Chronic liver disease is a term that refers to a number of progressive medical conditions that affect the liver or liver. The condition is considered chronic if it persists for at least six months. These include chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
The liver is the largest abdominal organ that plays an important role in the digestive process. This organ works together with the pancreas, gallbladder, and intestines to digest, absorb, and process food. The liver is also an organ that produces blood clotting factors such as protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, and bile. In addition, the liver also cleanses toxins from the body. A properly functioning liver is essential for health and vitality.
Liver disease occurs when the organ is damaged. This damage can be caused by certain environmental, genetic and lifestyle factors. For example, prolonged alcohol abuse and certain types of infections. Other causes are abnormal growth and abnormal immune response.
With few exceptions, most liver diseases can only be controlled but not cured. This is because liver damage is often irreversible. If left for years, this damage can lead to scarring, which can prevent organs from functioning normally.
Causes of Chronic Liver Disease
- Chronic liver disease includes chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
- Hepatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the liver. This disease can last for years and even decades. The main causes are:
- Viruses, especially hepatitis B and C viruses.
- An abnormal immune response, or when the body's immune system attacks healthy liver tissue.
- Long-term alcohol abuse - Many patients with chronic hepatitis have alcohol dependence problems.
- Certain medications - These include drugs used to treat tuberculosis, seizure disorders, and high blood pressure.
- The damage caused by hepatitis can build up over time and increase your risk of developing cirrhosis. This condition occurs when healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. Apart from chronic hepatitis, this condition can also occur due to:
- Certain inherited conditions, including cystic fibrosis and Wilson's disease
- The bile ducts are blocked, which prevents the normal flow of bile from the liver to the intestines.
- Exposure to certain toxic substances
- Heart failure, which can cause blood to build up in the liver
Hepatitis and chronic cirrhosis are the most common causes of liver failure. They are also a major risk factor for liver cancer. Liver failure is the most serious liver disease. A patient will be diagnosed with this condition when the liver stops working completely.
Symptoms of Chronic Liver Disease
Nausea and feeling tired all the time are the most common symptoms of chronic liver disease, followed by decreased appetite, resulting in weight loss. Without treatment, jaundice will easily appear as other symptoms.
Other symptoms that may appear include severe abdominal pain and swelling of the hands and lower legs. Itching, vomiting blood, loss of muscle function, easy bruising, and inflammation of the abdominal area can also occur when you have chronic liver disease.
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