*What is liver disease?*
Your liver is a large and powerful organ that performs hundreds of essential functions in your body. One of its most important functions is filtering toxins from your blood.
While your liver is well-equipped for this job, its role as a filter makes it vulnerable to the toxins it processes. Too many toxins can overwhelm your liver’s resources and ability to function. This can happen temporarily or over a long period of time.
When healthcare providers refer to liver disease, they’re usually referring to chronic conditions that do progressive damage to your liver over time. Viral infections, toxic poisoning and certain metabolic conditions are among the common causes of chronic liver disease.
Your liver has great regenerative powers, but constantly working overtime to restore itself takes its toll. Eventually, it can’t keep up.
**What are the risk factors for acquiring liver disease?*
You may be more likely to get liver disease if you:
1. Drink alcohol heavily.
2. Use intravenous drugs.
3. Constantly use pain relievers like aspirin or acetaminophen
4. Have metabolic syndrome.
5. Are regularly exposed to toxic chemicals.
6. Are regularly exposed to other people’s blood or body fluids.
*How can I lower my risk of liver disease?*
You can help prevent liver disease by:
A. Getting vaccinated. Vaccines are available to prevent viral hepatitis A and B.
B. Practicing good hygiene. Handwashing after using the bathroom, safe food handling and safe needle use can help prevent infections from spreading.
C. Drinking alcohol in moderation and
D. Using medications as directed.
E. If you have a substance use disorder (SUD), treatment can help prevent toxic hepatitis.
F. Managing metabolic factors such as your blood lipids and blood sugar. A healthcare provider can help with this.
*Can liver disease be reversed?*
Liver disease can be reversed in the early stages if you and your healthcare team are able to remove or manage the cause effectively. This depends on the cause and how treatable it is. Once you have cirrhosis, you can’t undo the scarring that’s already been done, but you may be able to prevent further damage or slow it down. Chronic liver failure isn’t reversible, though it can still take years to progress.
What are the risk factors for acquiring liver disease?
You may be more likely to get liver disease if you:
Drink alcohol heavily.
Use intravenous drugs.
Use pain relievers like aspirin or acetaminophen
Have metabolic syndrome.
Are regularly exposed to toxic chemicals.
Are regularly exposed to other people’s blood or body fluids.
How can I lower my risk of liver disease?
You can help prevent liver disease by:
Getting vaccinated. Vaccines are available to prevent viral hepatitis A and B.
Practicing good hygiene. Handwashing after using the bathroom, safe food handling and safe needle use can help prevent infections from spreading.
Drinking alcohol in moderation and using medications as directed. If you have a substance use disorder (SUD), treatment can help prevent toxic hepatitis.
Managing metabolic factors such as your blood lipids and blood sugar. A healthcare provider can help with this.
Can liver disease be reversed?
Liver disease can be reversed in the early stages if you and your healthcare team are able to remove or manage the cause effectively. This depends on the cause and how treatable it is. Once you have cirrhosis, you can’t undo the scarring that’s already been done, but you may be able to prevent further damage or slow it down. Chronic liver failure isn’t reversible, though it can still take years to progress.
*Is liver disease curable?*
Many types of liver disease are curable. Toxic and alcohol-related liver disease can improve when you’re no longer exposed to the toxin. Diet and lifestyle changes can relieve non-alcohol related fatty liver disease. Other types of liver disease aren’t curable, but they’re often manageable with medications.
Certain inherited diseases, autoimmune diseases and viral infections may need lifelong treatment.
Many types of liver disease are curable.
Toxic and alcohol-related liver disease can improve when you’re no longer exposed to the toxin.
Diet and lifestyle changes can relieve non-alcohol related fatty liver disease. Other types of liver disease aren’t curable, but they’re often manageable with medications.
Certain inherited diseases, autoimmune diseases and viral infections may need lifelong treatment.
