the liver is the largest solid organ of the human body. it performs a myriad of important and life-sustaining functions. metabolic, immunologic, synthetic and detoxifying are some of these. if it does not function properly or stops working, it may have serious effects on the entire body. there are many diseases and disorders related to the liver that can turn out to be life-threatening. liver disease is a common term referring to any condition affecting your liver that can damage your liver and/or affect its function.

five reasons that put you at risk for liver disease:

1. hepatitis

hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. it can be caused by either infectious or non-infectious agents. the common infectious agents are the hepatitis viruses (a, b, c, d & e). non-infectious causes of hepatitis include excess consumption of alcohol, fatty liver, certain drugs, medications and toxins. autoimmune diseases can also cause hepatitis. hepatitis impairs the normal functioning of the liver and causes symptoms such as fever, jaundice, pain abdomen, weakness, nausea and vomiting. the viruses causing hepatitis can spread from one person to another via:

hepatitis a and e occur due to the consumption of contaminated food or water. improper washing of fruits and vegetables, drinking dirty water and handling food with hands contaminated with fecal matter are the common causes of hepatitis a and e infection.

hepatitis b, c and d are spread by exposure to bodily fluids, such as blood, vaginal secretions and semen. blood transfusions with unscreened infected blood used to be a common cause of disease transmission. sharing needles for body piercing, tattooing and iv drug use is also a common cause of transmission of these viruses. the use of common blades for shaving is common in certain rural areas. unprotected and unsafe methods of sexual contact are also a common mode of disease transmission.

2. fatty liver disease

fatty liver disease is caused due to fat buildup in the liver. the two types of fatty liver disease include:

• alcoholic fatty liver disease- caused due to heavy alcohol consumption

• non-alcoholic fatty liver disease- seen in obese, diabetics and people with metabolic syndromes

fatty liver is an emerging health problem in india. both high alcohol consumption and the rising incidence of obesity and diabetes contribute to this trend. nearly 20-30 % of the general population of india has fatty liver disease. if left untreated they can lead to liver damage, cirrhosis and liver failure. healthy lifestyle habits can help decrease this health problem significantly. all it takes is good food, exercise and no/limited alcohol consumption.

3. cancer

the liver is a common site for primary and secondary malignancies. cancer anywhere in the body has a tendency to spread to the liver and thus liver can be involved in cancers of the breast, stomach, colon etc. the most common primary cancer of the liver is hepatocellular carcinoma. chronic liver disease, chronic hepatitis, alcohol, and toxins are the common causes of liver cancer.

4. cirrhosis

cirrhosis is the scarring of the liver tissue resulting from chronic liver diseases due to injury.  alcohol, hepatitis b hepatitis c and nash ( fatty liver disease ) are the common causes of liver cirrhosis in india the liver tissues can restore in response to damage, but the process results in the development of scar tissue. the more amount of scar tissue development makes it harder for the liver to function properly. abnormal functioning of the liver can result in jaundice, bleeding abnormalities, and fluid accumulation in the limbs and tummy. in later stages, the other systems in the body can also be affected causing damage to the kidneys, brain, heart and lungs.

cirrhosis is often treatable in the early stages by treating the cause and managing the symptoms with medications. but if it is not managed through proper treatment or if the disease progresses then it can lead to other complications and become life-threatening. it can progress to chronic liver failure.

5. liver failure

when a significant part of the liver gets damaged due to any cause it cannot function properly. this condition is known as liver failure. liver failure can be acute or chronic. acute liver failure is usually caused by hepatitis a & e, drug overdose (paracetamol, anti-tb drugs etc), and certain toxins (ratol etc). the common causes of chronic liver failure are alcohol, hepatitis b & c, nash etc. the common symptoms of liver failure are jaundice, bleeding from gums and intestines, drowsiness and coma, etc. liver failure is a life-threatening condition requiring intensive hospital care in the best hospital for liver treatment. liver failure requires specialised care in a unit capable of handling such patients. if medical management fails then a liver transplant may be required in such cases

conclusion

liver diseases need proper medical attention from the best liver specialist doctor in hyderabad, and if ignored, they can put you in serious health trouble. there are vaccines available for certain types of hepatitis, but otherwise, you have to be careful not to put your liver at risk by following a healthy lifestyle (diet, exercise and food). if you have any of the symptoms suggesting any liver disease, you should immediately take medical advice from the liver treatment hospital in hyderabad and follow it regularly.