<div style="text-align: left;">I have come across lots of articles and case studies on liver diseases and the rapid health decline of most sufferers. So, I will like to share some of my knowledge of the liver and liver diseases. I will tell it like a story and cite where necessary. ;</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">Before I start, what melted my heart the other day was when I met a very young girl who has undergone two liver transplants. In this girl&#8217;s case, her former transplant failed because her body system rejected the organ. The later transplant is pretty new and she complained of so much pain and discomfort. As I write this, my heart reaches to her, I wish her a speedy recovery and hope this is her last organ transplant. ;</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: '';"><span style="color: orange;">The liver</span> ;</b>is the second largest organ in the body and the biggest reservoir for blood. It serves as the body factory and plays lots of significant roles that are vital to life<b>. </b>The liver is<b> <span style="color: orange;">located</span></b> in the upper right side of the abdomen, beneath the diaphragm and on the top of the right kidney.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">The main<b> <span style="color: orange;">functions</span></b> of the liver include;</p>
<ul>
<li>Filtration and cleansing of the blood ;</li>
<li>Fights against infections and diseases</li>
<li>Production of proteins that makes blood clot( i.e when you bleed)</li>
<li>Aids in digestion</li>
<li>Destroys and deals with poisons and drugs</li>
<li>Excretion of wastes.</li>
</ul>
<div>There are lots of other roles the liver play in the body. It is a very powerful organ than we think. ;</div>
<p><span style="color: orange;"><b>Onset</b></span> of liver disease:- Acute- Whereby it happens over a short period of time</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"> ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;-Chronic- Here, the disease manifests after couple of years e.g 5-8 years </p>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="font-family: '';">Main <b><span style="color: orange;">causes</span>:</b> -Heavy alcohol consumption or alcohol misuse (the commonest)</div>
<div style="font-family: '';"> ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ; -Undiagnosed hepatitis</div>
<div style="font-family: '';"> ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ; -Obesity</div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Types</span> </b>of Liver diseases</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">-Alcohol related liver diseases- Liver damage occurs due to years of heavy alcohol consumption.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">-Non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases-  ;</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">-Hepatitis- Inflammation of the liver</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">-Haemochromatosis i.e an inherited disorder whereby there is iron overload in the body</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">-Primary biliary cirrhosis</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">All these types of  ;liver diseases can cause scarring of the liver, which is called <b>Cirrhosis </b>(www.nhs.uk)</p><div class="eVhH2Vhm" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9851445956456483" 
 crossorigin="anonymous"></script> 
<ins class="adsbygoogle" 
 style="display:block; text-align:center;" 
 data-ad-layout="in-article" 
 data-ad-format="fluid" 
 data-ad-client="ca-pub-9851445956456483" 
 data-ad-slot="2841390337"></ins> 
<script> 
 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 
</script></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;">Pathophysiology</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" height="180" src="http://viviensvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/maxresdefault-300x169.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Youtube images</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: ";helvetica neue light"; , , ";helvetica"; , ";arial"; , sans-serif;">The liver responds to injury by becoming inflamed. Any form of ;inflammation ;of the liver is known as </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;">hepatitis</span>. </b><span style="font-family: ";helvetica neue light"; , , ";helvetica"; , ";arial"; , sans-serif;">This can happen suddenly (acute) or over a long period of time (chronic). Repeated injuries cause the liver cell not to regenerate any more,</span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: orange;">fibrosis</span></b><span style="font-family: ";helvetica neue light"; , , ";helvetica"; , ";arial"; , sans-serif;"> gradually forms.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">When the fibrosis spreads out due to persistent harm not been addressed, the liver shape and function is disrupted.and is known as<b> <span style="color: orange;">compensated cirrhosis</span>. </b>As damage progresses, the liver is unable to function effectively (<span style="font-family: ";";;"><b>decompensated</b>)</span> ;and begins to fail. This stage is termed<b> <span style="color: orange;">end stage liver disease</span> </b>this allows toxic chemicals and wastes to build up in the body causing  ;<b><span style="color: orange;">jaundice</span>, <span style="color: orange;">ascites and hepatic encephalopathy </span></b>(i.e. a brain disorder due to toxins in the brain)<b>. </b>Further deterioration may lead to<b><span style="color: orange;"> ;multiple organ failure</span></b> and<b> <span style="color: orange;">death.</span></b><span style="color: orange;"> ;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Signs and Symptoms:</span></b><br />It is important to know that liver diseases can go on for a long time before the clinical manifestations sets in. They include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Loss of appetite</li>
<li>Weight loss or sudden weight gain ;</li>
<li>Jaundice i.e yellowing of the skin</li>
<li>Itchy skin and bruises</li>
<li>Fluid retention (oedema)</li>
<li>Brownish or orange tint in the urine</li>
<li>Light coloured stools</li>
<li>Confusion, disorientation, personality changes</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Treatment and Management  ;</span></b><br />This can achieved mainly the use of drugs or surgery<br /><b>&#8211;<span style="color: orange;">Diet control</span></b>; Avoiding too much or little protein.<br /><b>&#8211;<span style="color: orange;">Drugs</span><span style="color: orange;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: ";";;">-Lactulose;This works by changing the stool acidity which prevents bacterial growth and reduces  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;ammonia production.</span><br /><span style="font-family: ";";;"> ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ; -Neomycin; An antibiotic which kills intestinal bacteria and minimises ammonia production.</span><br /> ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ; -Rifaxiimin; An antibiotic used in reducing the recurrence of hepatic encephalopathy.<br /><b>&#8211;<span style="color: orange;">Surgery</span>: ;</b>&#8211;<b>Paracentesis:</b> This is the removal of fluid that has accumulated in the liver due to <b>ascites</b><br /> ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;&#8211;<b>Liver transplant</b>: This occurs in ;<span style="font-family: ";";;">cases where liver transplant is inevitable.</span></p>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Prevention</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">The commonest type of liver diseases is the Alcohol liver disease, which means we can make liver diseases unpopular.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>Avoidance or minimal alcohol intake (you need to know your limit: Ask)</li>
<li>Diet: reduced protein intake is advised to minimise ammonia(waste) production</li>
<li>Exercise- This is good for you to stay fit. Being overweight or obese can affect the progress or treatment your liver condition. Thus, avoid sendatary lifestyles.</li>
<li>Get vaccinated against hepatitis B.</li>
<li>Health education about liver and causes of liver disease: Equip yourself by reading or watching videos or discussing with health professional about the liver.</li>
</ul>
<div><span style="color: orange;"><b>References:</b> ;</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">British Liver Trust, 2014</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #e8e9e8;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ";helvetica"; , sans-serif;">http://stemcellfoundation.ca/en/diseases/liver-failure</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #e8e9e8;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ";helvetica"; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: ";";;">www.nhs.uk, 2014</span></span></span></p>
<div style="font-family: ''; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: red;">Disclaimer</span></b>: This cannot substitute for a professional medical advice and treatment. Research further and seek help when need be.</p>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: ''; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;"><b>P.S. </b>It&#8217;s quite a lengthy post. Thanks for your timeð</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</p><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9851445956456483" 
 crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
Liver Diseases
