Options For Treating Liver Disease & Liver Damage

November 29, 2023

Liver damage and liver diseases occur for several reasons. Symptoms of liver disease include weakness, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin. The skin and the whites of eyes become yellow because of an elevated level of bilirubin in the bloodstream. An individual may also experience pain in their upper left quadrant of their abdominal area. Unfortunately, these symptoms don’t always occur until the later stages of liver disease. Routine testing via a complete blood count and liver function tests done annually can help patients and their doctor monitor liver health. If liver damage is suspected, doctors can also analyze tissue or use technology such as an MRI, CT scan or ultrasound to get a closer look at the liver too. Several options for treating liver damage and liver disease exist and will be discussed further below.

Losing Weight

Excess weight gain causes stress on the entire body, including the liver. Losing weight relieves this excess stress and allows the liver to function more smoothly. The liver remains the primary organ for burning fat/ It also regulates fat metabolism and pumps excess fat out of the body. A diet high in fiber will not only clean out the colon but also enable the liver to remove fat from the gut and keep fat from building up in the walls of blood vessels. If the liver isn’t functioning correctly, patients may start to accumulated fatty deposits and cellulite on the buttocks, abdomen around the liver, and other parts of the body. If patients have significant fat around their belly and have a hard time getting rid of it, the liver may be unable to dispose of the fat around it. Once the liver starts working more efficiently, the fat around the belly should reduce, and less stress will be placed on the liver to function properly.

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Medications Used

A healthy liver breaks down what we consume orally and helps the body process that material. Many medications are perfectly safe for individuals to take without causing damage to the liver, yet other medications can cause liver damage if taken in large amounts frequently. If an individual is required to take a pill that can cause liver damage, their doctor may recommend they be tested for liver damage frequently in case a medication change is needed to prevent further physical damage to the liver. One of the medications available that might cause liver damage when taken in excess and over long periods is acetaminophen. When it comes to medication, patients should always use the smallest dosage necessary to get pain relief. Cholesterol drugs such as statins may also be hard on liver health. Be sure to let your doctor know if you have liver problems before you take a prescription that contains a statin for lowering cholesterol.

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Surgery

In past times, patients with liver damage could cause enough further liver damage to be life-threatening. Many surgical procedures elevate serum liver biochemical and having an operation with liver disease does increase the risks of severe consequences during the operation as well as afterward. Cirrhosis causes decreased cardiac output and a reduction in blood flow levels as well as other physical problems caused by a combination of liver disease and the use of anesthetics. While surgery for liver disorder patients remains safer now than it was in days gone by, and it is a beneficial treatment for liver disease and damage in some cases, it remains crucial for the physician performing the surgery to be fully aware of the health status of the person’s liver before they operate to prevent dangerous consequences.

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Stop Drinking Alcohol

If a patient's liver damage might be caused by drinking too much, they must stop drinking. If someone drinks alcohol regularly, They are already at a higher risk for liver disease than individuals who don’t drink are. If someone drinks and takes pills that damage their liver, they’re creating the perfect environment for liver disease and liver failure. Drinking alcohol routinely changes the liver’s function and kills liver cells. Patients should stop drinking or at the very least reduce their consumption of alcohol, particularly if they have to take acetaminophen on even a semi-regular basis. Patients to ask their doctor for help with pain relief and stopping alcohol consumption if necessary. They have lots of support to provide patients in these areas. Stop drinking alcohol to prevent the chances of liver damage and to protect overall health.

Keep going to learn about another method of treating liver damage and liver disease.

Alternative Medicines

Some types of alternative medicines used at home and without a doctor’s supervision may cause liver damage. No alternative medications have been specifically approved to treat a decline in liver function. Specific Chinese herbal treatments have recently been used to reduce the level of the hepatitis B virus in patients with a good amount of success. But treating hepatitis B with these herbs have not been studied enough to know whether or not they are effective enough for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recommend officially. And some alternative medicine treatments used routinely and taken over the counter may damage the liver. Jin bu huan, germander, valerian, mistletoe, skullcap, comfrey, kava, pennyroyal oil, ma-huang, and chaparral may cause more harm to the liver than they do good in other areas of the body. Patients at risk of or who have liver problems or damage should consult with a physician before consuming these herbal supplements and treatment.

Routine physical examinations and clear communication with a healthcare provider should ensure liver functioning and health is continually monitored, and any problems are dealt with as soon as possible.

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