Common diseases of the liver

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by MSc Vu Van Quan - Department of General Surgery & Anesthesia - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

The liver is the largest organ in the body and plays a very important role. The main job of the liver is the body's chemical factory, the liver is responsible for metabolizing nutrients, purifying toxins and synthesizing bile, creating necessary enzymes for the body. However, the liver can be susceptible to many diseases caused by bacteria and viruses.

1. Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is the cause of liver failure , cirrhosis , liver cancer . Hepatitis B can happen to anyone. If the disease occurs in adults, it can still be treated to eliminate the hepatitis B virus easily. However, some infants, young children, and adults are infected with the hepatitis B virus but cannot be completely cured.
The cause of hepatitis B is the infectious hepatitis virus HBV-DNA, which is an infectious disease. People with hepatitis B, if not supported and treated promptly, have a high risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Currently the only method is a blood test to determine if you have the disease or not. Hepatitis B can be transmitted through blood, sex, and mother-to-child, and using unhygienic objects such as razors, brushes, etc.
Currently, vaccination against hepatitis B is considered a the most effective method of disease prevention. If the disease has progressed to the chronic stage, drugs can only be used to control the hepatitis B virus status in the body. The WHO recommends the first vaccination against hepatitis B as soon as possible after birth (within the first 24 hours), followed by 2 or 3 doses spaced at least 4 weeks apart.

2. Liver failure

Liver failure has 2 types: acute liver failure and chronic liver failure
Acute liver failure can happen suddenly without any symptoms. The disease usually strikes quickly and liver function is lost within days or weeks. Chronic liver failure is often the result of cirrhosis, and the progression of the disease is slow, and it can take months or years for symptoms to appear. Common symptoms of liver failure include: Dry, burning or itchy eyes, nails becoming thin and brittle, hair dry, weak, thin and falling off easily, dry skin, stiffness, insomnia, poor sleep (waking up all night), lack of energy, and menstrual irregularities in women.

3. Liver cancer

Liver cancer is a disease with no clear cause, currently science has not given the exact cause of this disease. However, the high rate of people with liver cancer falls among people with chronic hepatitis B, cirrhosis, genetics, diabetes, and obesity. People with liver cancer often have no symptoms in the early stages of infection. Even in the late stages, the patient feels fatigue, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss.
Common symptoms of liver cancer: Jaundice, yellow eyes are the result of a blockage of the biliary tract caused by a tumor. Bile salts (bilirubin) reflux from the bile ducts into the hepatic sinusoids, enter the bloodstream, and are deposited in the skin. Jaundice of the skin and eyes is often accompanied by discolored stools and dark urine (such as water). In addition, about 30-50% of cases are underweight at the time of diagnosis. Abdominal pain in the liver: the early stage is often vague, not clear, when the abdominal pain is severe, it is often due to complications of biliary obstruction.
It is worth mentioning that people are still subjective when experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite... because they just think they are normal diseases and do not go to the doctor or get tested. no timely countermeasures to prevent the progression of the disease.
Customers can refer to the package of screening and early detection of liver cancer at Vinmec International General Hospital.

4. Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a disease in which healthy tissue is replaced by scar tissue, reducing or completely losing the function of the liver. Common causes of cirrhosis include the use of stimulants, especially alcohol, fatty liver, and hepatitis virus.
Cirrhosis in the early stages often has no symptoms, later depending on the level, there may be manifestations of hepatocellular failure syndrome, portal hypertension syndrome, patient fatigue fatigue, poor appetite, jaundice, dark skin, easy nosebleeds, bleeding gums, edema, ascites, sexual dysfunction..., worse, there are complications such as vomiting blood and passing stools. black due to rupture or varicose veins of the esophagus, liver coma, kidney failure, signs of infection or cirrhosis of the liver cancer...
Currently, the lesions in cirrhosis have not had a radical treatment. but it is completely possible to prevent and slow down its development if treated appropriately.

5. Fatty liver

Fatty liver is a condition in which the amount of fat accumulated in the liver accounts for more than 5% of the weight of the liver, this is a common disease in modern lifestyle. Fatty liver is divided into two groups: alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver. In both groups the liver cells were found to be filled with fat particles. Alcoholic fatty liver is a stage in the progression of alcoholic liver disease. If not treated well, it will lead to inflammation and alcoholic cirrhosis.
Causes of fatty liver disease are often due to unreasonable eating, obesity, psychological stress, too fast lifestyle changes, and many difficulties. All these problems will affect the function of the liver and cause syndromes such as impaired liver, fatty liver.
Fatty liver mainly in people with obesity, diabetes, high blood fat, alcoholics.... People with fatty liver syndrome may have symptoms such as: stiff neck and shoulder pain, frequent headaches, migraines, pain in the abdomen, easy dizziness, lack of energy, insomnia, depression, stress, very emotional, irritable, irritable, high cholesterol, fatty liver , irritable bowel syndrome, thyroid problems, endometritis...
Fatty liver disease is not a dangerous disease, but if not detected and treated in time, fatty liver can be fatal. increases the risk of hepatitis, cirrhosis and other dangerous complications. Up to 20% of people with fatty liver disease will progress to cirrhosis.
Liver diseases do not always show obvious signs. The liver plays an extremely important role because it not only filters the blood, but also produces hormones to store energy. Therefore, in order to limit the progression of liver failure, patients need to have regular health checkups, and at the same time need to follow the doctor's instructions to achieve a good treatment effect.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is implementing a hepatobiliary screening package that fully includes all of the above tests, bringing peace of mind and accurate results to customers. When there are signs of liver disorders or even when there are no symptoms, proactive liver function tests are necessary to protect your health.
From October 2019, Vinmec Hai Phong Hospital welcomes specialists in Gastroenterology - Liver, bile, and pancreas from 108 Military Central Hospital to visit periodically for diseases of the stomach, esophagus, colorectal, etc. Liver, spleen, biliary tract, pancreas, anal fistula, rectal prolapse, gastrointestinal cancer screening... At the request of the patient, Senior Doctor Le Van Thanh - Head of the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery – Military Central Hospital 108 will directly operate. Schedule on Saturday, surgery on Sunday so that customers can easily arrange their personal time and have more time to recover after the intervention.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline here for support.