Proper care, early treatment of disease can check damage to liver

Liver diseases have become common with adoption of unhealthy lifestyle such as indulging in excessive fatty food, alcohol, obesity and lack of exercise. However, if taken proper care and diagnosed early, most of the liver diseases are treatable and the damage to the liver can be checked, aver doctors on the occasion of World Liver Day on Wednesday.
According to doctors, the common liver diseases affecting the people of AP are Hepatitis B which accounts for 56 per cent of the general population, besides alcoholic liver disease and Hepatitis C. Obesity is leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Certain viruses like Hepatitis A, B, C, E, and certain drugs can also cause liver diseases besides autoimmune diseases and hereditary disorders. People with hyperglycemia, hypothyroidism, diabetes and high BP are also at risk of developing liver problems.
"The problem with most liver diseases is they are asymptomatic in the early stages and by the time they are detected, 70-80% of the liver is already damaged. Still, jaundice, weakness, loss of appetite, swelling of tummy and feet are some indications that the liver may have been affected. However, jaundice can occur due to other malfunctions of the body even if the liver is not affected," said Dr Y Radhakrishna, gastroenterologist from Radha Krishna liver and gastro centre.
Therefore, to detect liver problems, regular screening and certain diagnostic tests can be done such as blood tests, ultrasound of the abdomen, endoscopy and liver biopsy in certain patients. Liver fibroscan is another new, non-invasive method to detect liver damage early in patients with fatty liver, alcoholics, patients with chronic Hepatitis B and C. 

Since prevention is always better than cure, liver diseases too can be prevented by adopting healthy lifestyle such as consuming filtered water, avoiding eating at unhygienic places and avoiding alcohol and excess of fatty food. Regular 45 minutes to one hour of exercise and maintaining the optimal body weight prevents fatty liver and other associated diseases. Affordable vaccination is also available to prevent Hepatitis A and B, added the gastroenterologist.

However, one positive development is that despite presence of Hepatitis B patients, incidences are coming down and malignancy is also less. Dr R Padmavathi, consultant gastroenterologist from Care Hospital said, "With early screening and intervention, liver function tests, effective anti-viral treatment, there's around 20-30% decrease in Hepatitis B cases of late. Vaccination programme has also played a key role in bringing down new Hepatitis B cases."

As for those developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD due to metabolism syndrome leading to deposition of fat in the liver), it can be detected through abdominal ultrasound. "This disease is reversible within six months-one year with consumption of low fat food, regular exercise and by taking medicines, keeping obesity, hypertension and diabetes in check. Around 40-50 per cent of diabetics develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. If timely treatment is not given, it can progress to non-alcoholic steato hepatitis (Nash) and finally into liver cirrhosis," stated Dr Padmavathi. 



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