What Are the Available Treatment Methods for Liver Diseases?

Liver disease can pose significant harm to the human body, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, poor appetite, nausea, jaundice, and skin itching. It is crucial for patients to seek timely and targeted treatment, maintain a regular exercise routine to enhance their resistance, adopt a bland diet, avoid alcohol and spicy foods, and manage stress levels. Now, let's explore the various treatment options for liver disease.

I. Treatment Options for Liver Disease

The primary approaches to treating liver disease include antiviral therapy, improving immune function, and maintaining or restoring liver function, which can be achieved through medication and surgical intervention.

II. Typical Symptoms of Liver Disease

Liver disease often presents with subtle symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, decreased appetite, postprandial fullness, upper abdominal discomfort or pain, nausea, aversion to greasy food, jaundice, and skin itching. In cases of liver cirrhosis, additional symptoms may include liver palms, spider nevi, ascites, abdominal wall varicose veins, splenomegaly, as well as bleeding manifestations such as gingival bleeding and gastrointestinal bleeding, which can lead to anemia. In severe cases, liver encephalopathy may develop, manifesting as consciousness disturbances, behavioral abnormalities, and coma.

III. Dietary Recommendations

When liver function is significantly impaired or there are precursors of liver encephalopathy, protein intake should be strictly limited, with preference for plant-based proteins. In cases of ascites, water and sodium intake should be restricted, and a low-salt or salt-free diet should be adopted. Additionally, alcohol should be avoided, and rough or hard foods should be excluded from the diet. Instead, soft and easily digestible foods should be consumed. A bland diet should be maintained, and fried and spicy foods should be avoided.

IV. Daily Care

It is essential to ensure adequate sleep to reduce physical exertion and lighten the physiological burden on the liver. Moderate physical activities such as walking are recommended, aiming for a level of exertion that does not induce fatigue. Regular outpatient follow-ups are also crucial, and immediate medical attention should be sought in cases of persistent worsening of fatigue or the presence of black stool.

V. Which Department Should I Visit?

If symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain are present, it is advisable to consult a gastroenterologist. Once a liver disease diagnosis is confirmed, treatment should be sought in the gastroenterology department. Alternatively, if there is no gastroenterology department available, a general internal medicine department can be consulted.

VI. How to Prevent Liver Disease?

The prevention of liver disease varies depending on the type of liver disease. For alcoholic liver disease, the primary prevention strategy is to abstain from alcohol. To prevent fatty liver disease, it is important to avoid greasy foods and maintain regular exercise. Drug-induced liver disease requires cessation of any medications that may be harmful to the liver. Autoimmune liver disease is not preventable but requires regular monitoring to assess disease progression. Viral hepatitis can be prevented through proper hygiene, including attention to food safety and avoidance of unsafe blood transfusions.