STAGES OF LIVER DISEASE

The liver is one of the largest organ in the human body and is essential for proper functioning of the body. Liver synthesizesproteins, bile acids, and cholesterol. It keeps a balance betweennutrients and chemicals such as glucose, cholesterol, fat, vtamin,and hormones and helps in the excretion of many waste productssuch as bilirubin, cholesterol, toxins, and drugs.

There are four stages of liver damage: inflammation, fibrosis,cirrhosis, and cancer.

Inflammation
The liver can become inflamed due to certain conditions, use ofalcohol and certain chemicals. Conditions that can cause liver inflammation Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, autoimmune hepatitis, etc..Extensive use of alcohol also causes inflammation of the liver.Some drugs and industrial pollutants can affect the liver.Inflammation is characterized by redness, swelling, heat and painmay be in the liver.

Fibrosis
The second stage of liver disease is fibrosis or scar tissue. After a heart inflamed for long periods, liver connective tissueaccumulate. This Padatahap liver function gradually declined.

Cirrhosis
The third stage of liver disease called cirrhosis. When the liverhas been damaged by inflammation and fibrosis, are notfunctioning properly. The accumulation of scar tissue blood flowthrough the liver, can eventually damage and even not functioning normally. Some of the symptoms of cirrhosis is the final stage ofedema, bruising and bleeding, jaundice, gallstones, and increased toxins in the blood, blood vessels dilate, and diabetes.

Cancer
If liver disease is not treated in the three earlier stages, cancer may develop. Liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma, affectingabout 4% of patients with cirrhosis. A liver transplant is one option for treating liver cancer.