Your liver is an important organ that's responsible for metabolizing medications, breaking down glucose and producing proteins and hormones. In fact, without your liver, you can't survive. The Mayo Clinic says risk factors for having liver problems include chronic alcohol use, blood transfusions, use of certain drugs and unprotected sex. A wide variety of liver problems require immediate attention.
Cirrhosis
MedlinePlus indicates that cirrhosis refers to the replacement of healthy liver tissues with scars. Chronic alcohol use and hepatitis C (type of liver infection) are typical causes for cirrhosis. Physical manifestations of cirrhosis include stomach pain and distention (ascites), vomiting and nausea, weight loss, clay-colored stools and jaundice (yellowing of your skin and eyes). Additional symptoms of cirrhosis include weakness, varicose (spider-like) veins apparent on your skin, confusion, nosebleeds and bleeding gums. Lifestyle changes can alter the progression of cirrhosis. Eat fruits and vegetables, stop drinking alcohol and keep sodium intake to a minimum. Modern medicine typically treats individual symptoms of cirrhosis. Your doctor can prescribe diuretic medications to remove fluid in your stomach. He can l prescribe antibiotics to treat secondary infections and lactulose medications to manage confusion and encephalopathy (a brain disorder). MedlinePlus says that when cirrhosis transforms into end-stage liver failure, a liver transplant is necessary to save your life.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis refers to liver inflammation, says MedlinePlus. Medications, infections, autoimmune destruction, poisonous mushrooms and alcohol can all cause hepatitis. Symptoms of hepatitis are similar to the manifestations of cirrhosis. You may develop stomach pain and swelling, jaundice, a poor appetite and weight loss. Other hepatitis symptoms include dark urine, clay-colored stools, nausea and vomiting. Often, treatment for hepatitis is unnecessary, especially when your symptoms are mild. However, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications to treat your hepatitis if its etiology is an infection. In severe cases, you may require a liver transplant if your liver is severely damaged. Your doctor can regularly obtain a blood sample to check you aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels. These are liver enzymes that when elevated indicate liver damage.
Liver Cancer
The National Cancer Institute says that liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma, is a condition in which cancer cells form tumors in your liver. In fact, the National Cancer Institute says liver cancer is the fourth most common cancer and is ranked third as the leading cause of cancer death globally. Symptoms of liver cancer are much like the symptoms of cirrhosis and hepatitis. MedlinePlus indicates that treatment for liver cancer involves surgically removing the tumor or part of your liver. A new oral (taken by mouth) treatment is available called sorefenib toslate. It works to interfere with liver tumor growth.
