Liver disease
What is Liver disease?
Liver disease is a term for any condition that damages your liver and affects how it works. Your liver is a large organ on the right side of your belly that does over 500 jobs. It filters toxins from your blood, stores energy, makes proteins your body needs, and helps you digest food.
When your liver is damaged, it can't do these jobs as well. This can happen suddenly or develop slowly over many years. Some liver diseases are mild and reversible with lifestyle changes. Others are serious and can lead to scarring called cirrhosis or even liver failure.
Many types of liver disease exist, including fatty liver disease, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. The good news is that your liver has an amazing ability to heal itself if you catch problems early. Regular blood testing can help you spot liver issues before you feel sick.
Symptoms
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes, called jaundice
- Pain or swelling in the upper right side of your belly
- Swelling in your legs and ankles
- Dark urine or pale stools
- Chronic fatigue and weakness
- Nausea or loss of appetite
- Itchy skin that won't go away
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Confusion or trouble thinking clearly
Many people with early liver disease have no symptoms at all. Your liver can lose up to 75% of its function before you notice anything wrong. This is why blood testing is so important for catching liver problems early.
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Causes and risk factors
Liver disease has many different causes. Heavy alcohol use is one of the most common, as alcohol directly damages liver cells over time. Viral infections like hepatitis B and hepatitis C can also cause long-term liver damage. Fatty liver disease, which happens when too much fat builds up in liver cells, is becoming more common due to obesity and metabolic issues.
Other risk factors include certain medications, autoimmune conditions where your immune system attacks your liver, genetic disorders, and exposure to toxins. Poor diet, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol can also contribute to liver disease. Some people develop liver problems even without clear risk factors, which is why regular screening matters for everyone.
How it's diagnosed
Liver disease is diagnosed through a combination of blood tests, imaging, and sometimes a liver biopsy. Blood tests are usually the first step and can reveal how well your liver is working. Tests that measure protein levels, clotting factors, and waste products give doctors important clues about liver function.
Rite Aid offers testing that includes key markers for liver health, such as albumin, total protein, BUN, prothrombin time, and sex hormone binding globulin. These tests can detect early signs of liver problems before symptoms appear. If your blood tests show concerning results, your doctor may order imaging tests like an ultrasound or CT scan to look at your liver more closely.
Treatment options
- Stop drinking alcohol completely if alcohol is a factor
- Lose weight through diet and exercise if you have fatty liver disease
- Eat a balanced diet low in processed foods and added sugars
- Treat underlying conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, or hepatitis
- Take antiviral medications for hepatitis B or C as prescribed
- Use medications to manage symptoms and slow disease progression
- Avoid medications and supplements that can damage the liver
- Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B if you haven't already
- Work with a liver specialist for advanced disease
- Consider a liver transplant in cases of severe liver failure
Concerned about Liver disease? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Early liver disease often has no symptoms, which makes it dangerous. When symptoms do appear, they may include fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, or mild discomfort in the upper right belly. Many people don't notice anything until their liver is significantly damaged, which is why regular blood testing is so important for early detection.
It depends on the type and stage of liver disease. Early fatty liver disease can often be reversed through weight loss, diet changes, and stopping alcohol use. The liver has a remarkable ability to repair itself if the damage isn't too severe. However, advanced scarring called cirrhosis is usually permanent, though you can prevent further damage with proper treatment.
Blood tests measure substances that your liver produces or processes. Low albumin or total protein levels can indicate poor liver function. Elevated prothrombin time means your liver isn't making enough clotting factors. Low BUN levels suggest your liver isn't producing urea properly. Together, these markers give a clear picture of liver health.
Fatty liver disease happens when fat builds up in your liver cells. It's common in people with obesity, diabetes, or high cholesterol. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects about 25% of people worldwide. While it starts mild, it can progress to inflammation, scarring, and even liver failure if not addressed through lifestyle changes.
Alcohol breaks down into toxic chemicals that kill liver cells and cause inflammation. Over time, this leads to fat buildup, then scarring called cirrhosis. Your liver can usually handle small amounts of alcohol, but heavy drinking overwhelms it. The damage happens slowly, often without symptoms, until the liver is severely affected.
Many people with liver disease live full, active lives, especially if caught early. Managing the condition through diet, exercise, medication, and avoiding alcohol is key. Regular monitoring with blood tests helps track liver function and catch any worsening. Even with cirrhosis, many people maintain good quality of life for years with proper care.
Focus on whole foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins. Coffee has been shown to protect the liver. Avoid processed foods, added sugars, and fried foods, which contribute to fatty liver. Limit salt if you have cirrhosis, as it can cause fluid retention. Stay hydrated with water throughout the day.
Most adults should check liver function annually as part of routine screening. Test more often if you have risk factors like obesity, diabetes, heavy alcohol use, or viral hepatitis. People with known liver disease need testing every 3 to 6 months to monitor progression. Regular testing catches problems before they become serious.
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver, which can be caused by viruses, alcohol, or other factors. Cirrhosis is severe scarring of the liver that develops after years of damage from hepatitis or other causes. You can have hepatitis without cirrhosis, but cirrhosis is always the result of long-term liver damage and inflammation.
See a doctor right away if you notice yellowing skin or eyes, severe belly pain, or confusion. Schedule an appointment if you have ongoing fatigue, unexplained weight loss, or swelling in your legs. Anyone with risk factors like heavy alcohol use, obesity, or diabetes should get regular liver screening even without symptoms.