Know Your Liver

Overview

Liver is the largest organ in your body just about the size of a football. It is located in the right upper abdomen below the rib cage and sits just above the diaphragm. Liver has about 500 functions. Its primary function involves processing food after digestion, removing toxins from your body, such as alcohol and drugs and combating infections.

Symptoms of liver disease

Symptoms could vary depending the nature and extent of disease. The most common symptoms are
  • Abdominal pain
  • Loss of appetite or weight loss
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting Weakness
  • Dark urine
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes)
  • Swelling of the abdomen and legs (ascites) and legs (edema)
  • Mental confusion
  • Extreme fatigue or tiredness
  • Blood Vomiting

Types of Liver Disease

Infection

Certain parasites and viruses can affect the liver cells and result in inflammation of the liver otherwise known as hepatitis.  The most common liver infections are

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C

Auto-immune disorders

When the body’s own immune system attacks the liver it can lead to auto-immune disorders.  Some examples are

  • Alagille Syndrome
  • Auto immune hepatitis
  • Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)

Genetic disorders

Accumulation of harmful substances in the liver due to an abnormal gene inherited from either of your parents can result in chronic liver damage. However rare these genetic disorders can be fatal.

  • Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
  • Cigler-Najjar’s syndrome
  • Wilson’s disease
  • Haemochromatosis
  • Galactosemia
  • Gilbert’s syndrome
  • Glycogen storage disease
  • Lysosomal acid lipase deficiency

Cancers and other growths

  • Liver cancer
  • Bile duct cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Gall bladder cancer
  • Liver adenoma

Other external factors  causing liver damage

  • Alcoholic liver disease
  • Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Certain drugs and herbal medicines induced liver failure
  • Poisons such as Ratol

Risk factors for liver disease

  • Alcohol abuse
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Sharing needles or razors with an infected person
  • Exposure to infected person’s body fluids or blood
  • Exposure to toxic substances
  • Unprotected sex
  • Family history of liver diseases

Keeping your liver healthy

Alcohol

  • Current guidelines suggest moderate drinking of alcohol which is one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
  • One drink = 12-ounce bottle of beer / 4-ounce glass of wine / 1-ounce shot of hard liquor.
  • Ensure at least 2 days free of alcohol during any given week.
  • Individuals with existing liver damage should avoid alcohol completely.

Obesity

  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Eat a balanced nutritious meal with at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
  • Avoid foods with high fat content
  • Exercise regularly

Viral Hepatitis

  • Do not share needles or razors
  • Avoid exposure to unsafe body fluid or blood
  • Always use protection during an intercourse
  • Wash your hands thoroughly before eating or preparing a meal.

Drugs and Toxins

  • Use protective gear when handling toxins and chemical substances
  • Use over the counter medicines only when recommended by your doctor
  • Only take herbal medicines prescribed by a medical practitioner

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