| The liver is one of the largest organs in the | | | | possible pain in the liver.FibrosisThe second |
| human body and is essential to the proper | | | | stage of liver disease is fibrosis or scar |
| functioning of the body. The liver | | | | tissues. After the liver has been inflamed |
| synthesizes proteins, bile, acids, and | | | | for a long period, connective tissues of the |
| cholesterol. It maintains a balance of many | | | | liver accumulate. At this stage the liver |
| nutrients and chemicals like glucose, fat, | | | | functions slowly degrade.CirrhosisThe third |
| cholesterol, vitamins, and hormones and aids | | | | stage of liver disease is called cirrhosis. |
| in the excretion of many waste products such | | | | When liver has been damaged due to |
| as bilirubin, cholesterol, poison, and drugs. | | | | inflammation and fibrosis, it does not |
| Liver disease is thus a serious condition | | | | function properly. Accumulation of scar |
| that can be cured if it is cared for in the | | | | tissues blocks blood flow through the liver, |
| early stages. There are four stages for any | | | | preventing it from functioning normally. Some |
| malfunction of liver: inflammation, fibrosis, | | | | of the symptoms of end stage cirrhosis are |
| cirrhosis, and cancer.InflammationThe liver | | | | edema, bruising and bleeding, jaundice, |
| can get inflamed due to certain conditions, | | | | gallstones, and an increase of toxins in the |
| use of alcohol and certain chemicals. The | | | | blood, enlarged blood vessels, and |
| conditions that can cause liver inflammation | | | | diabetes.CancerIf liver disease is not |
| are Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Autoimmune | | | | treated in the earlier three stages, cancer |
| Hepatitis, and Wilson's disease. Extensive | | | | may develop. Liver cancer, or hepatocellular |
| alcohol use also causes inflammation of the | | | | carcinoma, affects approximately 4% of |
| liver. Some drugs and industrial pollutants | | | | patients with cirrhosis. A liver transplant |
| may affect the liver. Inflammation is | | | | is one of the options for treating liver |
| characterized by redness, swelling, heat and | | | | cancer. |