What Are the Treatments for Liver Problems?

Liver problems can occur at any stage of life. There are serious diseases and illnesses, such as liver cancer, portal hypertension, bile duct obstruction, hepatitis and cirrhosis. There are treatments for these diseases, and the first step is to see your doctor or a medical specialist.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy is a liver cancer treatment in which the patient receives chemicals to kill cancer cells. The treatment also inevitably kills healthy cells. Another treatment option is chemoembolization, which involves injecting cancer-killing drugs directly into the liver through a catheter. Liver cancer is dangerous, and noticeable symptoms are rare during the early stages, when the disease is most treatable. Some early symptoms may include weight loss, abdominal pain and jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin and eye whites.

Portal Hypertension Therapy

• If you suffer from liver damage, you may experience portal hyptertension, which is high blood pressure in the vein that connects the liver to the intestines. As with liver cancer, there are no early symptoms of portal hypertension. However, symptoms do arise from complications of the disease. These symptoms include bloody vomiting and stools, ascites and brain disease. Treatments for portal hypertension include the prescription drug Propranolol, which often is prescribed to prevent variceal bleeding. It is effective in 40 percent to 45 percent of the patients who take it.

Anti-Viral Medications

• Patients who suffer from hepatitis C, a chronic and potentially dangerous viral infection, often benefit from two treatments used together. They are peg interferons and interferons, which are anti-viral medications. Many patients report side effects such as flu-like symptoms, hair loss, loss of appetite and depression. These side effects usually ease over time.

Fatty Liver Treatments

• Patients who consume excessive alcohol or have a very high-fat diet can suffer from a fatty liver. Fatty liver can be treated by reducing or eliminating alcohol use where the fatty liver was caused by alcoholic consumption. A patient who controls his blood sugar may reduce fatty liver problems. A low-fat diet is also a good treatment idea for people who suffer from fatty liver due to obesity.

Alternative Treatments

• Alternative treatments, such as a liver flush, may be useful to people who are experiencing liver problems. A liver flush includes taking supplements, juices and other substances over the course of one to three days. A liver flush usually is used in conjunction with fasting from other foods. Advocates of liver flushes claim that there are great benefits to the liver from these treatments, as the flush cleans out congestion in the organ, allows the blood to flow better and also eliminates toxins.

Warning

• Be sure to talk to your doctor or a liver specialist before starting any type of treatment for a liver problem.