Unquestionably, the liver is among the most vital organs in the human body. The liver, situated in the upper right quadrant of the belly, performs various activities, like synthetic and metabolic functions. If it gets injured or diseased, it could prompt significant trauma to your body. Therefore, it is vital to carefully identify the causes, risk factors, and warning signs of liver disease. Liver disease Katy specialist Dr. Oforbuike Ewelukwa insists that early identification of the condition makes it easier to manage. Continue reading to learn more.
What Are The Causes and/or Risk Factors Of Liver Disease?
Here are some common risk factors and causes of liver disease:
Infection
Bacteria and viruses can infect the liver and cause inflammation that may lead to liver impairment. The parasites that trigger liver disease might infiltrate the blood or sperm by contaminated water or food or through direct contact with an infected individual.
Anomalies in the immune system
Once the immune system attacks particular body regions, the liver may be affected. Such illnesses include primary biliary cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis.
Genetics
A faulty gene acquired by one or both parents could accumulate numerous chemicals in the liver, leading to liver disease. Typical risk factors for liver disease include cancer, hemochromatosis, and Wilson’s disease.
Other prominent causes include:
· Liver fat accumulation
· Chronic alcoholism
· Specific over-the-counter medications and herbal substances
What Are The Warning Signs Of Liver Disease?
Jaundice
Jaundice is the most prominent indicator of liver illness. Patients with jaundice may observe that the white part of the eyes or skin seems yellow or pale. Jaundice results from an accumulation of bilirubin in the circulation. Bilirubin is the pigment formed by the breakdown of red blood cells. A dysfunctional liver is incapable of absorbing bilirubin and transforming it into bile.
Fluid Accumulation
Fluid buildup is one of liver disease’s most prominent early warning indicators. This concern happens in 50% of patients with cirrhosis, a condition where scar tissue removes good liver tissue.
The accumulation of fluid may induce abdominal distension or limb edema. This issue happens once the pressure in the veins of the liver rises or when the liver cannot make albumin, a protein that keeps blood from leaking into the tissue.
Bleeding
If you have liver illness, you might detect blood in your vomit or feces, or you could have rectal bleeding. Normally, blood flows through your liver fast. However, when a person has cirrhosis, the blood’s travel through the liver gets disrupted by scarring.
Therefore, the blood seeks alternative routes. Blood may go to the spleen, which may swell to ease congestion, and veins that have swelled rapidly begin to hemorrhage. A healthy liver will generate clotting proteins, but a diseased liver cannot, causing bleeding.
Memory issues
Additionally, confusion and memory issues are frequent warning indications of liver illness. Once your liver cannot filter out poisons, these toxins may reach your brain, leading to troubles with memory, disorientation, lethargy, and even a coma. A physician can recommend the laxative lactulose to retain toxins in the colon and wash them out before they reach the brain via the bloodstream.
Although recognizing the causes and warning signs of liver disease is vital, it is equally important to consult a professional for expert attention. At Imperial Digestive Health Specialists PLLC, Dr. Ewelukwa and his team suggest lifestyle modifications like reducing alcohol intake and weight loss to manage the risk factors for liver illness. However, in some cases, your doctor might suggest medications to treat the underlying reason for your condition. Arrange an appointment through mobile or book online today.