Liver

The liver is a large, reddish-brown organ located in the upper right side of your abdomen, just below your rib cage. It's one of the most important organs in the body and weighs around 3 pounds (1.5 kg) in adults.

⚙️ Main Functions of the Liver

The liver does a ton of essential work to keep your body running smoothly. Some of its key roles include:

1. Filtering blood – It removes toxins, drugs, and harmful substances.

2. Producing bile – A fluid that helps digest fats.

3. Storing nutrients – Like glucose (sugar), vitamins, and minerals for later use.

4. Metabolizing fats, proteins, and carbs – Helps break them down and use them for energy.

5. Making proteins – Like albumin (important for fluid balance) and clotting factors (help blood clot).

6. Breaking down old red blood cells – And processing the waste (like bilirubin).

🦠 Common Liver Diseases

The liver can be affected by various conditions, including:

1. Hepatitis

• Inflammation of the liver, often caused by viruses (Hepatitis A, B, C, etc.).

• Can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).

2. Fatty Liver Disease

• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) – Often linked to obesity and insulin resistance.

• Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease – Caused by heavy drinking.

3. Cirrhosis

• Scarring of the liver from long-term damage (from hepatitis, alcohol, etc.).

• Can lead to liver failure if untreated.

4. Liver Cancer

• Primary (starts in the liver) or metastatic (spreads from other organs).

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type.

5. Liver Failure

• When the liver stops working well—can be acute (sudden) or chronic (over time).

6. Hemochromatosis

• A genetic condition causing too much iron to build up in the liver.

7. Wilson's Disease

• A rare disorder where too much copper accumulates in the liver and other organs.

🧪 How to Keep the Liver Healthy

• Eat a balanced diet, low in fat and sugar.

• Avoid excessive alcohol use.

• Stay active and maintain a healthy weight.

• Get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B.

• Avoid sharing needles or risky behaviors that can transmit hepatitis viruses.

• Be cautious with medications and supplements—some can harm the liver if overused.

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Treatment for liver diseases depends on the specific condition, how advanced it is, and what’s causing it. Some liver problems are reversible with lifestyle changes, while others may need medication, procedures, or even a transplant.

🩺 General Treatments for Liver Disease

Here’s a breakdown by type of liver disease:

1. Hepatitis (Viral)

• Hepatitis A: No specific treatment – rest, hydration, and good nutrition. It usually clears up on its own.

• Hepatitis B:

  • Acute: Often no treatment needed, just monitoring.

  • Chronic: Antiviral meds like tenofovir, entecavir, or lamivudine to reduce viral load.

• Hepatitis C:

  • Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) like sofosbuvir, ledipasvir, glecaprevir, or pibrentasvir – very effective (cure rates over 95%).

2. Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD & Alcoholic)

• NAFLD:

  • Weight loss, healthy diet, and exercise are the main treatments.

  • Control diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

  • No approved meds yet, but vitamin E or pioglitazone might help in some cases.

• Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease:

  • Stop drinking alcohol – most important step.

  • Nutritional support (especially B vitamins like thiamine).

  • In some cases, corticosteroids (like prednisone) are used for alcoholic hepatitis.

3. Cirrhosis

• Treat the underlying cause (e.g. antivirals for hepatitis, stop drinking for alcoholic cirrhosis).

• Medications to manage complications:

  • Diuretics (like spironolactone, furosemide) for fluid buildup.

  • Lactulose or rifaximin for hepatic encephalopathy (confusion due to liver toxins).

  • Beta-blockers (like propranolol) to prevent variceal bleeding.

• Liver transplant may be needed in end-stage cirrhosis.

4. Liver Cancer

• Treatments include:

  • Surgery, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy (like sorafenib, lenvatinib).

  • Immunotherapy (like atezolizumab + bevacizumab combo).

  • Liver transplant if the cancer is caught early.

5. Hemochromatosis

• Regular blood removal (phlebotomy) to reduce iron levels.

• Iron chelation therapy (like deferoxamine or deferasirox) in rare cases.

6. Wilson's Disease

• Meds that remove copper: penicillamine, trientine.

• Zinc supplements can block copper absorption.

• Liver transplant in severe cases.

7. Autoimmune Hepatitis

• Corticosteroids (prednisone) + azathioprine to suppress the immune system.

• Long-term immunosuppressive therapy may be needed.

🧠 Extra Tips:

• Always take meds prescribed by a doctor – the liver processes most drugs, so self-medicating can be dangerous.

• Many herbal supplements can be harmful to the liver, even if they’re marketed as “natural.”