What are Liver Diseases?

Liver Diseases are conditions that impair the liver and its normal functioning. Liver Diseases may be caused due to many conditions such as inflammation, obstruction of bile, deposition of excess fat, and cancerous cells infiltration in the liver.

What are the common Liver Diseases?

Some of the most common Liver Diseases are:

• Hepatitis
• Fatty liver
• Genetic conditions like hemochromatosis
• Cirrhosis
• Liver failure
• Liver cancer

How are Liver Diseases caused?

Liver Diseases can be caused by various factors. Some of them are:

• Infections
• Autoimmune conditions
• Genetics
• Fat accumulation
• Chronic alcohol abuse
• Certain medications

What are the risk factors for Liver Diseases?

Factors that might increase the risk of Liver Diseases are:

• Chronic alcohol abuse
• Body piercing or tattoo with non-sterile needles
• Type 2 diabetes
• Family history and genetics
• Unprotected sex [Hepatitis-B]
• Obesity
• Shared needles during drug abuse
• Exposure to other people's blood or body fluids
• Certain chemicals or toxins

What are the signs and symptoms of Liver Diseases?

Liver Diseases may not necessarily show any major signs and symptoms. In case they do occur, they might include:

• Yellowish skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Leg and ankle swelling
• Pain and swelling in the abdomen
• Dark urine
• Itchy skin
• Chronic fatigue
• Pale stool
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• A tendency to bruise easily

How are Liver diseases diagnosed?

Some of the diagnostic tests for Liver Diseases are:

• Complete blood count
• Liver function test
• MRI scan
• Ultrasound scan
• Ct scan
• Liver biopsy