No products in the cart.: ₹0.00
Liver Disease: Types, Causes, Symptoms
Did you be aware it is that the liver can be the sole organ of the body that can regenerate?
The liver is among the largest organs of the body. It is situated in the upper right-hand part of the abdomen and is located just behind the lower ribs.
The liver is linked to numerous vital functions in the body, like:
-
The liver detoxifies and metabolizes substances and drugs that can harm the body.
-
The liver releases the bile juice into the intestine, which assists in the dissolution of fats as well as other nutrients that are absorbed from food.
-
It is used as a storage facility for glucose Inside inside.
-
-
If there is an excess of sugar in your body, it converts the glucose into glycogen bundles, which are stored in it.
-
If there is less glucose in the body, the body converts glycogen to glucose.
-
-
In general, the fat content in the body is controlled through the liver. When the liver is fully stocked of glycogen, it converts glycogen into fat which is then transferred to the remainder of the body via the blood.
-
The liver functions as a storage space for a variety of vital vitamins, including D, A E, K, and B12
-
It is responsible for the production of blood factors for clotting, proteins and enzymes, which help keep hormone balances in check.
What are the signs that are indicative of Liver Disease?
Liver diseases may not cause any symptoms in the beginning, or symptoms could be unspecific, such as fatigue and a lack of energy.
In the case of acute liver disease, the most frequent symptoms and signs include:
-
Eyes and skin yellow (Jaundice)
-
Dark urine
-
Pale stool colour
-
A loss of appetite
-
Nausea
-
Vomiting
-
Diarrhea
-
Abdominal swelling and pain
-
Unexplained, unproven weight loss increase in weight
-
Itchy Skin
Are you in danger of developing Liver Disease?
Factors that could raise the likelihood of suffering from liver disease and could be a cause of the liver disease are:
-
Heavy alcohol use
-
Injecting drugs using shared needles
-
Tattoos or body tattoos or piercings
-
Exposure to certain chemicals, or toxic substances
-
Diabetes
-
Obesity
Types of Liver Disease
Liver disease refers to any condition which causes inflammation of the liver or damage and can cause liver dysfunction. Let’s look at some of the most frequent liver diseases.
Fatty Liver Disease
A healthy liver in normal conditions has the smallest amount of fat or none in any way.
The extra fat that is produced by the liver may cause the liver to gain weight, resulting in Fatty Liver Disease.
Even when there is alcohol or a small amount of alcohol consumption, it can cause Fatty Liver Disease, This is called Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
The disease is a quiet killer because it has no or little symptoms unless it is detected.
It can result in the development of liver cancer or even complete failure if it is not treated promptly.
Alcoholic Vs Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease can be seen in those who drink alcohol regularly.
The condition can be reversed when the patient stops drinking alcohol.
Non-Alcoholic Fat Liver Disease (NAFLD) refers to the term used to describe the fat accumulation in the liver in the absence of alcohol. drink or consumes very little alcohol.
NASH
NASH is an extreme type of NAFLD. In the situation of NASH together with fat accumulation, there’s inflammation and the death of cells in the liver.
NASH can develop into more severe disease stages including advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis liver failure, or cancer that is caused by inflammation and hepatocellular ballooning.
The signs of NASH are usually not apparent until the liver has been injured beyond repair.
Factors that increase the risk of NASH include but are not the only ones
-
Hypertension
-
Heart disease
-
A high blood lipid level,
-
Insulin resistance
-
Type 2 diabetes
-
Obesity
Liver Fibrosis
Liver fibrosis can occur when an injury or inflammation of the liver, such as NASH and other disorders. It’s due to the over-accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins like collagen which are common in many forms of chronic liver disease.
The liver’s cells promote the healing process. In the course of wound healing the excess proteins, such as glycoproteins and collagen are accumulated within the liver.
After a few instances of repair, the cellulite of the liver (known as the hepatocytes) cannot repair itself. The excess proteins create scar tissue, also known as fibrosis.
Fibrosis of the liver that is advanced causes liver failure, cirrhosis as well as portal hypertension. It often necessitates liver transplantation.
Lifestyle changes and medications can prevent the condition from getting worse.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis causes scarring on the liver. The formation of scar tissue is due to injuries or chronic diseases such as Fatty Liver, NASH, Hepatitis, and many more. Cirrhosis can cause illnesses like Kidney failure, jaundice, Gallstones, etc.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver that may be caused by a variety of causes like viruses or infections. There is a variety of hepatitis such as:
-
Hepatitis A Infections caused by poor sanitation and not washing hands often are thought to be the primary reason that causes the spreading of the virus A.
-
Hepatitis B as well as C It is transmitted by contact with body fluids, particularly unsafe needles and sex that is not protected.
-
Hepatitis D is a disease that is only a possibility to infect those who already have hepatitis B.
-
Hepatitis E: This is a foodborne or water-borne infection.
Jaundice
The Jaundice eyes and skin, the whites of the eyes change to yellow. It is caused by the excess of Bilirubin.
Bilirubin is a yellow chemical found in hemoglobin, the protein that transports oxygen through the red blood cells. When red blood cells begin to disintegrate and the body creates new ones to take their place, and older ones get eliminated in the liver.
If the liver can’t handle blood cells, as they have broken down bilirubin build-up within the body. Eventually, the skin might appear yellow.
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is most often diagnosed in the liver. Metastatic liver cancer develops elsewhere in the body before spreading into the liver.
Risk factors for Liver Cancer include:
-
Being a victim of hepatitis C or B
-
Heavy alcohol use
-
Affected by cirrhosis or a liver scar
-
Hemochromatosis, an iron storage disorder
-
Obesity
-
Diabetes
Bile Duct Diseases
The liver produces the digestive juice bile, which aids in the breakdown of fat. The gallbladder can push the bile through tubes known as bile ducts, which transport the bile up to the small intestine.
Many diseases can cause blockage of the bile ducts and create an issue when it comes to the flow of the bile
-
Gallstones are solid particles that result from bilirubin and cholesterol inside the gallbladder. It may increase pressure in the gallbladder and can cause an attack on the gallbladder.
-
Cancer
-
Infections
-
Birth problems like biliary atresia. This is the most commonly reported reason for liver transplants in children.
-
Inflammation is a condition that can result in scarring. In time, this may cause liver damage.
Wilson Disease
Wilson Disease is a rare inheritable disorder that stops the body from eliminating excess copper. In Wilson disease, it’s possible to build up copper in the liver, and it releases it directly into the blood, which causes injuries to the kidneys, the brain as well as the eyes.
What is the process of diagnosing liver disease?
There are a variety of tests that can be used to identify various liver disorders.
Liver Function Test
It’s a collection of tests carried out in conjunction to identify, assess and monitor the liver’s condition or damage. The test usually comprises multiple tests which are run simultaneously using the blood sample. They typically consist of:
1. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
An enzyme that is typically found in the liver tissue, and, to a lesser degree in the kidneys, the heart and skeletal muscle. Its measurements are clinically valuable to diagnose the liver and biliary system.
2. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
An enzyme that is found in a variety of organs such as the liver, the heart and muscles.
Because AST levels don’t provide as much evidence for damage to the liver as ALT and ALT, they are usually taken along with ALT to determine if there are liver issues. If damage to the liver occurs, AST could be released into the bloodstream. An elevated result in an AST test may be a sign of a problem in the muscles or liver.
3. Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGTP)
A protein that can be present in a variety of different organs in the human body. greatest concentrations occurring inside the liver. GGT is found to be elevated in the blood of most illnesses that result in damage to the liver or bile ducts.
4. Bilirubin, Total
It can be used to determine an increase in the level of bilirubin found in the blood. It aids in determining the root cause of jaundice as well as identifying conditions like hemolytic anemia, liver disease and blockage of bile drainage channels.
5. Bilirubin, Direct
It’s a kind of bilirubin that has been associated (combined with an additional substance) within the liver. It only increases when there is liver disease.
6. Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
An enzyme linked to bile ducts, but also produced by bones, intestines and during pregnancy through the placenta (afterbirth).
ALP levels that are high ALP could indicate inflammation of the liver or obstruction of the bile ducts or bone disease.
7. Albumin
Albumin is the principal protein that is produced by the liver. The test is a way to determine the amount of albumin in the blood. If the results are low, it means that the liver isn’t working properly.
8. Total Protein
The test for total proteins determines the total amount of protein present in the blood and specifically checks levels of albumin as well as globulin. It also determines how much albumin and globulin are in the blood, also known as “the “A/G ratio.”
Total Protein can be used to evaluate patients for the status of their nutrition and liver disease, as well as protein loss due to gastrointestinal and renal disease.
Ammonia Test
Ammonia Test is used to determine an increase in the level of ammonia levels in the blood, which could be the result of severe kidney disease, liver failure or other rare genetic diseases.
Ceruloplasmin Test
Ceruloplasmin is the main copper-carrying blood protein and plays an important role in the metabolism of iron. Ceruloplasmin tests can be used to diagnose Wilson disease, which is an autosomal-recessive condition. The presence of low levels can also be seen in Menkes syndrome, which is a genetic disorder that affects copper absorption.
Bile Acids, Total
The increase in serum bile acids could be a sign of chronic liver sclerosis, liver cancer and the intrahepatic cholestasis that occurs during pregnancy.
NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) Fibrosis Score
The scoring system is non-invasive. the method is based on a variety of laboratory tests that help assess liver scarring.
How do you maintain a healthy liver?
The most effective way to prevent the development of liver diseases is by taking proactive steps to live a healthy lifestyle. Here are some suggestions to help keep the liver in good condition just as it should
-
Limit alcohol
-
Exercise regularly
-
Opt for healthier food choices
-
Use safe and secure sexual sex
-
Be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, as well as other diseases like yellow fever that develop within the liver.
