Liver disease: Types of liver problem, Symptom, Treatment and Prevention

Human liver

Liver disease:

Your liver is a crucial organ that handles thousands of metabolic, energy-storing, and waste-filtering duties. It aids in food digestion, energy production, and energy storage till needed. It aids in bloodstream toxicity filtering as well.

Any ailment that affects your liver is referred to as having liver disease. All of these disorders have the potential to harm your liver and impair its functionality, however their causes may vary. Scarring and more severe consequences may develop as a result of liver disease over time. The damage can be repaired and liver failure can be avoided with early therapy.

What signs and symptoms are typical?

Depending on the underlying etiology, several symptoms of liver disease exist. Additionally, a person with liver illness may not exhibit any symptoms at all. 

Some liver conditions, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hardly ever result in symptoms. The most typical sign of other illnesses is jaundice, which is characterized by a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. When your liver struggles to eliminate a chemical known as bilirubin, jaundice occurs.

These consist of:

• Jaundice is characterized by yellowish skin and eyes.
• Bloody, white, or dark stools
• Belly (abdominal) pain (especially on the right side).
• Prone to bruising.
• Fatigue.
• Sickness or vomiting
• Your arms or legs swelling (edema).

What are some typical liver issues?

Your liver may be impacted by numerous disorders. Here are some of the most significant ones.

Hepatitis

The term "hepatitis" refers to liver inflammation. Viral hepatitis is the name given to the condition when a virus is to blame for the inflammation. Your liver may get damaged by hepatitis, making it more challenging for it to perform as it should.

The majority of viral hepatitis strains are communicable, but you can lessen your risk by receiving the types A and B vaccines and by following other preventive measures.

Among the five forms of hepatitis are:

Hepatitis A: 

The most common way that hepatitis A is transmitted is through contact with tainted food or drink. Without medication, symptoms may go away, but recovery can take a few weeks.

 Hepatitis B:

Acute (short-term) or chronic viral hepatitis can also occur (long-term). It is transmitted through body fluids like blood . Hepatitis B can be managed, but there is no known cure. If you're at risk, it's advisable to undergo routine tests because prompt treatment is essential to preventing consequences.

Hepatitis C:

 Additionally, hepatitis C can be acute or chronic. It frequently spreads by contact with hepatitis C patient's blood. Although it frequently has no symptoms in the beginning, it can result in chronic liver damage if left untreated.

Hepatitis D :

is a severe form of hepatitis that can only be acquired through the co-infection of hepatitis B. Additionally, it may be acute or persistent.

Hepatitis E:

 Drinking tainted water is typically the main source of hepatitis E. Typically, there are no long-term consequences and it resolves on its own after a few weeks.

A fatty liver condition

Fatty liver disease can result from fat accumulation in the liver.
Fatty liver disease comes in two different varieties. These two manifestations can occur separately or together:Alcohol abuse, which results in alcoholic fatty liver disease,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, whose underlying causes researchers are currently attempting to unravel

Both types of fatty liver disease can harm the liver and result in cirrhosis and liver failure if they are not treated. Dietary adjustments and other lifestyle modifications can frequently reduce problems and improve symptoms.

Autoimmune diseases:

Your immune system wrongly attacks healthy cells in your body when you have an autoimmune disease.

Your immune system attacks liver cells in a number of autoimmune diseases, including:

Auto-immune hepatitis .

Your immune system attacks your liver as a result of this illness, causing inflammation. It can result in cirrhosis and liver failure if left untreated.

Primary cirrhosis of the liver (PBC).

 This happens as a result of bile buildup due to damage to your liver's bile ducts. PBC may eventually result in liver failure and cirrhosis.

Sclerosing cholangitis primary. 

Your bile ducts gradually deteriorate due to this inflammatory illness. Bile ultimately builds up in your liver as a result of them finally becoming obstructed. This may result in liver failure or cirrhosis.

Genetic disorders:

Your liver may also be impacted by a number of genetic disorders that you inherited from one of your parents:

• Your body stores more iron than it requires when you have hemochromatosis. Your liver is one of the organs where this iron is still present. If not controlled, this could cause harm over a lengthy period of time.
• Wilson's illness prevents your liver from releasing copper into your bile ducts, causing it to be absorbed instead. When your liver is eventually too damaged to hold any more copper, it may enter your bloodstream and cause harm to your other organs, including your brain.
• When your liver is unable to produce enough alpha-1 antitrypsin, a protein that aids in preventing enzyme breakdowns all throughout your body, you develop alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Both liver and lung damage may result from this syndrome. Treatment can be helpful, but there is no cure.

Alcoholism-related liver illness:

Cancer:

In the beginning, liver cancer begins to grow there. Secondary liver cancer refers to cancer that originates elsewhere in the body but spreads to the liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the type of liver cancer that occurs most frequently. Although it can begin as a single tumor, it typically spreads to your liver as numerous little patches of malignancy.

Liver cancer may develop as a result of various liver conditions, particularly those that go untreated.

Cirrhosis:

Scarring caused by liver illnesses and other factors, such as alcohol use disorder, is referred to as cirrhosis. Syphilis and cystic fibrosis can also damage the liver and eventually result in cirrhosis, however these two conditions are far less prevalent.In reaction to injury, your liver can regenerate, although this usually leads to the formation of scar tissue. Your liver's ability to operate properly gets harder as more scar tissue forms.

By addressing the underlying cause, cirrhosis is frequently treatable in its early stages. But if left untreated, it might result in fatal consequences and other problems.

A liver problem:

When your liver suffers considerable damage and becomes dysfunctional, chronic liver failure frequently results. Liver failure brought on by cirrhosis and liver disease typically develops gradually. At initially, you might not experience any symptoms. But as time passes, you might begin to notice :

• Jaundice
• Diarrhea
• Confusion
• Feeble and weary
• Nausea

It's an important ailment that needs continual care.

Am I in danger?

You may be more susceptible to certain liver illnesses if you have certain characteristics. Heavy drinking, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source defines as more than 8 alcoholic drinks per week for women and more than 15 drinks per week for males, is one of the most well-known risk factors.

Other danger signs consist of:

• Sharing syringes
• Using non-sterile needles for body piercing or tattooing
• Having a work that exposes you to bodily fluids like blood
• Living with high cholesterol or diabetes
• Having liver disease in one's family
• Residing while overweight
• Exposure to poisons or pesticides
• Consuming certain dietary supplements or plants, particularly in excessive doses.

How are liver conditions identified?

The best course of action if you have liver disease concerns is to schedule a consultation with a medical specialist.

They will begin by reviewing your medical history and inquiring about any family members who have experienced liver issues. After that, they'll probably ask you a few questions about any symptoms you might be having, such as when they started and whether or not particular circumstances make them better or worse.

They'll probably inquire about your food and drinking habits based on your symptoms. Additionally, be sure to let them know whether you use any prescription or over-the-counter medications, as well as vitamins and supplements.

Your doctor may additionally suggest one or more tests in order to correctly identify and determine the cause of liver disease. These may consist of:

• Testing for liver function
• Full blood count examination
• Ultrasounds, MRI, or CT scans to look for tumors or liver damage
• A liver biopsy is a procedure where a small portion of your liver is removed and examined for symptoms of damage or illness.

Treatment:

Chronic liver conditions are typically treatable.Changes in lifestyle may be sufficient for some persons to control symptoms. These could consist of:

• Keeping a healthy weight
• Increasing water intake
• choosing a diet that is gentle on the liver, low in harmful fats, processed sugar, and salt, and high in fiber
• Your doctor could suggest further dietary modifications depending on the specific liver disease you have. For instance, those who have Wilson's disease should avoid foods like shellfish, mushrooms, and nuts that contain copper.
• The sort of liver illness you have and how far it has advanced will determine how it is treated. Treatment options include:
• Lifestyle modifications: You can manage some types of liver disease with your diet. Alcohol should be avoided, and fiber intake should be increased if you have fatty liver disease. Alcohol abstinence can help liver damage caused by alcohol.
• Liver transplant: A liver transplant may be the best course of treatment when hepatic disease leads to liver failure. Your liver is replaced by a healthy liver during a transplant.
• Antiviral medications for hepatitis
• Steroids to reduce liver inflammatory response
• Medicine for blood pressure
• Antibiotic

Prevention:

Although not all liver damage or disease can be prevented, lifestyle decisions can have a significant impact on how healthy your liver remains. Similar to the risk variables mentioned above, eating habits and physical activity are key components of many preventative strategies.

• Restricting alcohol
• Avoiding taking drugs and smoking
• Keeping a healthy weight
• Using dangerous chemicals with caution when using aerosol cleansers, insect sprays, and other cleaning supplies
• Visiting your physician for yearly examinations, which may include blood tests
• Avoiding trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup-containing foods and beverages.
• To prevent liver damage, carefully monitor your intake of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol®) are known to cause liver damage.
• Reducing the amount of red meat you eat.

• Raising the level of exercise.

What is the prognosis?

If you catch liver disorders early enough, many of them are treatable. But if left untreated, they can harm you permanently.

Cirrhosis, which is a severe scarring that cannot be reversed, can result from the complications of untreated or poorly managed liver illness. A liver transplant can be your only choice if cirrhosis has progressed too far.

Making it a point to plan annual physicals, along with the usual physical blood testing, will help you and your doctor remain one step ahead because some liver disorders can develop without symptoms.

Focusing on a healthy diet, regular exercise, and other lifestyle choices that promote good health, such reducing alcohol consumption, can also aid in prevention or control.