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WHY IS THE LIVER SO IMPORTANT?
The LIVER is extremely important to keep us alive as it is the main organ that filters the blood, makes bile, processes fat, makes important proteins for blood to clot, metabolizes medications, stores iron, copper, vitamins A, D and several B vitamins, breaks down and recycles red blood cells, makes albumin to regulates fluid transport in the blood and kidneys.
If the liver's functions are disrupted, toxins are not disposed and when accumulated, will bring about many health complications, some potentially life threatening.
WHAT IS LIVER DISEASE?
Liver Disease sinply means the liver is 'sick' due to a collection of conditions such as diseases and infections that affect the cells, tissues, structures or functions of the liver.
WHAT CAUSES LIVER DISEASE?
There are many causes of liver disease that includes:-
- aging
- alcohol abuse *
- certain medications tht are toxic to the live
- congenital birth defects or abnormalities of the liver present at birth
- metabolic disorders or defects in basic body processes
- nutritional deficiencies
- obesity
- toxins poisoning from air pollution, food additives, chemical based home and body care products
- trauma or injury
- viral or bacterial infections such as Hepatitis A,B,C,D,E.
* Alcohol is the liver`s worst and most fatal enemy. As a matter of fact, alcohol abuse is the
cause of two thirds of all chronic liver disease.
WHAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU FEEL PAIN IN YOUR LIVER?
The liver normally suffers silently over a long period of time. If you feel that your liver is causing you
pain, you should see a specialist at once. Your life could be in danger.
WHAT IS FIBROSIS AND CIRRHOSIS?
If you have some scar tissue, but not a lot, it is called FIBROSIS. If diagnosed early, your liver damage may be reversed as the liver can regenerate!
CIRRHOSIS is the medical word for a lot of scarring in the liver. A liver with cirrhosis is yellowish, firm and bumpy, and can feel like rubber.
HOW EXACTLY DOES CIRHOSIS OF THE LIVER DEVELOP?
Cirrhosis is the final stage of chronic liver disease. Over a period of many years the functional
hepatocytes are replaced by collagenous connective tissue. Since the liver has great resources,
symptoms first appear when over 80 per cent of its cells are already inoperative.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LIVER DISEASE?
The most important thing to recognize about liver disease is that up to 50 percent of individuals with
underlying liver disease have no symptoms. The most common symptoms are very non- specific and they include:-
- abdominal pain in the upper right part of the stomach
- darkened urine
- diarrhea
- depression
- fatique or excessive tiedness
- feeling as though you always have the flu
- generalized itching
- hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- jaundice - yellowing of the eye whites or skin
- light-colored stools
- loss of appetite
- loss of sex drive
- low grade fever
- muscle aches and pains
- nausea
- unusual weight loss or weight gain
- varicose veins
- vomiting
Signs of liver disease that are more prominent are jaundice or yellowing of the eyes and skin, dark
urine, very pale or light colored stool, poor bowel movements, bleeding from the GI tract, mental
confusion and retention of fluids in the abdomen or belly.
LIVER DISEASE - ARE THERE WARNING SIGNALS?
YES. You feel exhausted and drained. After getting up in the morning, you feel like going straight
back to bed, your eyes are glassy and tiny red or blue blood vessels may appear under your eyes,
your stomach feels uncomfortably bloated, you feel hungry, but you don't feel like eating
WHAT TYPE OF LIVER DISEASE ARE COMMONLY FOUND IN ADULTS?
- Alcholic hepatitis
- Alcoholic cirrhosis
- Cirrhosis: which is a serious condition that causes tissues and cells in the liver to be replaced by
scar tissue.
- Cystic disease of the liver, which causes lesions and fluid-filled masses in the liver
- Fatty Liver Disease: which causes an enlarged liver
- Gallstones, which may block the bile duct
- Hemochromatosis, a condition which causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. The iron
buildup causes damage to the liver and other organs.
- Hepatitis, an inflammation and infection of the liver caused by any of several viruses
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis, a condition that causes the bile ducts of the liver to narrow due to
inflammation and scarring
- Sarcoidosis, a disease that causes a buildup of lesions within the liver and other organs of the
body.
- Type I Glycogen Storage Disease, which causes problems in controlling blood sugars when a
person fasts
CAN LIVER DAMAGE BE REVERSED?
The liver is a unique organ. It is the only organ in the body that is able to regenerate (that is complete repair of the damage). With most organs, such as the heart, the damaged tissue is replaced with scar, like on the skin. The liver, however, is only able to replace damaged tissue with new cells to a certain level. An extreme example is a patient who suffers an overdose from Tylenol. In this example up to 50 - 60 percent of the liver cells may be killed within 3 - 4 days. However, if no other complications arise, the patient's liver will repair completely, and a liver biopsy after 30 days will appear completely normal with no signs of damage and no scar.
However, the long-term complications of liver disease occur when regeneration is either incomplete or prevented by progressive development of scar tissue within the liver. This occurs when the damaging agent such as a virus, a drug, alcohol, etc., continues to attack the liver and prevents complete regeneration. Once scar tissue has developed it is very difficult to reverse that process. Severe scarring of the liver is the condition known as cirrhosis. The development of cirrhosis indicates late stage liver disease and is usually followed by the onset of complications.
IS ALCOHOL THE ONLY CAUSE OF LIVER DISEASE?
Popular perception is that liver disease is caused by alcohol so therefore most people who have liver disease must be alcoholics. In reality, alcohol is only one cause of over 100 forms of liver disease.
Fatty Liver Disease is currently a leading cause of liver disease in many countries. Although this condition can be caused by excessive drinking, it has also been directly linked to obesity.
IS IT TRUE THAT ONLY ADULTS GET LIVER DISEASE?
Pediatric liver specialists around the world see thousands of children, from infants only a few days old up to teens who suffer from various forms of liver disease. The major causes of liver disease in children are genetics, virus infections and blockages in the flow of bile from the liver.
IS LIVER TRANSPLANT A CURE FOR LIVER DISEASE?
Liver transplants are treatments of last resort, however, they are not cures. In some cases, the transplanted livers get rejected by the body, leading to the need for repeat transplants anywhere from 24 hours to many years later. In other cases, the newly transplanted liver may become infected with a virus that is still circulating in the bloodstream (i.e. hepatitis C).
Liver disease is a deadly SILENT KILLER. The best way to prevent liver disease is by taking early preventive measures while early detection is best way to treat it. Please consult your doctor for best advice and opinions.
Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational and communication purpose only, for use in the maintenance and promotion of good health and should not be construed as personal medical advice or presented with the intention of diagnosing any disease or condition or prescribing any treatment. Bio Healthcare Enterprise shall hold No responsibility or liability on any untoward effects or incidents which may arise as a result of any misinterpretation of this information. |
