Diseases of the Liver
The liver is the largest organ in the body and carries out a whole array of important and complex functions. It produces bile, which helps transport waste products; it also produces proteins for blood plasma, removes drugs and other poisonous substances from the blood, maintains hormonal balance, stores vitamins and minerals and converts excess glucose into glycogen. There are many diseases that can damage the liver and prevent it from carrying out these vital functions.
Types
Liver disease is classified according the cause and the effect it has on the liver. Your liver may be infected by a virus, be exposed to toxic compounds or drugs or be under attack from your own immune system. You may have a genetic defect or suffer an injury. Whatever the cause may be, the effect will damage your liver so that it can no longer function to carry out its necessary processes. This can result in hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, liver cancer and prevention of vital liver functions, resulting in toxin build-up.
Hepatitis
The two forms of hepatitis are acute and chronic and are caused by the infection of several viruses--called hepatitis A, B , C, D and E, in the order they were discovered.
Hepatitis A is most common in children and results in symptoms such as nausea, fatigue and vomiting as it is passed via infected water and food.
Hepatitis B is spread via blood, from mother to baby and through sexual relations. Most sufferers get better on their own, but between 1 and 3 percent become chronic sufferers.
Hepatic C is spread via contaminated blood, and those infected are more likely to become chronic sufferers, capable of spreading infection to others and experiencing chronic damage to the liver. Hepatitis D and E are rare in North America.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a progressive, irreversible disease marked by scar formation and cell death. Anything causing severe ongoing injury to the liver may lead to cirrhosis. There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages; however, in the latter stages there is muscle wastage and bleeding from the intestines, as well as other problems.
Liver Cancer
Cancer usually originates in a different part of the body and then metastasizes to the liver. When cancer originates in the liver, it is known as primary liver cancer, the most common being hepatocellular carcinoma. In some cases hepatitis and cirrhosis can lead to liver caner.
Fatty Liver
The most common cause of fatty liver is excessive alcohol consumption, which causes the liver to become enlarged, and tender and to function abnormally.
Genetic Defects
Most genetic liver diseases are caused by a missing enzyme, which in turn lead to a buildup of damaging deposits in the liver. In Wilson's disease there is an accumulation of copper in the liver. The most common liver disease in adults is Hemochromatosis, whereby there is an excess buildup of iron.
Obstructions
Blockages in the bile duct may be caused by gallstones, trauma, inflammation or tumors. An obstruction causes an accumulation of bile and waste in the liver, which results in jaundice. Gallstones, which are formed by cholesterol and bile pigments, can cause a blockage in the duct that drains bile from the gallbladder, resulting in sharp shooting pains.
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