Liver Diseases

What Are The Main Types Of Liver Diseases?

Liver diseases can be roughly categorized into two main types: alcoholic liver disease and non-alcoholic liver disease (NALD). As the name suggests, alcoholic liver disease is caused by the sustained abuse of alcohol and derived products. This abuse produces irreversible damage to the liver and is the number-one type of liver disease in western countries.

NALD can be caused by a number of different factors, including viral hepatitis and prolonged exposure to certain drugs and poisoning environmental agents.

Why Does The Liver Fail?

There are many reasons for liver failure. In general, the complete failure of the liver is a consequence of the progression of a chronic liver disease, which may take several years to develop. Strong trauma to the liver can also cause this organ to stop performing its normal tasks.

How Does The Liver Fail?

Failure of the liver often occurs progressively. Depending on the liver disease present, it may take from a few months to several years to happen.

Generally, the tissues of the liver suffer a transformation that causes scarring and hardening. This renders those tissues unusable, thus reducing the capabilities of the liver to perform its normal tasks. In addition, some liver diseases narrow or block the small tubes that transport and drain bile.

As time passes, the amount of healthy, useful liver tissue reduces causing bile to over-accumulate and get into the bloodstream. Eventually, the liver fails completely and, unless a transplantation is performed, the patient dies.

Treatment Of Liver Diseases

Although liver diseases have no cure (except for hepatic adenoma and other benign tumors, which can be surgically removed), there are several effective treatments that can stop or greatly delay the progression of liver disease.

The election of an adequate treatment depends on the exact type and causes of the liver disease, and your doctor will consider those aspects and, of course, your own thoughts while deciding which treatment to follow.

Prevention Of Liver Diseases

The liver is a very sensitive organ that is highly susceptible to its surrounding conditions. For this reason, a healthy life style (adequate, varied diet and regular exercising) is considered the best way to prevent liver diseases.

Staying away from alcohol and drugs, and also visiting the doctor on a regular basis to perform general health status checking are actions that may keep liver diseases away or controlled.

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