The liver is one of the largest organs in the human body
and is essential to the proper functioning of the body. The liver
synthesizes proteins, bile, acids, and cholesterol. It maintains a
balance of many nutrients and chemicals like glucose, fat, cholesterol,
vitamins, and hormones and aids in the excretion of many waste products
such as bilirubin, cholesterol, poison, and drugs. Liver disease is
thus a serious condition that can be cured if it is cared for in the
early stages. There are four stages for any malfunction of liver:
inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and cancer.
Inflammation
The liver can get inflamed due to certain conditions,
use of alcohol and certain chemicals. The conditions that can cause
liver inflammation are Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Autoimmune Hepatitis,
and Wilson's disease. Extensive alcohol use also causes inflammation of
the liver. Some drugs and industrial pollutants may affect the liver.
Inflammation is characterized by redness, swelling, heat and possible
pain in the liver.
Fibrosis
The second stage of liver disease is fibrosis or scar
tissues. After the liver has been inflamed for a long period,
connective tissues of the liver accumulate. At this stage the liver
functions slowly degrade.
Cirrhosis
The third stage of liver disease is called cirrhosis.
When liver has been damaged due to inflammation and fibrosis, it does
not function properly. Accumulation of scar tissues blocks blood flow
through the liver, preventing it from functioning normally. Some of the
symptoms of end stage cirrhosis are edema, bruising and bleeding,
jaundice, gallstones, and an increase of toxins in the blood, enlarged
blood vessels, and diabetes.
Cancer
If liver disease is not treated in the earlier three
stages, cancer may develop. Liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma,
affects approximately 4% of patients with cirrhosis. A liver transplant
is one of the options for treating liver cancer.
Liver
Disease provides detailed information on Liver Disease, Liver
Disease Symptoms, Fatty Liver Disease, Alcoholic Liver Disease and
more. Liver Disease is affiliated with Kidney
Stones In Women.
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