Liver Disease Causes
Infection: Various infections can cause liver disease, the most common types of liver infection are hepatitis viruses such as Hepatitis A, B, C & E
Chronic Alcohol Abuse: Most common cause of liver cancer and indication for liver transplant
Fatty Liver: Common causes of fatty liver are obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes
Immune system abnormality: Examples include Autoimmune hepatitis, Primary sclerosing cholangitis, Primary biliary cirrhosis
Other Causes: Drugs and Toxins, Genetics
Risk Factors: Following factors may increase your risk for Liver problem
- Alcohol Abuse
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Exposure to certain toxins or chemicals
- Unprotected sex
- Injecting drugs using shared needles
- Blood transfusion
Symptoms
- Yellowish discoloration of skin and eyes (Jaundice)
- Nausea & Vomitting
- Chronic Fatigue
- Pruritus / Itching
- Abdomen pain and distension (Ascites)
- Swelling or edema in the ankle and leg
- Dark colored urine
- Pale stools
- Loss of appetite
- Blood in the vomitus (Hematemesis)
- Fresh blood in the stool (Hematochezia) or Black tarry stools (melena)
Liver Disease Treatment
Treatment varies from life-style modifications to drugs to surgery depending on the specific cause. Changes in life-style include stopping alcohol use, regular exercise, diabetes and weight control for fatty liver, Chronic liver damage is managed conservatively with drugs initially and Liver transplant for end stage liver problem
Liver Disease Prevention
Healthy life style with regular exercise and weight management is must for healthy liver. Diabetes control. It is predicted that Fatty liver will be the leading cause of liver failure and liver cancer in future. Avoid alcohol intake and smoking. Hepatitis B vaccine is available. Unprotected sex, infected blood transfusion, sharing infected needles are risk for hepatitis infection and should be avoided