Solutions for Liver Problems

The human liver acts a grand regulator for many bodily functions such as fat breakdown, chemical balance and blood filtration. When the liver becomes diseased, the body begins to function less efficiently and left untreated, the body ceases to function altogether. Thus, people must remain vigilant and visit a doctor after the first symptoms of liver disease. Furthermore, have your doctor test your liver function with a blood test periodically to ensure that your liver is working at full capacity.

Solutions for Cirrhosis

• Cirrhosis is a liver condition characterized by scar tissue on the liver. As the ratio of scar tissue to healthy tissue increases, the liver cannot perform its necessary tasks. Cirrhosis occurs for a variety reasons, often as a result of another condition such as chronic alcoholism, hepatitis B, C and D, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Unfortunately, there is currently no way to reverse liver damage. In its early stages and if you still have a mostly healthy liver, your doctor will focus on the underlying cause of your cirrhosis and treat that condition.

  For advanced stage liver disease, in which the liver is not healthy enough to operate, the only current treatment is a liver transplant. Since liver transplants require a donated liver that matches your blood type, doctors place people who need new livers on a waiting list. Age, reason for liver damage and overall health contribute to a person's placement on the waiting list. The doctor will only perform a transplant if he finds a suitable match.

  The most effective way to protect the liver from cirrhosis is to treat conditions that may cause cirrhosis. You are less likely to experience liver damage if you manage or cure the diseases that lead to cirrhosis.

Solutions for Hepatitis

• Hepatitis is a general term used to describe a variety of viral liver diseases. Certain forms of Hepatitis such as Hepatitis A have vaccines that will help to protect people from contracting the disease. Since Hepatitis A currently has no effective cure, the best treatment method is prevention through the vaccine and healthy hygiene to prevent virus contraction. Other forms of Hepatitis such as Hepatitis C, require medicinal treatments that will attack the virus before it damages your liver beyond repair.

What to Watch Out For

• Liver problems often do not produce obvious symptoms until the disease has progressed. Overall health vigilance will help you spot some of the more subtle symptoms of liver disease earlier. Common liver disease symptoms include jaundice of the skin and/or eyes, dark colored urine despite hydration levels, enlarged spleen due to reduced bile flow and abdominal discomfort. Visit a doctor for further evaluation if you experience any of these symptoms or other common liver disease symptoms. Since liver problems are sometimes due to liver-specific diseases and sometimes a byproduct of other conditions such as cancer that has spread to the liver, your treatment options and prognosis will vary.