Liver disease accounts for more than a million deaths annually (Cirrhosis, viral hepatitis and liver cancer).
Often, the symptoms have been ignored, or delayed diagnosis causes casualties.
The liver filters toxins out of the body, any disorder may lead to toxin accumulation making it vulnerable to many diseases.
These can be temporary or long-term, giving rise to a chronic condition.
The temporary condition is often reversible, since liver has regenerative power to cure.
However, when the toxins get accumulated, viral infections or certain metabolic conditions give rise to chronic issue and can cause irreversible damage.
The Stages of Liver Disease-
1. Inflammation
It is the primary condition of the liver disorder, the start of the disease. Caused due to injury, toxins or a virus.Its asymptomatic condition often remains undetected.
Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver.
Hepatitis can be both viral and non-viral.
Viral Hepatitis – caused due to viral infection.
It consist of Hepatitis A, B, C.
Non-viral Hepatitis – It can be caused by:
- • Alcohol consumption
- • Drug induced
- • Autoimmune disease, or
- • Fatty liver
Symptoms for Liver Inflammation
- • Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- • Belly pain and discomfort in the upper right abdomen.
- • Fluid retention and swelling in the legs and ankles.
- • Fatigue
- • Nausea, vomiting
- • Gastrointestinal troubles
- • loss of appetite
2. Fibrosis
Prolonged inflammation causes liver scarring, stiffens the liver tissue .The thicken liver tissue unable the blood vessels to exchange oxygen or get enough nutrient supply.The scar causes blockade in the bile duct.The blockade of the blood supply to the liver causes portal hypertension.Fibrosis if identified initially can be promptly treated but prolonged scarring causes liver cells to die.
Causes of Fibrosis –
- • Alcohol consumption – inflammation or injury caused due to excess alcohol intake.
- • Viral hepatitis C – Caused by viral infections.
- • Metabolic dysfunction – Non Alcoholic Fatty liver caused due to obesity, underline medical condition – diabetes, high cholesterol levels.
Symptoms – Fibrosis does not show specific symptoms; however, the prolonged symptoms of inflammation in the liver indicates fibrosis.
3. Cirrhosis – The scarred liver tissue replaces all healthy cells.
It is the scarring of the liver tissues, replacing the healthy liver cells. Cirrhosis remains undiagnosed in early stages.
Symptoms at later stages,
- • Bleeding, bruising.
- • Itchy skin
- • Changes in the finger shape and white nails.
- • Jaundice
- • Dark stools
- • Confusion
- • Swollen legs and abdomen
- • Portal hypertension – the complete scarring of the liver obstructs the blood flow in the portal vein causing to elevate blood pressure.
4. Liver Failure
Prolonged chronic inflammation leads to liver failure.
Multiple conditions co-exist—
- • Fluid accumulation in the abdomen,
- • Kidney impairment
- • Internal bleeding
- • Confusion due to impaired blood filtration.
Conclusion
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and timely diagnosis can curb the liver disease burden and mortality.
