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Home Diseases & Conditions 10 things that can cause liver disease

10 things that can cause liver disease

Shraddha Rupavate January 17, 2014 at 4:15 pm
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Ask a lay person what causes liver damage and you will get an invariable answer:
heavy drinking. But it is not the only thing that can harm your liver.
The liver is the largest internal organ of the body and is involved in more than 500
different functions of the body including digestion, metabolism, nutrients storage
and removal of toxins. So, there can be several things and health conditions that
can unknowingly cause liver damage: (Read: Why is the liver so important?)

Alcohol: Heavy alcohol consumption is the most common cause of liver

damage. When you drink alcohol, the liver gets diverted from its other
functions and focuses mainly on converting alcohol to a less toxic form.
Absorption of alcohol by the liver causes fatty liver disease, inflammation of
the liver and cirrhosis. Read more about why alcohol is bad for your liver.

Obesity: People who are obese have excess amount of body fat which tends
to accumulate around the liver, causing what is known as a fatty liver
disease. Obesity is also linked to cirrhosis of liver and liver failure. Heres a
complete account of health hazards of obesity.

Diabetes: Having diabetes increases the risk of liver disease by 50 percent.

People with diabetes due to insulin resistance have high levels of insulin in
their blood, which triggers abdominal weight gain. This causes the liver to
store fat internally, causing fatty liver disease. Here are all articles related to
diabetes.

High salt intake: High salt intake is well known to increase blood pressure,
but it can also cause fatty liver disease by building up fluid in the liver

(water retention) and swelling it up. Here are some useful tips to reduce salt
intake.

Smoking: Although cigarette smoke does not have a direct effect on liver
function, harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke increase oxidative stress of
the system after reaching the liver, causing irreversible damaging to the liver
cells. Here are some ways that can help you to quit smoking

Overuse of Medications: Overuse of over-the-counter drugs and certain

prescription drugs is known to cause liver damage. Some of these drugs
include antidepressants, mood stabilizers, corticosteroids (used for treating
inflammation) and pain relievers. Its therefore important to review the side
effects and adverse effects of medications before taking them. Read more
about effect of medicines on the kidneys.

Nutritional supplements: Research suggests that dietary or nutritional

supplements can increase the production of certain liver enzymes when
taken in excess amounts, causing damage. A well known cause of liver
toxicity is overdose of vitamin A.

Inappropriate use of alternative medicines: You may switch to alternative

remedies to avoid the side-effects of medicines. But herbal remedies, too,
can be harmful to the liver in excess amounts.

Chemotherapy: People undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment

have a risk of damaging their livers because of the associated side-effects of
the drugs. (Read: Fatty liver caused more by obesity than by alcohol now!)

Infections and Illness:

Viral hepatitis A, B and C and autoimmune hepatitis attack the liver cells
directly causing inflammation. Without proper treatment, hepatitis can cause
cirrhosis of the liver (hardening and scarring of liver tissue) and may gradually
lead to liver failure.
Tuberculosis, although clinically silent, can affect the liver once the bacteria
causing tuberculosis gain entry into the liver and colonize it. In an attempt to fight
infection, the liver responds to colonizing bacteria, leading to a tumor formation.
This condition is called as hepatic tuberculosis.
Intestinal infections caused by the yeast Candida interferes with the detoxification
function of the liver causing damage.

Pesticides and heavy metals: Exposure to chemicals in pesticides and

heavy metals through vegetables, fruits and adulterated foods and can also

damage the liver. These toxins get stored in liver over a lifetime to cause
liver damage. (Read: Top 6 natural remedies to keep your liver healthy)
Tips to have a healthy liver:

Maintain healthy weight by avoiding fatty foods and staying fit. Replace
junk foods with healthy foods from all food groups such as grains, fruits,
dairy products and vegetables. Avoid fad diets which might expose your
liver to stressful conditions. Exercise regularly to burn excess fat, if you are
overweight. (Read: Bad food responsible for liver disease)

Before taking any medicine, look for warnings of liver toxicity on the label.
Follow dosage recommended by your doctor. Consult your doctor if you are
taking multiple medications for different conditions to ensure they are not
damaging your liver.

Good hygiene plays an important role in preventing viral infections.

Hepatitis infection can be contracted through contaminated food, water,
blood and other body fluids, especially when you are travelling abroad.
Check for outbreaks before travelling. Do not share razors or needles with
anyone. Be cautious about conditions while body piercing or tattooing. You
could consider vaccination against hepatitis.

Drink plenty of fluids. Instead of having coffee, tea or aerated drinks, have
fresh fruit juices and loads of water. This will help the liver to detoxify the
system.

Quit smoking. Smoking not only damages the liver by itself but also
increases the toxic effect of medicines you might be taking on the liver.

Limit alcohol intake. The more you drink, the more likely you are to damage
your liver. (Read: Why is alcohol bad for your liver?)

If you are have diabetes or hypertension, get a medical checkup done

regularly. Keep a check on you glucose, fat and cholesterol levels which
might cause fatty liver disease. (Read: Top foods to keep your liver healthy)

Your liver has a remarkable regenerative capacity and ability to heal itself. By
over-indulging in unhealthy habits, you are abusing your liver and inviting lifethreatening complications for yourself.
References:

William Sanchez, M.D. & Jayant A. Talwalkar, M.D., M.P.H. Liver

Cirrhosis.

Liver wellness. American Liver Foundation

(http://www.liverfoundation.org/)

Liver Disease. Canadian Liver Foundation (http://www.liver.ca/)

Helena Conibear. The liver a complex diagnosis

Cirrhosis. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse

(NDDIC)

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Tags: Diseases & Conditions, Health tips, Liver damage, Liver disease, Liver failure, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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