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Your Liver wants to be known III.








Hello friends it's another Tuesday and we'll be concluding our series on the liver today by looking at some liver diseases, their triggers and how to care for the liver.


What is a liver disease?
- It is any disturbance of the liver's normal
function that leads to illness.

- It is also a broad term that covers all the potential problems that cause the liver to fail to perform its designated functions.

Types of Liver Disease.

A. Hepatitis.
The term refers to the inflammation of liver tissues. Hepatitis can be induced by excess alcohol consumption as well as infection from viruses.
Infectious hepatitis which is triggered by viral infection is of about 4 types.

I. Hepatitis A: mostly contracted through fecal/ oral route; that is mostly through food  and water sources contaminated with the virus.
It causes acute inflammation of the liver and has a vaccine.

II. Hepatitis B: This is mostly transmitted through contact with body fluids eg blood, semen.
- It is spread primarily through unprotected sex, transfusing unscreened blood and through the use of shared needles and so on as seen among drug abusers.
- It can cause both acute and chronic inflammation of the liver which if left untreated could progress to cirrhosis and permanent liver damage.
Hepatitis B thankfully also has a vaccine.

III. Hepatitis C: Also spread through exposure to body fluids and contaminated blood.
- has no vaccine but early detection can help in curtailing the progression of the disease.

IV. Hepatitis D: Also spread through contact with body fluids. This virus type requires the presence of Hepatitis B to survive and carry out it's activities.

B. Non- Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

This describes the accumulation of fat within the liver substance so much that it affects the normal functioning of the cells, trigger inflammation and even progress to causing cirrhosis.
People who are obesed, or who consume a lot of sugar are at risk of having fatty liver disease.

C. Alcohol Induced Liver Disease.

Alcohol has a direct toxic effect on the liver when it is consumed in excess or consistently over a long period of time.
- It causes what is known as ' alcoholic hepatitis', meaning it causes inflammation of the liver cells.
- Chronic alcohol abuse could also lead to liver cirrhosis, a condition in which the liver cells are replaced by fibrous tissue.

D. Medication- Induced Liver Disease:

Certain medications, when taken in excess can also pose a threat to the normal functioning of the liver as it is responsible for metabolism of most drugs taken orally.
Some of those drugs affect the liver when taken as overdose and some even at prescription doses.
- One of such is acetaminophen popularly known as TYLENOL,PANADOL.
- Also certain drugs like statins used to control blood cholesterol can also pose a threat to the live if taken over a long period of time. It can inflame the liver.
- Excessive consumption of Vit A especially as a supplement rather than from natural sources.

E. Liver Cancer:

Cancer like we all know is an abnormal multiplication of cells of any tissue or organ. The most common type of cancer that affects the liver is the Hepatocellular carcinoma. It affects the cells of the liver, causing growth of tumors that may eventually spread to other organs and tissues if not detected early and managed properly.

F. Hemochromatosis: This is a metabolic disorder that leads to abnormally elevated iron stores in the body.
The excess iron accumulates in the liver tissues and can lead to liver failure.



Tips on how to care for your liver.
1. Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol.
2. Reduce or quit smoking.
3. Go for hepatitis screening and take your vaccinations.
4. Drugs that affect the liver should be taken strictly as recommended by the Doctor.
5. Avoid excessive sugar consumption as the excess is converted by the liver into fat which may accumulate and cause fatty liver in the long run.
6. Exercise regularly to keep your weight under control.
7. Stay away from drug abuse and don't use shared instruments as they help in spreading the hepatitis virus.
8. Eat healthy.



Credit: emedicinenet.com
            :Webmd.com
             : canstock photos.


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