Let’s Learn Liver
The liver is the second-largest organ in your body, behind the skin. There are many things your liver does to maintain your health. It transforms food into the necessary chemicals for your body. It eliminates poisons. It aids in converting food into energy. Therefore, if your liver isn’t functioning properly, your entire body may be affected.
Numerous factors can result in serious liver conditions. You should be aware of the main causes.
Causes of different types of Liver Disease
Different causes lead to different types of liver disease. We will discuss some causes below:
- Viral infections: In some cases, the issue is an infection that has irritated your liver. Viral infections are the main cause of the hepatitis A, B, and C diseases.
- Immune system issues: Autoimmune liver diseases can be caused when your immune system unintentionally attacks your liver. These include autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
- Diseases that run in families: Some liver issues are brought on by a genetic defect that you inherit from your parents. Wilson disease, hyperoxaluria, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and hemochromatosis are examples of inherited liver conditions.
- Cancer: Tumours may form in your liver when abnormal cells proliferate there. These tumours can be cancerous (liver cancer, bile duct cancer) or non-cancerous (liver cell adenoma).
- Consuming excessive amounts of toxins: Regular alcohol use can lead to fatty liver disease.Overeating fat causes fatty liver disease, which is not related to alcohol. As rates of obesity and diabetes rise, non-alcohol related fatty liver disease is becoming more prevalent.
Symptoms and Signs
Some types of liver disease ( such as Fatty liver disease) rarely cause symptoms. For others, the most common symptom is skin developing a yellow tinge, known as Jaundice.
Other signs and symptoms of liver disease include:
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Decrease in appetite
- Dark urine
- Stools look pale, bloody or black
- Unusual bruising
- Itchy skin
- General weakness along with tiredness
- Swelling in legs and abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss
What to do to Prevent the disease?
- Reduce consumption of alcohol. That means up to two drinks a day for men and, up to one drink a day for women for healthy adults. More than eight drinks per week for women and more than 15 drinks per week for men is heavy drinking.
- Keep your distance from other people’s bodily fluids and blood. Accidental needle sticks and improper handling of blood or bodily fluids can spread hepatitis viruses.
- Maintain food safety. Before consuming food or preparing it, thoroughly wash your hands. Wash your hands frequently, and regularly brush your teeth.
- Keep your skin safe. Wear gloves, a hat, long sleeves, and a mask when using insecticides and other hazardous chemicals to prevent chemical absorption through your skin.
- Vaccination is important. Consult your doctor about receiving the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines if you have a higher risk of developing hepatitis or if you have already had the virus in any form.
- Take medications as directed. Prescription and over-the-counter medications should only be taken as directed and only when absolutely necessary. Prescription drugs and alcohol should not be combined. Prior to consolidating natural enhancements with medicine or non-prescription meds, counsel your primary care physician.
- Keep a healthy weight. Obesity can result in Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
We will always recommend to make an appointment with a healthcare professional for better guidance.
Read more: How to Avoid Junk Food?
Citations
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554597/
https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/hep.21347
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1542356516306085