Every year, 2 million cases of death from liver diseases are registered worldwide
(Asrani et al., 2019). The
liver, one of the most important organs, helps detoxify the body from harmful
components. Any damage to the liver can
severely disturb the normal functioning of the body.
Liver Diseases
Liver diseases comprise a myriad of conditions ranging from infections
to cirrhosis to cancer. This article will focus on the most common liver diseases
affecting males.
*NOTE: You can find a summary chart at the end of this
article comparing the different liver conditions
What Causes Liver Disease?
There are several causes of liver disease:
Alcohol
Viruses
Drugs and toxins
Metabolic
Autoimmunity
Signs and Symptoms of Liver Disease
The signs and symptoms of liver disease can vary according to the
specific condition. However, liver diseases can also present with some common
features as listed below:
Jaundice
Jaundice involves the yellowing of the skin and
sclera.
Abdominal Tenderness
Most patients complain of pain on palpation of the
right upper quadrant of the abdomen.
Hepatomegaly Hepatomegaly
is the enlargement of the liver. It occurs due to vascular swelling,
inflammation or harmful deposits like iron and fat.
Ascites Ascites
is the term used to describe fluid inside the abdominal cavity. Ascites is
commonly caused by liver scarring, which scientists refer to as liver
cirrhosis.
A palpable lump over
the liver area
A palpable lump over the right upper quadrant can signify the presence of a tumour.
Important Tests Your Doctor Will
Request
Depending on your clinical picture, your healthcare professional will
want to order certain tests to diagnose your illness. The most routinely used
tests for liver disease are listed below:
Liver Enzymes:
Aspartate Transaminase (AST) and Alanine Transaminase (ALT)
Viral Serology for
Hepatitis A, B, C, D or E
Abdominal Ultrasound
Liver Biopsy
Management
The treatment of liver disease varies according to the patient’s
clinical picture, risk factors, family history, age, and many other factors.
Supportive treatment with intravenous fluids and
pain-killers
Antivirals and anti-inflammatory medications
Liver surgery
Liver transplant
Prevention
You can make lifestyle changes to lower your risk. Here are some
recommended strategies to protect yourself and others:
Cut Down on Alcohol
Limiting your alcohol intake will help your
liver drastically.
The maximum amount of alcohol recommended for men is
14 units weekly, extended evenly over three or more days (NHS, 2020).
*Conversion: 1 Unit of
Alcohol = 10 ml of pure alcohol
Avoid Risky Behaviors
You can avoid being infected by the hepatitis
virus by avoiding risky behaviors such as sharing of needles and having
unprotected sexual intercourse.
Avoid Medications in
Excess
Only take medications as recommended by your
healthcare professional. Avoid the following medications if you have any of the
symptoms mentioned above. These medications have been found to precipitate
hepatitis (David et al., 2010).
Statins
Acetaminophen
Izoniazid
Penicillins
Antiretroviral
therapy
Maintain a Healthy
BMI
BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is
calculated as follows:
BMI (Kg/m2) = Weight (Kg)/Height2
(m2)
The ideal BMI recommended for an adult male is
18.5-24.9 Kg/m2
Avoid Contact with
Infected Body Fluids
To protect yourself from the deadly hepatitis viruses, wear protective equipment when in contact with infected people.
References:
Asrani, S., Devarbhavi, H., Eaton, J. and Kamath, P. (2019). Burden of liver diseases in the world. Journal of Hepatology, 70(1), pp.151-171. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30266282
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