Liver Disease Stages

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