Liver disease is a common condition. It can affect anyone at any age, but especially those over age 40. If left untreated, liver disease can lead to serious health problems. Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect your liver from developing problems. Liver disease is a complex condition with many different factors involved.
It’s important to remember that liver disease does not develop in isolation. Instead, it’s part of a spectrum of illnesses which collectively make up “liver disease”. So while one person may have one type of liver disease, for example cirrhosis (jaundice brought on by alcohol), this doesn’t mean that they have all the other types together. Instead, it indicates which type is the most prominent and requires the most medical attention and treatment. Fortunately, liver disease isn't always fatal and can be treated effectively with the right medications and lifestyle changes.
However, even though liver diseases are common among the elderly population, they are horrifically underdiagnosed and undertreated leading to high rates of recurrence as well as unnecessary suffering and death due to complacency regarding their frequency in the general population.
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What is liver disease?
Liver disease is a condition where the liver produces less blood cells (e.g. red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets) than normal. This means that the body can’t process nutrients properly and can’t produce the hormones which regulate basic body functions like hunger, fullness, and mood.
This leads to increased levels of blood fats (e.g. “bad” cholestamins and “good” liver-enriched vitamins and minerals) and a build-up of toxins (e.g. liver-enriched vitamins and minerals which get eliminated from the body in the feces).
There are 5 types of liver diseases:
Cirrhosis – This is the most common form of liver disease. It usually develops in people who consume high amounts of alcohol.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma – This forms in the liver cells and usually occurs in people over age 50. Symptoms include fatigue, dark (anemia) colored bowel movements, abdominal or pelvic pain, jaundice, and an increased risk of developing cancers.
Hepatocellular Tumor – This is a rare form of liver cancer. Most people whom get this disease will die of it.
Liver Periportal Fibrosis – This typically occurs in people who consume a high Amount of sweets and table food.
Liver disease can either develop spontaneously or be triggered by certain factors such as a diet high in fats, alcohol, diabetes, or medications. In the first case, you’re likely to develop liver disease because your body needs more blood cells (e.g. red blood cells) to process nutrients properly.
If you consume more red meat and other types of meat which contain saturated fats, you can end up with a abnormal liver called “liver disease”. If you develop liver disease due to a diet high in fats, you can either lower your intake of saturated fats or develop an “hop-to-the-sky” lifestyle by resuming your former eating habits.
Complications of Liver Disease
Once you develop liver disease, the complications are many. The most common ones are:
Alcoholic Liver Disease - One of the most serious complications of liver disease. If left untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis (jaundice), liver failure, and even death.
Hepatitis - This is a condition which can develop as a result of liver disease. It’s also known as “ liver infection “.
Mesenteric Fistula - A sepsis-like syndrome which occurs due to inflammation and infection in the intestine.
Hepatitis C - This is a serious infection which can lead to liver failure and even death. It’s caused by a virus and can be treated but not prevented.
Side Effects of the Medications
There are many side effects of medications which can affect the amount and type of liver medications which you need to treat your liver disease. Here are some of the side effects of the medications commonly used to treat liver diseases:
- NSAIDs - These are typically pain relievers such as aspirin, Tylenol, and Advil. They can also cause stomach ulcers and, if taken in high doses, even stomach cancer.
Anticoagulants - These medications prevent the Coumadin (a blood pressure medication) from clotting properly. This can lead to an abnormal liver called “liver disease” which is detected during a routine medical check up.
Antifolate/Antiretroviral Medications - These types of medications target the “bad” cholesterol (e.g. low-density lipoprotein (HDL) and “good” cholesterol (e.g. high-density lipoprotein (HDL)) thereby keeping your fats from getting “transformed” into harmful “bad” cholesterol.
Beta Blockers - These medications slow down the rate at which your body breaks down “bad” cholesterol (e.g. bring on VTE’s, reduce your intake of red meat, etc.)
Antihyperglycaemic Medications - These medications lower blood sugar levels thereby preventing “bad” events such as diabetic neuropathy and blindness.
Corticosteroids - These medications are often used to treat other conditions and can also be used to treat complications of inflammation such as mesenteric fistula and persistently high blood pressure.
Now that you’ve learned about liver diseases, you can better understand how they occur and how to protect your liver. Cirrhosis is the most common type of liver disease. It occurs when the liver becomes scarred (i.e. scar tissue forms), making it harder for the body to remove toxins and excess blood. Alcoholic liver disease is a result of a diet high in fats and alcohol. It usually develops over time and can be prevented by choosing low-fat foods and limiting your intake of alcohol.
(1). https://medlineplus.gov/liverdiseases.html
(2). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-problems/symptoms-causes/syc-20374502
(3). https://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/liver-and-hepatic-diseases
(4). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17179-liver-disease
(5). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-problems/symptoms-causes/syc-20374502