August 12, 2011

Symptoms of Liver Disease in Men, & Women

Posted in Category : Common Ailments

A liver disease or hepatic disease can be described as any interruption in the liver function that leads to an illness. Since there are several important functions performed by the liver and therefore any disease or injury in the liver can cause a significant amount of damage to your body. Some liver diseases can be treated, but it is important that you start the treatment as early as possible. Therefore, you need to undergo a few tests as soon as the symptoms of liver disease become evident.

There are several different types of liver diseases that can affect you and the symptoms for each may vary. Symptoms of liver disease in men and women will differ to a very small extent. Given below are some of the common symptoms of liver disease in men and women:

  • Accumulation of fluid within the abdomen (ascites)
  • Aches and pains in the muscles
  • Alterations in levels of consciousness or mental state
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Darkening in the color of urine
  • Depression
  • Diarrhea, usually accompanied by light colored stools
  • Edema, or swelling under the skin
  • Encephalopathy
  • Enlargement of the liver or the spleen
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Increase in bleeding susceptibility
  • Itchiness all over
  • Loss of appetite
  • Low grade fever
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Pain in the abdomen and the upper right area of the stomach
  • Reduction of sex drive or even complete loss of it
  • Tenderness in the liver
  • Unease or feeling of illness
  • Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
  • Varicose veins
  • Yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)

In case the symptoms of liver disease in women are noticed during pregnancy, it could be an indication of a serious problem, which needs to be treated by a doctor immediately.

Causes

There are several different factors that could harm or damage the liver. Given below are some of the most common causes of liver disease

  • Abnormality in the flow of blood
  • Cancer in the liver
  • Cirrhosis
  • Drug abuse or the excessive use of medicines
  • Excessive consumption of alcohol
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Infectious hepatitis
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Overuse of dietary supplements or herbal supplements
  • Problems in the flow of bile

At times, you could also get a liver disease, in case you are exposed to harsh chemicals on a regular basis. These chemicals may be present in pesticides, herbicides, insecticides as well as household cleaners.

Natural Treatment

There is a specific treatment plan to be followed for different types of liver diseases. In some diseases, you may have to take certain medication, whereas in others the maintenance of hydration may be the most important. There are certain types of liver diseases that also require surgical treatment. In most types of liver diseases, long term medical care is important, for controlling consequence of the disease. For those patients suffering from liver failure, a liver transplant may be considered as a final option.

There are several people who also opt for natural treatment for liver disease in combination with conventional treatment. This helps to speed up the recovery process. Given below are a few common home remedies for liver disease:

  • Prepare a drink by mixing 200 ml spinach juice and 300 ml carrot juice. Have this mixture once each day
  • Grind some black papaya seeds to a powder and store it carefully in a jar. Mix one tablespoon of this ground powder with 10 drops of lime juice and have the infusion once or twice a day, for a month or so
  • Take around 50 grams of white radish leaves, with their tender stems on and grind them to a liquid. Drink this juice every morning on an empty stomach
  • Add a pinch of rock salt to a glass of plain lemon water and drink it once a day, preferably in the morning

Your diet also plays an important role in the treatment of liver diseases. The best diet for liver disease is high in fresh foods, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cereals, seeds and nuts. Given below are some of the foods that you should eliminate from your diet, in case you are suffering from a liver disease:

  • Alcohol
  • Spices
  • Processed meat
  • Refined foods
  • Fried, oily, greasy or junk food
  • Sweets and sugary items

A healthy diet for liver cirrhosis is incomplete without at least 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. Before you follow any kind of diet or take any medication, make sure that you consult a health care provider.