About 30% Of The Population In India Have Fatty Liver Disease: Doctors
Every year, liver diseases account for over 2 million or 20 lakh deaths worldwide, with India alone accounting for 4 lakh deaths.
Our liver performs some of the most crucial functions of the body. Starting from helping us absorb nutrients and getting rid of toxins to filtering blood, this organ, located at the right-hand side of the abdomen, does it all for us, However, it is extremely vulnerable to damages triggered by a combination of factors and complications. One such complication is scarring of the liver. It is known as cirrhosis.
In this condition, scar tissue replaces your healthy liver cells. Caused by an infection of alcohol addiction, cirrhosis takes time to develop. Build-up of scar tissues blocks blood flow to the liver and impairs its functions. The liver of a person with cirrhosis cannot produce protein and other substances, process hormones and nutrients or filter out toxins. Though there is no cure for the condition, spotting the symptoms early on will help you manage it better.
The signs of this condition depend on its severity. You many not experience any manifestation at the initial stage. The symptoms manifest as the disease progresses. Here are the common ones to look out for:
Fatigue and weakness
There can be many triggers behind cirrhosis. However, the most common ones include chronic viral infections like hepatitis B and C and alcohol abuse. Additionally, certain conditions and medicines can also increase your risk of cirrhosis. Here is a low-down on them:
As already mentioned, cirrhosis blocks blood flow to the liver. So, the blood that is supposed to reach the liver starts flowing through other veins in the oesophagus which are unable to handle such high pressure. This extra blood flow makes those veins bulge. Apart from this, there are other complications that can arise from cirrhosis. They are:
If you visit a doctor with the above-mentioned symptoms, he will first do a physical examination to check if your spleen or liver has increased in size. He will also look for swollen abdomen, redness of skin or yellowing of eyes. He may recommend the following tests for conformation.
Blood tests: These include complete blood count, liver function tests (SGOT, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatise, etc), blood albumin and prothrombin time, coagulation blood tests alpha fetoprotein (a liver cancer screening). These tests will check the levels of certain liver enzymes and bilirubin in the blood, count of some proteins and antibodies, viral infections, so on and so forth.
Imaging tests: If the blood tests indicate liver damage, then you may need to undergo an ultrasound, CT scan or an MRI. Other confirmatory imaging tests include endoscopy of the oesophagus, stomach or liver biopsy.
Cirrhosis isn’t a curable condition. However, there are certain treatment options that will help you live with it in a much better way. The line of treatment varies depending on the underlying cause and severity of the condition but it aims at reducing liver damage and managing the associated complications. Alongside medical intervention, alcohol abstinence is a must for managing cirrhosis.
Medications: Drug therapy includes medicines to treat alcohol dependency, control pressure in certain veins, viral and bacterial infections, fluid build-up in the abdomen and other associated complications.
Non-surgical procedures: Cirrhosis of liver leads to severe bleeding in the veins of the oesophagus, stomach, rectum, and umbilical area. Certain non-surgical procedures may be required to stem the bleeding. These include banding, injection sclerotherapy, Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt, so on and so forth.
Liver transplant: This is the last option. You may have to go for this surgical procedure if all other measures fail.
Malabsorption of nutrients is a common problem for people with cirrhosis, thanks to their altered metabolism. So, what they eat and avoid plays an instrumental role in taming the condition. If you are suffering from the condition, plan your menu with your doctor and a nutritionist. Here, we tell you what you should eat and avoid while manging cirrhosis.
Include these foods in your meals
Choose foods that are easy for your liver to process, as it is unable to function properly when scarred. Also, your diet should include items that help in the healing process. Here are some options:
Cirrhosis cannot be cured but you can prevent or at least reduce the risk of this condition for sure. Here, we guide you on how to do so.
Get yourself vaccinated: Immunize yourself against hepatitis B, one of the major triggers behind liver cirrhosis. Three shots of the hepatitis B vaccine taken over three months can provide long term protection against the dreaded disease.
Eat healthy: Eat a healthy diet that is rich in essential nutrients and high in fibre. Maintain a healthy diet plan and include liver-friendly foods in your meals.
Don’t go overboard on alcohol: Practise moderation while it comes to alcohol. It is a major culprit behind liver cirrhosis.
Exercise: A simple and effective way to prevent a wide range of health complications including any liver disease is to exercise daily. It will prevent obesity and fat build-up in the liver, another trigger behind cirrhosis.
Practise safe sex: Having unprotected sex with multiple partners can increase your chance of viral infections of the liver than lead to scarring.
Avoid exposure to synthetic chemicals: Toxins in certain cleaning agents and pesticides can harm your liver. Wear protective gear if you need to be in close contact wit them.
Every year, liver diseases account for over 2 million or 20 lakh deaths worldwide, with India alone accounting for 4 lakh deaths.
According to a new study, women with cirrhosis have lower overall mortality. But there is no difference in liver-related cause of death despite lower rate of liver transplantation as compared to men.
Excessive alcohol use is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Over time, heavy drinking can result in the development of many chronic diseases.
Excerpt: Alcohol is the number one culprit behind liver cirrhosis. In this exclusive article penned by Dr. Ravi Gaur COO, Oncquest Laboratories, tells us how binge drinking affects this vital organ of your body.
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Every year, liver diseases account for over 2 million or 20 lakh deaths worldwide, with India alone accounting for 4 lakh deaths.
According to a new study, women with cirrhosis have lower overall mortality. But there is no difference in liver-related cause of death despite lower rate of liver transplantation as compared to men.
Excessive alcohol use is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Over time, heavy drinking can result in the development of many chronic diseases.
Excerpt: Alcohol is the number one culprit behind liver cirrhosis. In this exclusive article penned by Dr. Ravi Gaur COO, Oncquest Laboratories, tells us how binge drinking affects this vital organ of your body.
Swollen ankles are usually harmless. But, at times, it may indicate some serious health disorder. Read on to know more.
Male breast cancer is rare, but it still affects thousands of men around the world. Early detection can lead to a cure, but lack of awareness increases fatality rates.
Lead poisoning can lead to the accumulation of fat in the liver and this can cause obesity, say experts. But with our natural remedies, you can fight fatty liver.
On World Hepatitis Day on 28th July, it is important to know that about 4 crore people in India are suffering from Hepatitis D and 80-90 lakh from hepatitis C, says Dr Ravi Gaur, COO, Oncquest Laboratories.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. It is a viral disease that can be transmitted via sex. Read on to know how you can take precautions to avoid this disease on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day.
Liver transplant could soon be a thing of the past with scientists identifying a cell that can regenerate liver tissue. Read on for more.
On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day on 28th July, let us see what makes this day so special and what its significance is.
Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria. Some are harmful while most are beneficial. Read on to see how it can affect your health.
Doctors in Chennai have recently done a transplant procedure with the harvested liver of a brain-dead person. Read on to know everything about liver transplant and its implications.
Do you consume tobacco or smoke? Ankita Ghag, Clinical nutritionist, Vacchan Aarogya and InBody lists out what to eat and avoid when you're trying to quit it.
According to WHO, liver diseases are the 10th most common cause of death in India.
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