What Causes Liver Problems?

Liver problems can range from hepatitis (inflammation) to cancer of your liver and liver failure and, depending on the cause, can develop suddenly or over several decades. You may not experience any symptoms of liver problems until your liver has significant damage, which can increase your chance of complications. According to the American Liver Foundation and the National Library of Medicine, causes of liver problems include lifestyle factors and infectious diseases.

Drugs

• Medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, cholesterol-lowering medicines, synthetic steroids, and illegal drugs such as methamphetamine can cause liver problems when overused or abused.

Lifestyle

• If you have a lifestyle that includes eating fatty foods and a lack of exercise, fats can accumulate in your liver and result in fatty liver disease.

Habits

• Consuming an excess of alcohol or heavy use of tobacco can cause damage to your liver, and if you use both alcohol and tobacco you may develop liver problems more quickly.

Infection

• Viral infections such as hepatitis A, B and C can cause you to have liver problems ranging from temporary inflammation to cirrhosis, cancer and liver failure.

Genetic Disorders

• You may inherit genetic disorders such as Wilson's disease, Gilbert syndrome or hemochromatosis that cause problems to develop in your liver as you get older.

Digestive Disorders

• Disorders of your gallbladder, pancreas or the ducts that connect your liver to other organs can cause problems in your liver that can lead to liver failure without urgent treatment.