What is Liver Disease
The liver is a very important organ in the body responsible for removing toxins and harmful substances from our system. It helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, reduces blood clotting, improves digestion, and regulates metabolism, among other important functions that the liver is responsible for.
If the liver gets damaged, it would not be able to perform these functions properly anymore, which leads to serious health issues. This illness is referred to as “liver disease”. It can include a variety of health conditions that impair the liver ability to function properly.
Different types of Liver Disease
1-Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): this condition is caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver but it is not related to alcohol consumption. The most common forms of NAFLD are:
- Simple Fatty Liver: this is when fat accumulates in the liver, but it is not accompanied by any inflammation.
- Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): this is when fat builds up in the liver accompanied with inflammation. This potentially leads to liver damage.
2- Alcoholic Liver Disease: this condition is due to excessive alcohol consumption that damages the liver. Different forms of this disease include:
- Fatty Liver: this is when excess alcohol results in fat buildup in liver cells.
- Alcoholic Hepatitis: this is when excess alcohol causes inflammation in the liver.
- Alcoholic Cirrhosis: this is when excess alcohol causes severe scarring of the liver.
3- Viral Hepatitis: this is a liver inflammation caused by viral infections, including:
- Hepatitis A: acute infection from contaminated food or water.
- Hepatitis B: chronic or acute infection spread through blood or bodily fluids.
- Hepatitis C: chronic infection often spread through blood.
- Hepatitis D: occurs only with Hepatitis B, worsening liver disease.
- Hepatitis E: similar to Hepatitis A, spread through contaminated water.
4- Cirrhosis: advanced scarring of the liver can be due to long-term damage, thus leading to liver dysfunction.
5- Autoimmune Liver Diseases: these are liver diseases caused by the immune system attacking liver cells.
- Autoimmune Hepatitis: an autoimmune reaction can cause chronic inflammation of the liver.
- Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC): destruction of bile ducts in the liver.
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC): inflammation and scarring of bile ducts.
6- Genetic Liver Disorders: inherited conditions can affect liver function.
- Hemochromatosis: excessive iron accumulation in the liver.
- Wilson’s Disease: copper buildup in the liver.
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: genetic disorder leading to liver and lung issues.
7- Liver Damage from Medications or Toxins: this is when the liver gets injured because of drugs, chemicals, or toxins.
- Drug-Induced Liver Injury: damage from medications like acetaminophen.
- Toxic Liver Disease: damage from environmental toxins or harmful substances.
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