Understanding chronic liver disease

In our previous blogs, we learned that the liver serves a number of important tasks in our body. As a result of these demanding processes, the liver constantly experiences inflammation and damage in addition to regeneration. The liver may lose its ability to perform certain tasks as it ages. This decline in liver function has the potential to worsen and lead to chronic liver disease (CLD). Chronic liver disease is also commonly known as cirrhosis.

Etiologies of chronic liver disease (CLD)

There is a wide range of potential causes for cirrhosis or CLD, including the following:

a.       Alcohol abuse.

b.      Viral infections (hepatitis B and C).

c.       Obesity, metabolic disorders, poor diet and lifestyle.

d.      Autoimmune diseases.

e.       Genetic factors such as alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency, hereditary hemochromatosis, and Wilson’s disease.

f.       Certain drugs and chemicals, such as amiodarone, isoniazid, and methotrexate.

Four stages of Chronic Liver Disease

Stage 1: Swelling or inflammation in the liver (fatty liver)

Stage 2: Liver scarring or fibrosis (NASH)

Stage 3: Severe scarring or liver cirrhosis (usually irreversible)

Stage 4: Liver failure

Prevention is better than cure.

To know more about your liver, talk to our experts today!