Liver disease

There are more than 100 different types of liver disease, and together they affect at least 2 million people in the UK.

The liver

The liver is the second largest organ in the body. It works hard, performing hundreds of complex functions, including:

• fighting infections and illness
• removing toxins (poisons), such as alcohol, from the body
• controlling cholesterol levels
• helping blood to clot (thicken)
• releasing bile, a liquid that breaks down fats and aids digestion

Liver disease usually does not cause any obvious signs or symptoms until it is fairly advanced and the liver is damaged. At this stage, possible symptoms can include loss of appetite, weight loss and jaundice.

Types of liver disease

Listed here are some specific types of liver disease. Ask your doctor for more detailed information about any of these:

• alcohol related liver disease, where the liver is damaged after years of alcohol misuse; this can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
• non alcoholic fatty liver disease, a build up of fat within liver cells, usually seen in people who are overweight or obese
• hepatitis, which is inflammation (swelling) of the liver caused by a viral infection or exposure to harmful substances such as alcohol
• haemochromatosis, an inherited disorder where there is a gradual build up of iron in the body, usually around the liver
• primary biliary cirrhosis, a rare, long term type of liver disease that damages the bile ducts in the liver

All types of liver disease can cause cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), not just alcohol related liver disease.

A significant health problem

Liver disease is on the increase. There are 3 main causes of liver disease:

• obesity
• undiagnosed hepatitis infection
• alcohol misuse

All 3 of these causes are preventable.

What you can do

• make sure you are a healthy weight for your height
• avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
• take the appropriate measures to prevent getting hepatitis, such as getting vaccinated if you are at risk

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