Liver disease

Reviewed by Jessica Muñoz, Jessica Muñoz is a registered nurse and educator with 20 years of experience in critical care emergency nursing, specializing in patient care, education, and evidence-based practice. She holds multiple certifications and serves as a Patient Safety Coordinator.

The liver, roughly the size of a football, plays a crucial role in the human body. Situated beneath the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen, it undertakes various essential functions such as energy storage, waste filtration, and metabolism. Among its duties are aiding in food digestion, converting it into energy, and storing excess energy until required. Additionally, the liver filters toxins from the bloodstream.

Liver diseases can stem from genetic predispositions or various factors that harm the liver, including excessive alcohol consumption, viral infections, and obesity. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to scarring, known as cirrhosis, which may culminate in liver failure—a potentially fatal situation. Timely intervention allows the liver the opportunity to heal.

Statistics indicate that approximately 10% of Americans, totaling 30 million individuals, are afflicted with some form of liver disease nationwide. Chronic liver disease, specifically cirrhosis, affects as many as 5.5 million adults in the United States.

Symptoms

Liver disease has no noticeable signs and symptoms, however, if the symptoms occur, they can include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Nausea or vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Tendency to bruise easily
• Fatigue
• Swelling in the arms or legs
• Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice)
• Pain in the abdomen, especially on the right side
• Swelling in the legs and ankles
• Itchy skin
• Changed color of stool and urine

Causes

Liver disease can be caused by:

Infection: Viruses and a range of parasites have the potential to infect the liver, triggering inflammation that diminishes its functionality. These viruses, capable of inducing liver damage, can be transmitted through various means such as semen or blood, contaminated water or food, or direct contact with an infected individual. Among the common liver infections caused by hepatitis viruses are hepatitis A, B, and C.

Immune system abnormality

An autoimmune response instigates diseases wherein the body’s immune system targets specific organs, including the liver. Autoimmune liver diseases encompass:

• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Primary biliary cholangitis
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Genetics

Inherited abnormal genes passed down from your parents can result in the accumulation of different substances within the liver, ultimately leading to liver damage. Genetic liver diseases may comprise:

• Wilson’s disease
• Hemochromatosis
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Cancer and other growths

Examples of cancer and other growths include:

• Liver cancer
• Liver adenoma
• Bile duct cancer

Additional factors

Additional common factors contributing to liver disease include:

• Specific herbal compounds
• Certain prescription or over-the-counter medications
• Chronic alcohol abuse
• Hepatic fat accumulation

Risk factors

The following factors can increase the risk of liver disease:

• Family history of liver disease
• Exposure to other people’s body fluids and blood
• Blood transfusion before 1992
• Exposure to certain chemicals or toxins

Prevention

Certain measures can be taken to prevent some types of liver disease, especially those related to our diet and lifestyle. If you’re at risk for liver disease, your healthcare provider can suggest some lifestyle changes including:

• Moderate drinking of alcohol — For healthy persons up to one drink a day for females and up to two drinks a day for males. More than eight drinks a week for females and more than fifteen drinks a week for males are defined as heavy or high-risk drinking.
• Avoid risky behavior — Prefer using a condom during sex. If you like to have tattoos or body piercings, take care of cleanliness and safety when selecting a shop. Avoid using illicit intravenous drugs, and do not share needles for injecting drugs.
• Get vaccinated — If you are at high risk of having hepatitis or if you have been infected with any type of hepatitis virus, Inform your doctor about getting the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines.
• Use medications wisely — Take prescribed and nonprescribed medicines only when needed and only in recommended doses. Don’t mix alcohol and medicines. Consult your doctor before mixing herbal supplements or prescribed and nonprescribed drugs.
• Avoid contact with other people’s body fluids and blood — You can be infected with the hepatitis virus through needle sticks or improper cleanup of blood or body fluids.
• Keep your food safe — Always wash your hands thoroughly before cooking food or eating. When traveling in a developing country, use bottled drinking water, brush your teeth, and wash your hands regularly.
• Take care with aerosol sprays — Make sure, you use these products in a well-ventilated area, and always wear a mask when spraying insecticides, fungicides, paint, or other toxic chemicals.
• Protect your skin — When using insecticides or other toxic chemicals, don’t forget to wear gloves, long sleeves, a hat, and a mask so that chemicals are not absorbed through the skin.
• Maintain a healthy weight — Never be obese, as it leads to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Several preventive measures can be adopted to mitigate the risk of certain types of liver disease, particularly those associated with our dietary choices and lifestyle. If you’re deemed at risk for liver disease, your healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle adjustments, including:

• Moderating alcohol consumption: For individuals without liver disease, limiting alcohol intake to one drink per day for females and up to two drinks per day for males is advised. Consumption exceeding eight drinks per week for females and fifteen drinks per week for males is considered heavy or high-risk drinking.
• Avoiding risky behaviors: Utilize condoms during sexual activity, prioritize cleanliness and safety when getting tattoos or body piercings, refrain from using illicit intravenous drugs, and avoid sharing needles for drug injection.
• Vaccination: Individuals at high risk of hepatitis or those infected with hepatitis viruses should discuss receiving hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines with their healthcare provider.
• Prudent medication use: Take prescribed and over-the-counter medications only as necessary and in recommended doses. Avoid mixing alcohol with medications and consult with your doctor before combining herbal supplements with prescribed or over-the-counter drugs.
• Preventing exposure to bodily fluids: Minimize contact with other individuals’ body fluids and blood to reduce the risk of hepatitis virus transmission, particularly through needle sticks or improper cleanup of blood or bodily fluids.
• Ensuring food safety: Thoroughly wash hands before cooking or eating, especially when handling food. When traveling in developing countries, opt for bottled drinking water, maintain oral hygiene, and wash hands regularly.
• Using aerosol sprays cautiously: Employ aerosol products in well-ventilated areas and wear a mask when spraying insecticides, fungicides, paint, or other toxic chemicals.
• Protecting skin: Wear gloves, long sleeves, a hat, and a mask when handling insecticides or other hazardous chemicals to prevent skin absorption.
• Maintaining a healthy weight: Avoid obesity, as it is a contributing factor to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Treatment

The treatment for liver disease varies depending on the specific type and stage of the condition. Common treatment options include:

• Medications: Certain liver diseases can be managed with medications. For instance, antiviral drugs may be prescribed for viral infections like hepatitis, while medications can also be used to address inherited conditions such as Wilson’s disease.
• Lifestyle adjustments: Modifying your diet can aid in managing certain liver diseases. For example, individuals with fatty liver disease may benefit from abstaining from alcohol, reducing fat and calorie intake, and increasing fiber consumption.
• Liver transplant: In cases where liver disease progresses to the point of liver failure, a liver transplant may be necessary. This procedure involves replacing the diseased liver with a healthy donor liver, offering a definitive treatment solution.

Work cited

• Liver Disease, 2023. Clevelandclinic.org. Liver Disease: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
• Liver Problems and Their Causes, 2023. Healthline.com. Liver Disease: Types of Liver Problems, Causes, and More
• Liver Disease, 2024. Mayoclinic.com. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-problems/symptoms-causes/syc-20374502?p=1