Chronic Liver Failure

The term chronic, in the field of medicine and biology, means long-lasting, recurrent, and ailment that causes prolonged suffering, over a time span. This however does not mean that there is no cure for such a disease. In cases of failure of liver, especially the ones that are chronic in nature, Hepatology plays quite an important part in the diagnosis. Liver failure is not one single disease, often it is caused as a result of a set of other diseases. In some cases it is caused as a result of disorders and causes such as cancer. Often habits such as over use of drugs or alcohol or simply not taking care of oneself are the root cause. Trauma and physical injuries also often tend to cause such a failure. On the whole, the causes, symptoms and diagnosis would vary from case to case. The disease in itself is progressive, i.e., its severity goes on increasing, which, makes it a chronic ailment. Now here is a list of liver failure causes, symptoms and related medical treatments.

Live Function and Failure

The primary or the most commonly observed and noted functions of liver include protein synthesis, detoxification of the digestive system and generation of some essential biochemicals and digestive juices such as bile. The complete list is huge and versatile with each function being equally important. Overall, chronic failure can be attributed to malfunction or total inability of the liver to execute the said function. These functions are broadly classified into synthesis (generation of bodily juices), breakdown (digesting some nutrients) and other functions involving purification and processing of nutrition. Failure of any function causes first common symptom that you can make out immediately. It is becomes evident from something going wrong with your digestive system and medicine such as antibiotics failing to cure it. Here it becomes evident that you need a more sophisticated and detailed diagnosis.

Chronic Liver Failure and Disease

Multipurpose functions means that the liver is going to be susceptible to several ailments and diseases. Note that this organ is the biggest and also the most vital organ in your body, hence, we must do all we can to protect it and take care of it. Liver diseases are commonly chronic or non chronic. A non chronic disease gets cured in a relatively short time period, if the injury to the liver is recoverable. Such an ailment is commonly referred to as a 'liver disease'. This can be caused as a result of several factors that include viral diseases, hereditary ailments, etc. This disease, if not cured in the first attempt often turns into chronic liver disease, which leads to failure of the organ. Some common symptoms of liver failure that one would experience include:

• Offensive body odor, dark circles below eyes, itchy skin and eyes, skin blemishes, coated tongue and excessive blood vessels on the face, indicating that the liver is at a risk and one should change one's lifestyle to avoid further damage.
• If sufficient care is not taken when the breakdown starts, some physical symptoms may come up such as, digestive problems leading up to jaundice and nausea. Pale stool, dark urine, bone loss, easy bleeding, low immunity and metabolism problems are also experienced in some cases. In addition to that gallstones, bloating and constipation are also experienced.
• Some psychological problems also include, depression, sugar craving, mood changes, foggy brain and overeating of face are also experienced.
• These systems basically mean that we have not been taking care of the body or have been through some severe ailment. In several cases, due to the mild symptoms, we may not even detect the problem, however low immunity, and attack by an infectious disease would prove to be harrowing as there is a risk of incurring a liver failure.

It basically means that the liver has been damaged and is very difficult to make a full recovery. If you see any of the aforementioned symptoms, contact your doctor immediately and get a check up done. It may be that you haven't reached chronic failure stage and it is quite easy to tend to and prevent liver damage.

Chronic Liver Disease

Now, the term liver disease, implies a set of several ailments and disorders. It must be noted that a liver failure which is chronic in nature leads to Fibrosis and Cirrhosis, both of which are dangerous conditions. The common causes can include:

• Viral diseases which might include, Hepatitis B, C, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV).
• Some specified toxins also cause this disease which include, Amiodarone, Alcoholic liver disease, Methotrexate and Nitrofurantoin.
• Taking care of the liver with the help of a healthy lifestyle is necessary. Metabolic and Autoimmune causes sometimes may also lead to liver diseases. Some causes include, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Haemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, autoimmune chronic hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis.
• Some other complications, such trauma in certain parts of the body and addiction to tobacco and alcohol may cause this problem.

These causes affect a weakened liver, damaging it further and pushing the condition into a chronic failure. Some common signs and symptoms, of such a disease include, the following:

• Clubbing
• Palmar erythema
• Spider nevi (angiomata)
• Scratch marks
• Gynaecomastia
• Feminizing hair distribution
• Testicular atrophy
• Small irregular shrunken liver
• Anemia
• Caput medusae (recanalisation of the umbilical vein) (Distended abdominal veins)
• Drowsiness (encephalopathy)
• Hyperventilation (encephalopathy)
• Metabolic Flap/Asterixis (encephalopathy)
• Jaundice (excretory dysfunction)
• Ascites (portal hypertension and hypoalbuminemia)
• Leukonychia
• Peripheral Oedema
• Bruising (coagulopathy)

Overall, a non chronic or chronic, both types of diseases can cause a substantial damage to the liver. Medical professionals always suggest that one should take care of the digestive system right from childhood, as in cases where an organ is damaged, one becomes susceptible to liver failure. There are some common remedies for this disease, which include:

• Transplant is the only effective, and also the best option in cases where the liver failure has reached its peak.
• Of recent, herbs that include, black cohosh, ma huang, chaparral, comfrey, germander, greater celandine, kava, mistletoe, pennyroyal, skull cap and valerian are used to rectify the failure.
• Medical practitioners have recommended, preventive measures such as healthy lifestyle, limited alcohol consumption and limited smoking. In addition to these things stage, cause, and symptoms, age, treatment, heredity also plays vital part in chronic liver disease prognosis and life expectancy. Good diet, exercise and some common precautionary measures against contagious diseases and pollution.

Remember, if you suffer from any symptom which is not being cured, you 'have to' pay your physician a visit.