A well-functioning liver does an excellent job of allowing you to digest food and get rid of toxic substances in your body.
When you have liver disease, however, damage to your liver can keep it from doing its job and bring on scarring. And that scarring, known as cirrhosis, can lead to liver failure and even death. Thankfully, early treatment can go far.
Dr. Sreelatha Reddy and the team at Houston Gastrointestinal & Liver Clinic, P.A. in Sugar Land, Texas, diagnose and treat liver disease at all stages. Take a few moments to learn more about this condition, including risk factors to look out for.
Signs of liver disease
Liver disease doesn’t always cause noticeable symptoms, especially early on. If or when symptoms do develop, they may include:
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Chronic fatigue
- Dark-colored urine
- Itchy skin
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pale-colored stool
- Swelling in the legs and ankles
- Tendency to bruise easily
- Yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice)
If you notice signs of liver disease, prompt diagnosis and medical care may help save your life.
Risk factors for liver disease
Most anyone can develop liver disease, but certain factors increase your risk, such as:
- A blood transfusion before 1992
- An abnormal, inherited gene
- Autoimmune diseases, such as primary biliary cirrhosis
- Exposure to other people's blood and body fluids
- Exposure to certain chemicals or toxins
- Family history of liver disease
- Heavy alcohol use
- Injecting drugs using shared needles
- Obesity
- Tattoos or body piercings in an unclean or unsafe setting
- Type 2 diabetes
- Unprotected sex
While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent liver disease, you can take steps to make it less likely. Particularly if you hold one or more risk factors for liver disease, consider improving your lifestyle through healthy eating, exercise, and sleep habits.
When you engage in sex, use a form of protection such as condoms. And if you struggle with alcohol overuse, seek support for cutting back or eliminating alcohol from your lifestyle.
Getting the care you need
To diagnose or rule out liver disease, Dr. Reddy reviews your medical history, performs a physical exam, and likely orders tests, such as blood, imaging, and tissue sample tests.
If it turns out that you do have liver disease, she recommends a customized treatment plan. Treatment specifics range from lifestyle changes and careful liver monitoring to liver transplant surgery, depending on the severity of your condition.
To learn more about this condition or get the care you need, call Houston Gastrointestinal & Liver Clinic, P.A. today or request an appointment.
