Thursday 22 June 2017

Common causes of liver damage

The Liver is an essential organ required to aid the basic functions of the body. The liver assists functions like biliary flow, blood supply, synthesis and breakdown of insulin and other hormones. The liver can be damaged by various reasons and not only consumption of alcohol as is widely believed. It is necessary to heed the symptoms of liver diseases otherwise irreversible damage can be caused which will result in dire consequences. In certain cases, liver damage can prove to be fatal. The symptoms of liver damage don’t appear easily and this makes liver damage such a deadly disease. Nausea, jaundices, pain on the upper right side of the abdomen, and tiredness, weakness and weight loss are some of the common symptoms of liver diseases.

Following are some of the common causes of liver damage:

Low Immunity

Low immunity can very well affect any part of the body and can engender irreparable liver damage. Autoimmune hepatitis, biliary cirrhosis and sclerosing cholangitis are the three types of autoimmune diseases. Easting healthy and timely helps the prevention of low immunity. You should see a doctor immediately if you fall under the weather often.

Cancer

Cancer is one of the most deadly diseases in which cells destroy the body tissues by dividing uncontrollably. Liver cancer and bile duct cancer can affect the liver function if not treated on time and cause death or lifelong impairment.

Genetics

Our genes end up defining the major parts of our bodily functions and personality. Defective genes inherited through the mother or the father can lead to liver damage. Hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease and Hyperoxaluria are the types of genetic based disease that cause liver damage. It is not possible to prevent such diseases but can be controlled in due time.

Infection

The Hepatitis A, B and C viruses are the most common types of liver infections. These infections can be transmitted through blood, contaminated food or water or semen. These viruses cause inflammation in the liver and eventually result in decreased liver function.
 
Chronic alcohol abuse also causes liver disease and might lead to a need for liver transplant. The surgical procedure for liver transplantation is quite challenging and may require 4 to 18 hours. It is essential for the ones observing symptoms to see a doctor immediately and visit the best liver transplant hospitals in India in case of such requirement.