Liver Diseases
Your liver is an important organ that performs many tasks connected with metabolism, energy storage, and waste filtering.
overview
Liver diseases refer to a group of conditions that affect the structure and function of the liver, a vital organ responsible for detoxifying the blood, producing bile for digestion, storing energy, and regulating many essential metabolic processes. When the liver becomes damaged or diseased, its ability to perform these functions is compromised, which can lead to a variety of health problems ranging from mild symptoms to life-threatening complications.
One of the most common liver conditions is fatty liver disease, which occurs when fat builds up in liver cells. It can be classified as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or alcoholic fatty liver disease, depending on the cause. NAFLD is often linked to obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and poor dietary habits. If left untreated, fatty liver can progress to more serious conditions like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis, or cirrhosis.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Hepatitis is another major category of liver disease, caused by viral infections such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. These infections can lead to inflammation of the liver and, in chronic cases, result in long-term liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer. Hepatitis B and C, in particular, can become chronic and silently damage the liver over many years.
Cirrhosis refers to the scarring of liver tissue that occurs as a result of long-term liver damage from conditions such as chronic hepatitis, fatty liver, or alcohol abuse. As scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, the liver’s function becomes increasingly impaired. Advanced cirrhosis can lead to complications like internal bleeding, jaundice, fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites), and liver failure.
Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma, often develops in people with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. It may not show symptoms in its early stages, but as it progresses, it can cause weight loss, abdominal pain, fatigue, and jaundice.Other liver conditions include autoimmune hepatitis, where the immune system attacks liver cells; genetic liver disorders such as Wilson’s disease and hemochromatosis; and drug-induced liver injury, which can result from certain medications, herbal supplements, or toxins.
- Jaundice
- loss of appetite
- Swelling in right upper abdomen
- Pain in right upper abdomen
- Weight loss