Liver disorders
Fatty liver disease
Background
Alcohol is a major cause of fatty liver
disease. But doctors are becoming increasingly concerned at the
spread of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, among
patients who are obese, have high cholesterol and are in the early
stages of type-two diabetes, the kind brought on by diet and
lifestyle. According to the British Liver Trust, one in five people
in Britain are in the early stages of NAFLD.
Causes
Poor diet and too much alcohol can cause a
build-up of fats, called triglycerides, in the liver. Although the
body needs some fats for energy and cell growth, excess levels over
a long period of time can lead to life-threatening cirrhosis.
What to do
Cut down on fatty food and drink within
recommended daily limits – two to three units for a woman and three
to four for a man.
Hepatitis C
Background
Up to half-a-million people in Britain carry
this virus, yet the vast majority remain undiagnosed. The reason?
Most were infected in their youth when they briefly experimented
with intravenous drug use. But because it can take decades for
symptoms to show, they remain unaware they have a problem. The
number of hep C-related deaths has doubled since 1996.
Causes
Sharing infected needles, although there are
isolated examples of the virus being passed on through blood
transfusions before screening was introduced in the early
nineties.
What to do
Get tested. With very prompt treatment, it’s
possible to ‘cure’ around 50% of cases.
Hepatitis B
Background
Around 180,000 people in the UK have hepatitis
B and the numbers are rising due to immigration from countries
where it is endemic. Like Hep C, it only shows its face once it is
already well advanced.
Causes
Mainly transmitted through contaminated blood,
it can also be passed on through sexual intercourse, sharing
needles and from mother to child.
What to do
If you frequently travel to areas where hep B
is common, or work in healthcare or care work, make sure you get
vaccinated.
Hepatitis A
Background
Most common in countries where sanitation is
poor. Tell-tale signs include flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite
and abdominal pains because the liver is inflamed. The tiredness
can last a month or more.
Causes
Hep A is usually caught by eating foods
contaminated with the faeces of someone carrying the virus. It can
be up to six weeks before symptoms appear.
What to do
Always wash your hands after using
the toilet and if you’re travelling to a hep A ‘hotspot’ get
vaccinated.
Cirrhosis
Background
Cirrhosis is the scarring caused by liver
disease. When the liver is inflamed for a long time, it leads to a
build-up of hard, irregular scar tissue that is largely
irreversible.
Causes
Heavy drinking, fatty liver disease and
hepatitis B and C.
What to do
Prevention is the key. Once cirrhosis has set
in, it cannot be cured.
Other conditions at a glance…
- Liver
cancer – affects 2,500 people a year in the UK but
another 70,000 develop secondary
liver cancer, where tumour cells spread
from elsewhere in the body.
- Autoimmune hepatitis – the
body’s immune system malfunctions and attacks the liver. Rare
and usually affects women around
puberty or the menopause.
- Haemochromatosis – an
inherited disorder in which the body absorbs and stores more
iron
than it needs. Can affect up to one in
300 people and fatal if not treated early.
- Primary biliary cirrhosis –
the immune system turns on the body and damages small bile
ducts inside the liver, preventing bile
from being secreted efficiently.
- Primary sclerosing
cholangitis – bile ducts become inflamed and scarred,
causing a build-up
of bile that damages the liver.
General Disclaimer
This page is designed for educational purposes only and is not
engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The
information provided through these pagess should not be used for
diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a
substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may
have a health problem, you should consult your health care
provider.