The liver is an organ found on the right side of the abdomen, directly beneath the rib cage. It is responsible for food digestion, waste elimination, and the production of clotting factors that maintain healthy blood flow.
Liver disease can be inherited and run in families. Obesity, infections, and alcohol consumption are all things that can damage the liver and result in liver problems.
Cirrhosis, or scarring, is a result of liver-damaging circumstances over time. Liver failure is a potentially fatal condition that can result from cirrhosis. About 1.8% of adults, or 4.5 million, have been diagnosed with liver illness since last year in the US. Unfortunately, signs of liver disease usually don’t show up until the disease has progressed to a more severe stage. Recognizing the warning signals early and knowing when to seek medical attention is crucial.
Reasons for Liver Damage
The causes of liver disease are numerous.
1.Virus Infection
The viruses that cause liver damage can be transmitted by contaminated food or drink, blood or semen, or close contact with an infected individual.
Hepatitis viruses, such as the following, are the most prevalent causes of liver infections. There are three sorts of hepatitis: A, B, and C.
- State of the immune system
Autoimmune illnesses are those in which the immune system attacks specific bodily parts. Among the autoimmune liver disorders are:
- Antibodies cause HCV.
- Primary cholangitis of the liver.
- Cholangitis with sclerosing primary.
- Genetics
Gene mutations inherited from one or both parents can cause substance buildup in the liver. Liver illnesses caused by genetics include:
- The condition of hemochromatosis.
- Wilson’s illness.
- Deficit of alpha-1 antitrypsin.
Signs and Symptoms to Watch Out For
1. Symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease causes the accumulation of excess fat in the liver. The accumulation of fat could be due to either nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or alcoholism. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can develop as a result of underlying medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Heavy and persistent alcohol consumption is the primary cause of most cases of alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The majority of fatty liver illnesses, both kinds together, are quiet conditions with little to no symptoms. Fatigue or upper right-side stomach pain are likely symptoms if you do get fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease has the same potential to develop and lead to cirrhosis as fibrosis. If your illness worsens, you may eventually develop cirrhosis symptoms as well.
- Symptoms of Liver Failure
When your liver function diminishes or performs less effectively than it should, you have liver failure. This is the outcome of chronic liver disease, which can be caused by cirrhosis, hepatitis, or liver damage.
When you have liver failure, you may frequently have symptoms such as:
- Overwhelming exhaustion
- Upper right side abdominal discomfort
- Jaundice and dark urine
- Confusion or fog in the mind
- Your abdomen’s fluid and swelling
- Symptoms of Liver Cancer
When cancer cells develop in the liver, liver cancer results, the most prevalent form of liver cancer in adults is hepatocellular carcinoma, which also ranks third globally in terms of cancer-related fatalities.
Liver cancer symptoms usually appear later in the disease’s progression. Individual differences exist in symptoms, contingent upon your ailment’s degree. However, you could experience the following symptoms:
- Upper right side abdominal discomfort
- Enlarged abdomen
- Slight jaundice
- Easily bruised and bleeding
- Overwhelming exhaustion
- Unexpected weight reduction
- Stools with a light color
- Dark urination
Prevention Tips for Liver Damage
To stop liver damage from occurring:
Reduce Alcohol Consumption: If you decide to use alcohol, make small drinks for healthy people; that translates to a maximum of one drink for women and two for men per day.
Obtain a vaccine: Discuss receiving the hepatitis A and B vaccinations with your healthcare provider if you have a higher-than-average risk of contracting hepatitis. This also holds if you have ever had hepatitis virus infection in any way.
Use caution when using medications:
- Only take prescription and other medications as needed.
- Only take the prescribed amount.
- Avoid combining medication and alcohol.
- Consult your healthcare professional before combining prescription medications with herbal supplements or other drugs.
Maintain the safety of your food: Thoroughly wash your hands before preparing or consuming food. When visiting a country with limited resources, wash your hands, take healthy diets, brush your teeth, and drink bottled water.
Use aerosol sprays with caution:
- Use these products only in well-ventilated areas.
- Use a mask when applying paint, fungicides, insecticides, and other hazardous substances.
- Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions.
Retain a healthy weight: Currently known as metabolically linked steatotic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can be brought on by obesity.
Conclusion
Any ailment that interferes with the liver’s normal function is called liver disease. While some symptoms of liver illness are common to all forms of the disorder, each has its own distinct set of symptoms. Loss of appetite and stomach pain are typical symptoms.
Regretfully, unless there is noticeable liver damage, most people do not recognize or experience the signs of liver disease. On the other hand, if your illness worsens, your liver function may quickly deteriorate and result in increasingly severe symptoms. If you start experiencing symptoms like severe abdominal swelling or blood in your stool, you should see a doctor immediately.
