Our Centers
Table of Contents
The liver is the second largest organ of your body, located on the right side of your abdomen, just below the rib cage. The liver helps your body digest food. It absorbs the nutrients and eliminates waste and toxic substances. These toxic substances are carried out of the body in a substance called bile.
The liver also produces various nutrients that your body needs.
Liver disease is a term used to describe different kinds of conditions that can damage your liver. It includes different liver diseases that harm the liver function and cause illness or damage.
If untreated, liver disease can result in scarring and even liver failure, where the liver can no longer function normally.
Liver disease does not always cause visible symptoms. However, when symptoms do appear, they may include:
Early symptoms of liver disease include:
Symptoms also vary between different types of liver disease, such as fatty liver disease and chronic liver disease.
Fatty liver disease symptoms include:
Chronic liver disease symptoms include:
If you experience persistent symptoms of liver disease, then make sure to see a doctor at the soonest. Especially in the case of severe symptoms such as serious abdominal pain, make sure to see a doctor.
The causes of liver disease include different factors based on the condition that is affecting your liver. These causes include the following:
Parasites and viruses can cause infection. These infections include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, which are viral diseases that affect liver function. The infection causes inflammation in the liver that affects liver function.
These are diseases in which your immune system starts to attack certain parts of your body, and this affects your liver. These include autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis.
An abnormal gene inherited from your parents can cause an inherited liver disease such as Hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease.
When abnormal cells develop and start to multiply and spread in the body, this can lead to liver cancer and bile duct cancer, along with tumours. Another growth on the liver which is not cancerous is known as a liver adenoma.
Other factors include alcohol addiction, a buildup of fat deposits in the liver (fatty liver disease), and certain medications.
Treatment for liver disease will differ based on the specific condition that is affecting your liver. Liver disease treatment includes the following:
Complications of liver disease differ based on what is causing the liver problem. Certain kinds of liver disease may bring a greater risk of developing liver cancer. Others may damage your liver and lead to scarring or cirrhosis, where the scar tissue replaces the healthy liver tissue.
Over time, the liver loses all its healthy tissue. Untreated liver disease can eventually lead to liver failure as the liver loses its ability to function. Life expectancy with fatty liver disease is also reduced.
The liver is the detoxifier of the body. It removes harmful chemicals that can affect different parts of the body. The liver plays an important role in regulating hormones in the body.
A damaged or under-functioning liver affects the hormonal balance in the body. This can affect the reproductive system and fertility in men and women, as it affects the production of sex hormones.
Liver problems can also allow harmful chemicals to enter the body and affect the functioning of reproductive organs and fertility.
Some steps you can take to prevent liver disease include:
Alcohol puts a lot of strain on the liver. Moderate alcohol consumption is a good way to prevent liver disease.
For adults, excessive drinking would be approximately more than eight drinks a week for women and 15 drinks a week for men.
The vaccination can help reduce your chances of getting hepatitis and improve your body’s immunity against the virus.
Make sure to take medications that are necessary and in the prescribed doses.
Avoid exposing yourself to sources of infection such as used syringes, other people’s blood and bodily fluids.
The Hepatitis virus can spread in these ways. Use protection during sexual intercourse.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet to minimise the build-up of fatty deposits or toxic substances. This could include reducing the consumption of high-fat foods and increasing your fibre intake.
Avoid exposure to foods that contain harmful chemicals. Maintain a healthy weight to avoid obesity, which can lead to fatty liver disease.
Liver disease develops due to different factors. It can occur as liver cancer, autoimmune diseases, and viral or other infections. It can lead to long-term complications, so it is important to treat it at the soonest.
Loss of liver function affects important bodily functions such as removing toxins and regulating hormones. It also affects your fertility and sex hormones. It is important to consider fertility testing and treatment if needed.
For the best fertility treatment and care, visit Birla Fertility and IVF or book an appointment with Dr. Vinita Das.
1. What are common liver diseases?
A list of liver diseases that commonly develop are:
2. What important functions are affected by severe, acute, or chronic liver disease?
Some important functions that are affected by severe, acute or chronic liver disease include:
3. What is the last stage of chronic liver disease?
The last stage of chronic liver disease is called end-stage liver disease. It is when the liver is at the last stage of functioning. The complications may include rupturing the blood vessels, ascites (fluids collected in the abdomen) and kidney problems. It usually develops into cirrhosis.
Birla Fertility & IVF aims at transforming the future of fertility globally, through outstanding clinical outcomes, research, innovation and compassionate care.
Talk to our fertility experts
