Some common liver diseases and their treatment

Liver diseases can be referred to as any condition that damages the liver and adversely impacts its functioning. The liver is responsible for performing multiple tasks such as detoxification of waste, managing metabolism, and storage of energy for performing various activities. There is a long list of liver diseases and generally, the damage is an irreversible one. Major liver diseases include Fatty Liver Disease, Hepatitis, Cirrhosis, Cancer, Liver Failure, autoimmune disease, and genetic conditions. For any of these diseases, the general symptoms include nausea, yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice), vomiting, fatigue, itchy skin, reduced appetite, paleness, dark urine, and bloody stools.

Liver disease can be diagnosed with the help of a Liver Function Test (LFT), blood test, Ct scans, and liver biopsy in cirrhosis and cancer. In conditions where there is severe liver damage and medications have failed to provide relief, a liver transplant is considered the only treatment option to save a patient’s life. Chronic liver diseases can be managed by adopting a healthy lifestyle which includes maintaining a healthy body weight, limiting alcohol intake, drinking ample water, and having a liver-friendly diet that is rich in fiber and less salt, fat, and sugar content.