In Germany, about five million people suffer from liver disease. The most common diseases include inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), cirrhosis (shrinking liver), fatty liver and liver cancer. Liver diseases often go unnoticed for a long time, as they only manifest themselves at an early stage with non-specific symptoms such as fatigue and tiredness. We present the most common liver diseases and reveal how to recognize and treat them.
Causes of liver disease
Liver disease can have a variety of causes. A common trigger is chronic alcohol abuse – it is responsible for about half of all liver diseases. In addition, however, chronic viral infections, metabolic diseases, or medications are also possible causes.
Liver disease: Symptoms
Liver disease is often detected late, as it only causes clear symptoms at an advanced stage. For a long time, on the other hand, only weak and unspecific symptoms appear. These include:
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Concentration problems
- A feeling of pressure in the right upper abdomen
If such symptoms persist for a long time, you should always think of liver disease and see a doctor as a precaution. The yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes, typical of many liver diseases, occurs namely only in an advanced stage. At the latest, if you notice this symptom, a visit to the doctor is urgently necessary.
Fatty liver
In fatty liver – as the name suggests – increased fat is stored in the liver. The cause is usually an unhealthy lifestyle with a high-calorie diet, little exercise and high alcohol consumption. However, diseases such as diabetes or a lipometabolic disorder, as well as the use of certain medications, can also lead to fatty liver. A fatty liver does not cause symptoms until the organ has already greatly enlarged. Then there may be non-specific symptoms such as tiredness, fatigue, loss of appetite, bloating and flatulence. Likewise, a feeling of pressure in the right upper abdomen may occur. If a fatty liver is diagnosed, reducing body weight and abstaining from alcohol are crucial. If this is followed consistently, fatty liver disease can often be reversed. If lifestyle changes are not made, the liver can become inflamed – increasing the risk of secondary diseases such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
Liver inflammation is divided into four known types, all of which are triggered by viruses. In addition, hepatitis can also occur as a result of fatty liver or diseases such as diabetes mellitus as well as other metabolic diseases.
- Hepatitis A: The hepatitis A virus is transmitted by smear infection and via contaminated food – especially drinking water. The infection usually heals on its own and is therefore considered relatively harmless. In the elderly or chronically ill, however, there may be complications.
- Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is one of the most common infectious diseases. The hepatitis B virus is transmitted through body fluids such as blood, semen or saliva. In most cases, the infection heals on its own. In rare cases, however, it can take a chronic course. Then it is important that therapy is initiated early to avoid possible late effects such as cirrhosis of the liver.
- Hepatitis C: An infection with the hepatitis C virus occurs primarily through the blood route. If the infection is not detected in time, it takes a chronic course in over 50 percent of cases. If this is the case, the risk of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer increases.
- Hepatitis E: An infection with hepatitis E is predominantly transmitted through contaminated water or contaminated food. Most often, the infection heals by itself again, but especially during pregnancy, it can also come to complications.
Against hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccinations are available. These are especially recommended for vulnerable people such as medical personnel or travelers who go to risk areas.
Liver Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis of the liver occurs as a result of permanent stress or damage to the liver.Common causes are excessive alcohol consumption and infection with hepatitis viruses. Initially, the stress on the liver causes a still reversible proliferation of connective tissue in the liver. Later, liver cells are replaced by connective tissue. This process is irreversible and leads to the liver no longer being able to perform its functions properly. If liver cirrhosis is not treated in time, it can have serious consequences: For example, ascites (watery belly), hepatic encephalopathy (brain dysfunction), variceal bleeding (bleeding from varicose veins), and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) are among the consequences. However, these serious consequences can be prevented or at least delayed by early therapy. However, cirrhosis of the liver is not curable.
Liver cancer
Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) is often diagnosed late because the cancer does not cause symptoms for a long time. Early signs include nausea and weight loss, and pain in the upper abdomen and jaundice may also occur. As with many other cancers, the earlier liver cancer is detected, the better the chances of cure. Among the most common causes of liver cancer are infections with the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus. They account for about half of all liver cancers. Another 40 percent are triggered by alcohol or obesity. This is one area in particular where you can do a lot to prevent liver cancer.
Other liver diseases
In addition to the common liver diseases mentioned above, there are other, lesser-known ones:
- Autoimmune liver disease: Due to a malfunction of the immune system, the body attacks its liver cells. However, diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis are relatively rare.
- Iron storage disease: in this inherited disease, the body stores large amounts of iron in the pancreas, heart and liver. As a result, connective tissue proliferation initially occurs in the liver. Late consequences can be cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.
Prevent liver disease
To prevent liver disease, make sure you eat a healthy, balanced diet and consume alcohol only in moderation. Also, if necessary, get vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. In this way, you can prevent contracting the disease if you travel to a high-risk area, for example. Have your liver values checked at regular intervals. In this way, you can quickly and reliably determine whether everything is in order with your liver. Also pay attention to whether you repeatedly experience symptoms such as tiredness, fatigue, loss of appetite or nausea. These can be signs of liver disease. If you experience the typical symptoms of jaundice, such as yellowing of the eyes and skin, you should definitely see a doctor. For many liver diseases, early diagnosis is crucial. If, on the other hand, the disease is detected very late, sometimes the only treatment option left is a liver transplant.