Most Common Causes and Symptoms of Chronic Liver Disease

The liver is a large organ roughly the size of a football. It is located on the right side of the abdomen, directly behind the rib cage. The liver is responsible for digesting meals and eliminating toxins from the body.

Liver illness can be passed down the generations (genetic). Viruses, alcohol usage, and obesity are just a few things that can harm the liver.

Over time, damage to the liver can cause scarring (cirrhosis), which can progress to liver failure, a life-threatening condition. However, early therapy may allow the liver to recover because of its unique ability to regenerate itself after getting damaged.

Causes of Liver Diseases

Different reasons result in various types of liver disease. Liver disease can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Hepatitis A, B, and C are viral infections that cause liver damage.
• Autoimmune liver disorders are caused by your immune system wrongly attacking your liver. Primary biliary cholangitis and autoimmune Hepatitis are two of them.
• A genetic issue might cause some liver problems (one inherited from the parents). Wilson disease and hemochromatosis are two inherited liver illnesses.
• Tumors can form in your liver when abnormal cells multiply and multiply. These tumors might be benign (noncancerous) or cancerous (cancerous) (liver cancer).
• Misuse of alcohol causes alcoholic fatty liver disease. Too much fat consumption causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As obesity and diabetes rates rise, NAFLD is becoming increasingly common.

Symptoms of Liver Diseases

Symptoms of some kinds of liver disease (such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) are uncommon. The most prevalent sign of other illnesses is Jaundice, characterized by a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.

When the liver cannot remove a chemical called bilirubin, the body suffers from Jaundice.

Some of the liver damage symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Easily being bruised
• Changed color of urine
• Changes in the color of stool
• Fatigue
• Vomiting or nausea
• Swelling in the legs or arms or fluid build up in the body

Causes of Fatty Liver

Some people develop fatty liver disease without having any other health problems. However, these risk factors increase the likelihood of developing it:

• Obesity and being overweight
• Being insulin resistant or suffering from Type 2 Diabetes
• High Blood pressure levels
• High cholesterol levels
• High triglyceride levels

Symptoms of Liver Failure

As the liver function deteriorates, it moves toward liver failure. The symptoms of liver failure are more severe and aggravated than liver diseases that need immediate attention and treatment. The liver failure symptoms are as follows:

• Jaundice
• Swollen belly
• Sleepiness
• Mental confusion or hallucinations
• Easy bleeding

Prevention of Liver Failure

Avoiding or Drinking Alcohol Moderately:

Drinking a lot of alcohol might leave the liver scarred or permanently damaged. Consult the doctor to understand how much alcohol is safe for consumption. An individual should drink alcohol in moderation or not drink at all for a better life.

Being Wise in Taking Medication:

Medication should only be consumed when necessary, and prescribed medications should be taken in the correct dosages. Before using herbal supplements with prescribed or non-approved drugs, always check with the doctor. Never take medicines while or shortly after drinking alcohol.

Avoiding Contact with Another Person's Blood or Body Fluid:

A hepatitis virus could spread from one person to another by getting in touch with another person's body fluid or blood.

Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle :

Healthy diet and daily exercise help maintain a healthy lifestyle. An inactive lifestyle could be a cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver.

Getting Proper Vaccination:

It is essential to consult the doctor about the risk of contracting Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B and the vaccination that could prevent it. Also, one must be aware that the body already has antibodies for Hepatitis.

Liver disease is a common disease these days. Treatment for liver problems can be costly and time-consuming. Hospital expenditures can build up faster than an individual would think, from diagnostic tests to drugs and, in certain situations, surgery. On the other hand, health insurance coverage may be able to assist them in covering these expenditures. A health insurance plan can cover expenses such as doctor's fees, hospital room rent, pharmaceutical costs, ambulance fees, pre and post-hospitalization expenses, and much more. The lump-sum payouts can provide additional liquidity when the individuals need to concentrate on their health rather than their finances.

FAQ’s

1. What are the early warning signs of liver disease?

Early warning signs may include fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, dark-colored urine, pale-colored stools, and jaundice, yellow color of the skin and/or eyes. Some liver disorders, like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, are silent and hence follow-up visits are crucial.

2. Can liver diseases be reversed or cured? 
Yes, certain liver ailments are reversible if they are diagnosed early enough and treated appropriately. An example is lifestyle-induced fatty liver, which can be reversed with diet, exercise, and abstinence from alcohol. Extensive liver damage in the form of cirrhosis is, however, usually irreversible and requires constant medical supervision. 

3. What is the most common cause of liver failure?
Liver failure can be a result of long-term use of alcohol, untreated viral hepatitis infection, fatty liver disease, or paracetamol overdose. Chronic and autoimmune illnesses lead to damage to the liver over time. 

4. How can I avoid liver disease? 
You can reduce your risk by avoiding alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, getting vaccinated against hepatitis, and using drugs sensibly. Avoidance of contact with infected needles or body fluids is also crucial in avoiding infection with hepatitis B and C. 

5. Why do we need health insurance to treat liver disease? 
Treatment of liver disease would typically include expensive diagnostics, hospitalization, surgery, and extended medication. A proper health insurance policy pays for these, as well as pre- and post-hospitalisation, doctor charges, and ambulance fees, so that the expense is low and patients can concentrate on getting cured.