MAIN Health Diseases & Conditions Liver Diseases

Located just behind the lower right part of the rib cage, and weighing in at about 4 pounds, the liver is largest internal organ in the body, and is responsible for more than 100 functions that help keep the body running smoothly and efficiently.

It metabolizes food, filters out poisons in the blood, produces immune agents to control infections, and can even regenerate itself when part of it has been damaged.

This highly important processing "dynamo", however, may not be given a moment's consideration until it begins to malfunction or becomes diseased.

Because of the relationship between the liver and the body's overall proper functioning, any liver condition left untreated can eventually become very debilitating, and in later stages seriously life threatening.

Liver diseases

The most common serious liver disorders are hepatitis, usually caused by viral infections or medications, unprotected sex, or the use of contaminated syringes ("dirty needles") by drug abusers - and cirrhosis, which is now equally related to both the hepatitis C virus as well as to alcoholism.

Other less common liver conditions include fatty liver syndrome, (usually caused by excess weight or diabetes) as well as primary biliary cirrhosis and sclerosing cholangitis (both autoimmune disorders),and hemochromatosis (iron accumulation in the blood). Genetic factors may also come into play, as in the case of Wilson's disease which is commonly detected in childhood.

Symptoms

Liver disease symptoms may first appear as a loss of energy or overall feeling of weakness. Mid-stage symptoms may include jaundice, (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) dark urine or light stools, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Late stage symptoms may appear as abdominal swelling, unexplained weight loss or gain, chronic itching due to unprocessed bile deposited in the skin, or abdominal pain.

Treatment

Treatment options may vary depending on the causes of liver disease. They may include antiviral medications for hepatitis, or a course of alcholism treatment & counseling for alchohol-related cirrhosis. Other treatments may be as complex as liver transplantation (in cases of liver cancer), or as simple as a change in diet to help aid the liver in repairing itself.

Diet & prevention

For otherwise healthy patients, most experts suggest a diet low in saturated fats and animal protein, and a decrease or complete abstinence from alcohol as the simplest ways to prevent liver damage or disease. Recent reports have also suggested limiting the use of Tylenol or acetaminophen compounds to reduce occurences of liver damage caused by overuse of these common pain killers.

On the Web, learn more about the full spectrum of liver diseases and their causes, including information on major risk factors, symptoms and diagnosis, dietary guidelines and homeopathic treatments, with more on advanced treatments, and the latest on clinical trial results and related research studies ...

also see -> Alcoholism | Cirrhosis | Hepatisis | Liver Cancer

More information about liver disease around the Web:

American Liver Foundation - Good intro to the topic with overviews of the symptoms of cirrhosis, hepatitis A, B and C, and ways to protest the liver from disease, with links to more on dietary guidelines, research studies, and related articles

Your Liver - An Owner's Guide - Illustrated guide to liver anatomy and how it functions, plus a comparison of a healthy & diseased liver, information on common liver damage that may be caused by toxic chemicals or herbal or vitamin overdose, plus more on common liver diseases and how to avoid them.

Digestive Diseases - Liver - Comprehensive facts & information on a variety of liver diseases including symptoms, diagnosis & treatment of cirrhosis, hepatitis, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease and other conditions, plus more on liver biopsy and liver tranplants.

Ask the Doctor - The Gastroenterology & Liver Disease Forum - MD-moderated forum with answers to questions posed by liver disease patients and their families.

Hepatitis C: A Focus on Herbal Supplements - Extensive overview on maintaining proper nutrition for patients with hepatitis C including research results on the use of milk thistle, ginseng, and other supplements with related references, resources and where to find a clinical trial.

ClinicalTrials.gov - Liver Diseases - Information on clinical trials now underway for a host of liver disease studies being conducted in research centers across the U.S., with location details and eligibility requirements.

This information is intended as reference and not as medical advice.
All treatment decisions should be made by medical professionals.