The liver is one of the important and largest organs in the human anatomy (Body) and is essential to the proper functioning of our complete body. The liver synthesizes proteins, bile, acids, and cholesterol. it is the Primary organ that maintains the balance of many nutrients and chemicals like glucose, fat, cholesterol, vitamins, and hormones and aids in the excretion of many waste products such as bilirubin, cholesterol, poison, and drugs. Liver disease is thus a serious condition that can be cured if it is cared for in the early stages.

Causes:

Excessive alcohol consumption over many years is a leading cause of liver disease. Too much alcohol can make a normal liver swell with fat, causing a condition called fatty liver. If the fat becomes inflamed, it can lead to either alcoholic hepatitis, a liver problem that causes serious but often reversible liver damage.

Exposure to Industrial Chemicals, Toxin Substance, Aerosols, and Excess Intake of NSAIDs (Pain Killer) can also Harm your liver’s proper Functioning.

Viral hepatitis can lead to serious liver problems and is the most common type of liver disease. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver. The three types of hepatitis viruses – hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C – can all be prevented.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

There are four stages for any malfunction of the liver such as inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and cancer.

1. Inflammation
The liver can get inflamed due to certain conditions, the use of alcohol, and certain chemicals. The conditions that can cause liver inflammation are Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Autoimmune Hepatitis, and Wilson’s disease. Extensive alcohol use also causes inflammation of the liver. Some drugs and industrial pollutants may affect the liver. Inflammation is characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and possible pain in the liver.

2. Fibrosis
The second stage of liver disease is fibrosis or scar tissue. After the liver has been inflamed for a long period, connective tissues of the liver accumulate. At this stage, the liver functions slowly degrade.

3. Cirrhosis
The third stage of liver disease is called cirrhosis. When the liver has been damaged due to inflammation and fibrosis, it does not function properly. Accumulation of scar tissues blocks blood flow through the liver, preventing it from functioning normally. Some of the symptoms of end-stage cirrhosis are edema, bruising and bleeding, jaundice, gallstones, an increase of toxins in the blood, enlarged blood vessels, and diabetes.

4. Cancer
If liver disease is not treated in the earlier three stages, cancer may develop. Liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma, affects approximately 4% of patients with cirrhosis. A liver transplant is one of the options for treating liver cancer.

Care and Guidance:

Early Stage Liver Diseases can be treated by taking preventive actions and Medications, Vaccine for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B viruses are available. moreover, patients should be properly investigated to diagnose the disease at an early stage. Most of the time the disease is detected at an advanced stage and a cure is not possible. NON-SURGICAL THERAPY WITH THE HELP OF ENDOSCOPES IS NOW AVAILABLE IN EXPERT HANDS.