Liver Diseases

Also called: Hepatic disease

Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons.

There are many kinds of liver diseases. Viruses cause some of them, like hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Others can be the result of drugs, poisons or drinking too much alcohol. If the liver forms scar tissue because of an illness, it's called cirrhosis. Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, can be one sign of liver disease.

Cancer can affect the liver. You could also inherit a liver disease such as hemochromatosis.

Tests such as imaging tests and liver function tests can check for liver damage and help to diagnose liver diseases.

Symptoms of Liver Diseases

The following features are indicative of Liver Diseases:
  • yellowish eyes and skin
  • abdominal pain and swelling
  • swelling in the legs and ankles
  • itchy skin
  • dark urine color
  • pale stool color
  • chronic fatigue
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • loss of appetite
  • tendency to bruise easily
It is possible that Liver Diseases shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Liver Diseases

The following are the most common causes of Liver Diseases:
  • family inheritance
  • obesity
  • chronic alcohol use
  • immune system abnormality
  • nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Risk Factors for Liver Diseases

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Liver Diseases:
  • heavy alcohol use
  • body piercings
  • exposure to other people's blood and body fluids
  • injecting drugs using shared needles
  • unprotected sex
  • exposure to certain chemicals or toxins
  • diabetes
  • obesity
  • high levels of triglycerides in blood

Prevention of Liver Diseases

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Liver Diseases. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • avoiding contact with other people's blood and body fluids
  • using your medications wisely
  • drinking alcohol in moderation
  • maintaining a healthy weight
  • get vaccinated against liver diseases

Occurrence of Liver Diseases

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Liver Diseases cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Liver Diseases can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Liver Diseases can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Liver Diseases

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Liver Diseases:
  • Blood tests: To assess the liver disease
  • Imaging tests: To view the liver damage
  • Tissue analysis: To diagnose liver disease

Doctor for Diagnosis of Liver Diseases

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Liver Diseases:
  • Hepatologist

Complications of Liver Diseases if untreated

Yes, Liver Diseases causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Liver Diseases is left untreated:
  • cirrhosis
  • liver failure

Procedures for Treatment of Liver Diseases

The following procedures are used to treat Liver Diseases:
  • Surgery: Treating the liver diseases
  • Liver transplant: By replacing the diseased liver with a healthy one

Self-care for Liver Diseases

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Liver Diseases:
  • Avoid alcohol use: By limiting alcohol use
  • Control weight: Protect from liver diseases

Patient Support for Treatment of Liver Diseases

The following actions may help Liver Diseases patients:
  • Social support: Helps in providing awareness about the disease and discussing advance directives with patients pursuing curative therapies
  • Caregiver support: Helps in discussing goals of care

Is Liver Diseases Infectious?

Yes, Liver Diseases is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
  • by sexual contact

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Liver Diseases.
Bile Duct Diseases
Cirrhosis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Jaundice
Liver Cancer
Liver Function Tests
Liver Transplantation
Reye Syndrome
Wilson Disease

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