally, one of the most common symptoms of liver disease is jaundice, which can be indicated by the yellowing of the skin and the white portion of the eyes.According to the Mayo Clinic website, sometimes the person may even show any symptoms of liver disease and it might go unnoticed. But in case a person develops some symptoms related to liver disease, then it is necessary to get it checked by a healthcare professional. Some symptoms of liver disease can be:

• Yellowing of skin and eyes (Jaundice)
• Chronic fatigue
• Abdominal pain and swelling
• Swelling in the legs and ankles
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dark color urine
• Getting bruises easily
• Pale color stools
• Itchy skin

  Causes

Liver disease can be caused by one of the factors that are listed below:

• Viral infections – Parasites and viruses can lead to liver infections, which can affect its function. The infection can spread throughout the body and affect the other organs. Viral infections potentiate the risk of liver infections, which include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
• Genetics – The liver disease can run in the family. A person might inherit this genetic makeup from one or both of their parents. Liver diseases caused due to abnormal genes are – Hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, and Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
• Immune system disorders – When the immune system accidentally attacks the liver, it can damage its functions and cause autoimmune liver diseases, which may include autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
• Tumors and cancer – Sometimes the cells inside the liver might undergo rapid multiplication, which can cause the development of tumors inside. The tumor thus formed can be noncancerous or benign, which are generally harmless, or it can be malignant, which leads to liver cancer.
• Chronic alcoholism – Heavy use of alcohol potentiates the risk of alcoholic liver diseases that include fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis.Fatty liver can lead to the accumulation of fat in the liver cells, which inflates the liver.
• Prescription/non-prescription drugs – The side effects of certain drugs can contribute to liver damage.

Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and ask you some questions about your health history, symptoms, etc., and order some tests. The tests will be helpful in identifying the cause of liver disease and the extent of damage that is already done.

Generally, they may recommend some common tests that are as follows:

• Blood sample test – This test will reveal the cause of liver dysfunction, which is necessary for starting the treatment. The test will check for liver problems or genetic abnormalities.
• Imaging tests – Your doctor will order a CT scan or MRI scan of your liver. This will be helpful in determining the degree of liver damage.
• Liver biopsy – This involves the removal of a tissue sample from the liver to identify the root cause of liver disorder and to perform diagnosis. To perform a biopsy, the healthcare provider will insert a thin needle inside your liver and collect the liver tissue sample to analyze it.

Treatment

The treatment will depend on the severity of the disease. Your healthcare provider will prescribe you appropriate treatments after a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. Treatments include:

• Medications – Liver diseases can be managed and treated with certain medications. They can slow down liver damage.
• Liver transplant – When the disease becomes severe and reaches the advanced stage progressing to failure, then liver transplant is the only option. It involves the removal of the damaged liver and replacing it with a healthy liver.
• Lifestyle changes – In combination with the other treatments, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is necessary. You need to make changes in your diet. Consumption of fatty meals must be avoided. Those who consume alcohol must give it up completely, otherwise, it will worsen the condition.

Prevention

• Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
• Always use protection while having unprotected sex.
• Never share the needles.
• Avoid using OTC medications excessively.
• Keep your weight in check.
• Maintain hygiene.
• Get vaccinated against infections.

Liver disease is a manageable condition, but it cannot be cured. The susceptibility of some individuals to develop liver-related disorders is more compared to others. Such individuals must implement some positive lifestyle changes before hand, which will help them reduce the chances of life-threatening complications like liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Factors that can potentiate the risk of liver disease are given below:

Viral infections

Certain types of viruses or parasites can cause infections like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, which can damage liver function, leading to liver disease. The infection can cause inflammation in the liver and impair its function. The liver is responsible for eliminating the toxins from the body and keeping your body clean and free of toxic substances, but the infectious virus attacks its tissues, leading to its damage. As a result, the toxins fail to get drained out of the body, which can give rise to health complications.

Prevention: The risk of liver disease due to viral infections can be reduced by getting vaccinations. Vaccines immunize the body, which improves the individual’s ability to fight the infection effectively.

Genetics and inheritance

Liver-related problems can run in the family, as the parents pass the distorted genes to their offspring. These genes impact the liver function and affect its ability to get the toxins eliminated from the body. This causes the accumulation of toxins in the body, which affects the other organs. Genetic mutations lead to liver damage.

Obesity and overweight

Obese individuals have eating disorders. They find it difficult to lose weight because of their uncontrollable food cravings.They tend to consume fatty, oily, junk, and processed foods, which leads to rapid weight gain. This causes the accumulation of excess fats in their liver, leading to a condition known as fatty liver or Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This can cause serious liver damage, and its progression can lead to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Prevention: It is necessary for obese individuals to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Diet and exercise are vital.They must avoid having fatty foods and increase their intake of vegetables and fruits.

Excessive intake of alcohol

Chronic drinkers are more prone to the risk of rapid liver damage. Persistent drinking of alcohol leads to the deposition of fats in the liver cells. The fats thus accumulated inflatethe liver and cause its enlargement. This condition is termed Alcoholic fatty liver disease, which leads to liver failure. Long-term alcohol intake can cause the development of conditions like alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis.

Prevention: Alcohol addicts must give up their drinking habits. It might be difficult to stop drinking altogether, so you can limit your consumption and drink it in moderation.

Medications

Certain medications (prescription/non-prescription) can cause gradual damage to the liver. This can be a side effect of these medications, which can slowly affect the liver over time and impair its function.

Prevention: You should stop the overuse of OTC medications. Its long-term use can contribute to liver damage. Some prescription medications taken for treating chronic conditions can also lead to liver damage, therefore, you must talk to your doctor and become aware of possible side effects of taking the medications.

Tumors

Sometimes the formation of tumors inside the liver can lead to liver cancer. The tumor is formed because of the rapid multiplication of the cells of the liver. The cells might grow and develop abnormally, which leads to tumorous growth. The tumor can be benign or malignant. If it is benign, then there is no need to worry, but if it is malign, then it can be cancerous, which spreads in the liver and might also affect other organs.

This is a life-long condition, which can be managed with the help of medications and positive lifestyle changes. If it is left untreated, the condition worsens due to its progression. Early treatment is necessary as it heals the damage and restores the healthy function of the liver. If there is a delay in the treatment and the damage has reached an advanced stage, then the healthcare provider will prescribe you to undergo a liver transplantation procedure.

The degree of damage can be found through diagnostic tests. These tests will also reveal the reason behind the liver damage. Diagnostic tests include blood sample tests, screening tests, and liver biopsy.

The liver disease must be treated early, during its initial phase, otherwise, it might progress and lead to liver cirrhosis (Scarring)and failure. The cause of liver damage can be attributed to factors like genetics, viral infections, chronic health conditions, obesity, or overweight, and chronic alcoholism.

Your healthcare provider will conduct diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of liver damage. These tests will also reveal the degree of damage that has occurred over time. When the reports are obtained after evaluation, they will begin the treatment.

The condition cannot be cured, but it can be managed well with treatments, which slows down the damage. The treat ments for liver disease are given below:

Medications

Since the causes of liver disease differ among individuals, the medications used to manage the causes are different. When the disease occurs because of viral infections, like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C, then antiviral medications will be prescribed to kill off the virus and treat the infection. The medications are prescribed according to the cause of the disease

Liver transplant

When the damage is severe, has reached an advanced level, and cannot be managed with medications, then the only option is to get it replaced with a healthy one. Liver transplantation is an invasive procedure wherein the damaged liver is surgically removed, and the healthy liver of a donor is surgically placed.

Lifestyle changes

To prevent the risk of liver failure and cirrhosis, it is necessary to include some lifestyle changes that can have a powerful impact on your liver health. Those already on medications to treat their condition will be able to manage their condition very well with positive changes. And those who are healthy can prevent the risk of liver damage with these lifestyle changes that are given below:

• Healthy diet – Consuming a healthy and balanced diet is beneficial for the healthy functioning of your liver. Being mindful of what you consume is necessary. You must stop consuming junk or processed food and eat only clean foods like plenty of vegetables and fruits.

You need to reduce your fat intake and eat more foods that are excellent sources of fiber. Clean foods will be easily digested, and they are free of toxic substances. Whereas, fatty, oily, and processed foods are loaded with toxins and wastes, and they can increase the strain on the liver. Therefore, switch to a clean and healthy diet and stick to it.

• Exercise regularly – Engaging in moderate to intense aerobic activities for around 30 to 60 minutes every day will improve the liver’s capability to remove toxins and function properly.
• Give up alcohol – Excessive intake of alcohol can lead to alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD). The person may not even show any symptoms of liver damage until the damage reaches the advanced stage.Alcohol can cause the accumulation of fats in the liver, which leads to its enlargement. Besides, it can also give rise to other problems such as alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
• Quit smoking – The toxic substances present in cigarette smoke can contribute to liver damage. While filtering the blood, the liver toxins will be separated by the liver to eliminate them from the body. These cause liver tissue damage and gradually impair liver function.

Who is at risk of developing liver disease?

• Medications or supplements – Certain types of medications and supplements can contribute to liver dysfunction. The side effects can impair the liver function and lead to liver disease. It is necessary to avoid excessive use of OTC medicines. Some prescription drugs might also cause liver-related problems, you need to discuss this with your doctor before using the drugs.
• Exposure to toxins – Processed, junk, and fatty foods such as red meat, cheese, etc. are poor choices for the liver. Your diet must include more vegetables and fruits.
• Chronic drinkers – Alcohol is the main culprit of liver damage. One must avoid its abuse.
• Chronic health conditions – People with life-long health conditions like hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, diabetes, etc. are highly prone to liver disease. They must take extra care.
• Family history – Those with a family history of liver-related disorders are more likely to develop this condition. It is necessary for such individuals to implement positive lifestyle habits very early on.

The right time to see your doctor

People having liver disease may remain asymptomatic, and when the disease reaches some advanced stage, it might start giving indications. But you should see your doctor in case experience some symptoms that include:

• Yellowing of the white of the eyes and skin.
• Changes in the color of urine and stools.
• Pain in the upper right region of the abdomen.
• Swelling in arms and legs.

The lowdown

Liver disease can occur due to various reasons. It can be managed with the help of medications and lifestyle changes. However, if the disease has reached a severe stage and has caused the most damage, then the doctor will prescribe a liver transplantation procedure.

A life-long condition like liver disease can be managed with early treatment, which can be done through medications and lifestyle changes. Treatment prevents the progression of the disease and maintains the healthy function of the liver. Your healthcare provider will prescribe you appropriate treatment based on the type of liver disease, cause, degree of damage, etc.

For prescribing the right treatment, your healthcare provider will conduct your physical examination and get to know about your general health by asking you several questions. After gathering the necessary information, they will suggest some diagnostic tests, which are as follows:

Blood tests – Your doctor will order blood sample tests that will help them identify the root cause of the symptoms you are experiencing. These tests will provide a detailed analysis of the liver damage. The degree of damage and severity will be evaluated by measuring the levels of certain proteins and enzymes present in your blood sample.

Moreover, your liver releases some proteins to protect itself against any damage. In the blood tests examination, they will detect whether your liver is producing this protein and if so, then in what amount.

This test is done to confirm the liver damage because the liver might act up for a short time and get back to its healthy function. Blood tests will reveal if the person has got his liver damaged or has an absolutely healthy liver.

Imaging tests – Screening tests have different methods. They help in finding the degree of damage, size, and function of the liver. The healthcare provider will also prescribe the patient these tests during the treatment, to assess the improvement and whether the liver is responding to the treatment. Various types of imaging tests for liver disease are as follows:

CT scan – A computerized tomography (CT) test will reveal whether there is a presence of tumors and cancers in the liver. This technology uses radiation, which scans detailed images of the liver and blood vessels. It can also check if the person has fatty liver disease.

MRI scan – A magnetic resonance imaging scan test will detect whether the liver is acting up because of some infection, fatty liver disease, tumors, and other reasons. Basically, these techniques help in determining the root cause of Liver disease.

Ultrasound elastography – This type of test utilizes ultrasound technology, that checks for the scars on the liver. The scars can affect all the healthy tissues and spread throughout the entire liver, leading to cirrhosis. This test checks for the degree of damage caused because of scarring.

Magnetic resonance elastography – This technique is a combination of MRI and ultrasound technology, which generates detailed and structured images of the liver and checks for fibrosis.

Liver biopsy – This test reveals the liver conditions and the extent of damage. It involves the removal of samples of tissues from the liver. The tissues are then checked under the microscope to detect the presence of disease and infection. This is also helpful in detecting the presence of tumors due to abnormal growth of cells and the degree of damage to the liver. According to the Mayo Clinic website, liver biopsies are of three types, which are:

Percutaneous biopsy – This technique involves the insertion of a small needle inside the liver. Some medication is first applied to the area to numb the surface, such that the pain might not be felt. The biopsy needle is inserted, which takes a few seconds. The patient will be asked to hold their breath while inserting the needle. The needle after insertion is withdrawn quickly.

Trans jugular biopsy – The patient is asked to lie on their back and the medication that numbs the area is applied to one side of the neck. A plastic tube is inserted in the jugular vein through an incision. The tube is then threaded down into a large vein in the liver and a contrast liquid is injected. Then X-ray images of the liver will be scanned.

Laparoscopic biopsy – In this type of biopsy, small incisions will be made in the abdomen to insert some tools along with a tiny camera attached to it, inside the liver. The tiny camera helps with the insertion of tools in the right spot. The tool collects the tissue sample, and the incisions are covered through stitches.

Your healthcare provider will suggest a combination of diagnostic tests, which will help them with the identification of the exact cause of liver disease and the level of damage that has already occurred to the liver. Once they obtain accurate data and reports of the liver disease tests, they will begin the appropriate treatment.

The treatment will involve medications and some necessary lifestyle changes. However, if the damage is serious, then they will suggest a liver transplant, which is done through surgical procedures.