They are two words that nobody wants to hear. Although there are a number of causes, one of the most common is chronic alcohol abuse. The liver is a football-sized organ on the right side of the abdomen. It is essential for a number of body functions including blood clotting, breaking down damaged blood cells, breaking down fats and producing energy, as well as the body’s other metabolic processes. The liver is also responsible for eliminating the body’s toxins.
What Are The Causes?
Liver disease may be most commonly associated with chronic alcohol abuse, but other risk factors include:
● Genetics: Liver disease can be inherited. Certain inherited genes cause substances to build up in the liver, causing damage.
● Viruses/Parasites: Viruses such as hepatitis cause liver failure over time, because they cause inflammation of the organ that reduces function.
● Alcohol abuse: Chronic alcohol use and/or abuse can lead to liver damage which, if caught early, is reversible
● Obesity: Obesity is linked with fatty liver disease.
● Immune system abnormality: Certain autoimmune disorders can attack the liver, or overload the liver as it attempts to break down bad blood cells.