Overview

Liver disease is a general term for a number of conditions that change the liver's structure and function. The liver is an important organ that detoxifies the body, breaks down food, stores nutrients, and more. Liver disease can be short- or long-term, and it can worsen over time. Fatty liver disease, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure are all common types. When the liver is hurt, it can't break down toxins, make proteins, or control metabolism as well as it should. Anyone can get liver disease, and it may not show any signs at first. To stop the disease from getting worse and causing serious problems, it is important to find it early and manage your lifestyle.

Symptoms
The severity of liver disease affects the symptoms. In the early stages, you might feel tired, weak, lose your appetite, feel sick to your stomach, or have mild stomach pain. As the disease gets worse, people may develop yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, pale stools, itching, swelling in the legs or abdomen, and easy bruising. As the disease worsens, it can cause confusion or bleeding.

Causes
Viral infections like hepatitis, drinking too much alcohol, fatty liver disease that is linked to obesity or diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and genetic conditions can all cause liver disease. Some drugs, poisons, and long-term metabolic diseases can also hurt liver tissue. Living a sedentary lifestyle and eating poorly raises the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Diagnosis
To make a diagnosis, doctors review the patient's medical history, perform a physical exam, and order blood tests to assess liver function. Ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI are examples of imaging tests that can help doctors look at the liver's structure. A liver biopsy is sometimes done to find out how bad the damage is and what treatment to give.

Treatment
The treatment depends on what caused the disease and how far along it is. It's important to make lifestyle changes, such as drinking less alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet. You can use drugs to treat viral infections or keep inflammation under control. It's important to address other health problems, like diabetes. In more serious cases, complications are treated, and liver transplantation may be an option.

There is a wide range of possible outcomes for liver disease. Changes in lifestyle and treatment can often help control or even reverse early-stage disease. Advanced disease can cause serious problems. Regular checkups and quick medical care lead to better long-term results.