Liver diseases and ways to prevent them
There are many diseases that can affect the liver, which is an essential part of the body that has many functions. Here are the most important.
The liver is of great importance in the body, as it performs many basic functions, and any defect in it is harmful to the whole body and leads to complications and great risks that may reach death if it is not discovered and treated early.
And the liver can be exposed to many health problems and diseases, which must be attention.
Learn about the most important diseases that can affect the liver, and how we can protect ourselves from them:
1- Viral hepatitis
Viral hepatitis occurs in its various types, D, E A, B, C as a result of viral infection that affects the body and liver.
Viral liver infections lead to serious complications such as cirrhosis and liver failure, as well as can cause liver cancer.
Symptoms of viral hepatitis
There are several symptoms associated with viral hepatitis, namely:
Flu-like symptoms: such as fever, a feeling of weakness and bone pain in the body.
Change in urine and stool color: urine becomes noticeably dark and stool looks pale.
Anorexia: feeling stomach pain and losing weight for no apparent reason.
Yellowing of the skin: eyes, and signs of fatigue and tiredness on the person with “jaundice”.
Prevention methods for viral liver infections
Vaccination plays an essential role in preventing various viral liver infections, and it is advised to consult a doctor about vaccination, and periodic checks should be performed to ensure that none of these infections is infected.
The causes of viral hepatitis vary according to the way it is transmitted, so it is possible to prevent different types by some measures:
Hepatitis A: It is transmitted through contaminated water or food, as well as by sexual intercourse, and is found in the stools of people who have a viral infection.
Therefore, washing hands, eating clean food and non-polluted water, and not having sex in the event of this disease.
Hepatitis B: This virus is transmitted through contaminated blood from a person carrying the infection, as well as through semen in the man, and any contaminated fluids from the body, in addition to blood and blood transfusion equipment contaminated with the virus.
This means that no other person's tools should be used to avoid the infection being transmitted to the body.
Hepatitis C: this virus is also transmitted through the blood and its transmission tools if they are contaminated, as well as through sexual contact.
And protections such as hepatitis A and B are by using only personal tools and making sure that they are clean and sterile.
Hepatitis D: infection with this virus occurs among people with hepatitis B, and thus there becomes infection infection with viruses B and D together, which makes the matter worse and poses a great risk to the patient's health.
Therefore, even with viral hepatitis infection, contaminated devices should not be used for a person with the same disease.
Hepatitis E: is one of the hepatitis viruses that is transmitted through contaminated food and water. It often causes liver failure, and its prevention is by keeping hands clean and not eating unclean foods or using contaminated food and drink tools.
2- Enlarged liver
Liver enlargement is a common disease that affects it, and it has many negative effects. The liver enlargement cannot be considered a disease in itself, but it occurs as a result of liver disease, such as liver viruses, cirrhosis, and liver tumors.
In addition to a number of diseases that affect other systems in the body, such as cardiovascular diseases.
The size of the liver varies according to many factors, including age, body size and gender.
Symptoms of an enlarged liver
Upon getting enlarged liver, the patient feels a set of symptoms, including:
Pain in the upper right area of the abdomen.
Pain in body muscles.
Weight loss and poor appetite.
Nausea and general fatigue.
Prevention of liver enlargement
Through some procedures, it is possible to prevent the body from developing hepatomegaly, namely:
Eat a healthy diet: rich in whole grains, vegetables and fruits mainly, and avoid high-fat foods.
Maintaining weight: Because being overweight is one of the reasons that increases the possibility of developing an enlarged liver, and weight can be preserved by following a healthy diet and exercising.
Carefully take nutritional supplements: Excessive intake of nutritional supplements and vitamins without consulting a doctor will lead to many liver problems and turn from beneficial elements to harmful to the body.
Avoid exposure to chemicals: such as detergents and others, as they contain toxic compounds that harm the liver and the body in general.
3- Cirrhosis of the liver "cirrhosis"
Another common liver disease is a late liver disease, which occurs as a result of pathological stress on the liver.
When a liver problem occurs, it begins to resist diseases and treat itself, and during this scar tissue is formed, which impedes the liver's normal functioning.
And it is difficult to treat infection with cirrhosis, because as we mentioned, it is the last stage after suffering from many health problems, but if cirrhosis is detected early, it is possible to reduce complications.
Among the major problems that can cause cirrhosis include: viral hepatitis and fat accumulation in the liver.
Symptoms of cirrhosis
Symptoms of cirrhosis are:
Ease of bleeding and bruising: This can be seen easily in the event of a collision or wounds affecting different areas of the body.
Pallor of the face: yellowing of the skin and signs of fatigue, disease, and fatigue on the patient, with nausea.
Swelling in the body: especially in the legs, as fluid builds up in the abdomen or so-called "dropsy".
Some problems in the man's body: such as enlarged breasts and testicular atrophy.
Weight loss: lack of appetite, poor body and difficulty in movement.
Prevention of cirrhosis
To avoid cirrhosis, the following is recommended:
Not to neglect the health of the liver: checks must be carried out to reassure him if there are any symptoms that cause concern, and it is necessary to carry out an analysis of hepatitis B and C because they are diseases that are difficult to detect except by conducting the analyzes. It also requires treating any problem that affects the liver at an early stage before it gets worse and causes fibrosis.
Commitment to healthy, integrated food: It is one of the most important things that ensure the preservation of healthy liver, and you should avoid fatty foods as much as possible.
Maintaining weight: as excess weight negatively affects all parts of the body and its functions, especially the liver.
4- Liver cancer
Means cancer that affects the liver, and there may be different types of cancer in it, the most prominent of which are liver cell cancer, in addition to other types such as liver bile duct cancer, and hepatic and hematoma.
Chronic infection with hepatitis viruses can lead to liver cancer, and cirrhosis also increases the chances of developing liver cancer.
Symptoms of liver cancer
The symptoms of liver cancer are similar to various other liver diseases, such as:
Anorexia: thus losing weight, inability to eat, and difficulty in movement.
The pain is intense and intolerable: in various parts of the body, especially the upper abdomen.
Dizziness and nausea: lack of balance and vomiting.
Feeling of weakness and weakness: the inability to do the simplest natural things, making it difficult for the patient to enter the bathroom.
The color of the skin changes: it becomes yellowish in color, the white of the eye increases, and the stool color becomes white in white.
Prevention of liver cancer
By adopting various ways to prevent liver disease, you will reduce your risk of developing liver cancer, including:
Maintaining weight: The physical fitness of the body through exercise, so that its organs function fully, as well as reduce fat intake and increase healthy foods.
Avoid pollution sources: keep hands clean, eat untainted food, and make sure the tools used are clean. As well as not to use special tools for anyone, and avoid exposure to contaminated chemicals.
Take hepatitis vaccine: This helps prevent viral liver infections that lead to serious complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
