How to treat liver disease or liver organs depends on the severity and type of disease. Liver disease that is classified as mild can generally be overcome by living a healthy lifestyle. However, for severe cases, it needs to be treated with drugs and certain medical measures.
Liver disease can last for a short time (acute) or persist for years (chronic). This disease generally consists of several types, including hepatitis, fatty liver, cholestasis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
Liver disease can be caused by various things, such as viral infections such as hepatitis B, poisoning, side effects of drugs and alcohol consumption, to autoimmune disorders.
Some people with liver disease do not experience any symptoms. However, some others may experience symptoms such as yellow skin and eyes, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and swelling, whitish discharge, and dark urine.
Liver disease, both acute and chronic, it is important to detect it early so that it does not cause serious disturbances in liver function (liver failure). By recognizing the symptoms, examination and treatment can be carried out immediately and you will avoid dangerous complications.
How to treat liver disease naturally
Liver damage due to mild liver disease can be repaired without medical treatment, namely by changing lifestyle. The following are some things that people with liver disease need to live with:
1. Stop consuming alcoholic beverages
The habit of consuming alcoholic beverages is one of the main causes of swelling, inflammation, and permanent damage to the liver. Therefore, people with alcohol-related liver disease are strongly advised to stop the habit.
If you find it difficult to stop the habit of consuming alcoholic beverages, the patient can consult a doctor to undergo a rehabilitation program against alcoholism.
2. Follow a special diet
Patients with liver disease, for example due to hepatitis, fatty liver, alcohol consumption, and cirrhosis, will generally also be advised to undergo a special diet called the liver diet.
This diet plays a role in meeting the nutritional needs of patients with liver disease and eases the work of liver function. Thus, over time the liver is expected to recover.
Liver diet can be done in the following ways:
- Reduce intake of animal protein to prevent the formation of toxic waste protein metabolism in the liver. However, low-fat protein intake such as fish and eggs can still be consumed.
- Increase your intake of complex carbohydrates and antioxidants by increasing your consumption of fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
- Limit salt intake, which can increase fluid buildup and swelling in the liver.
- Drink enough water, at least 8 glasses (about 1.5–2 liters) every day.
In addition, the doctor may also advise people with liver disease to increase their intake of vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E. If needed, the doctor can provide additional vitamin supplements to help recover from liver disease.
3. Maintain a healthy weight
Liver disease, especially fatty liver, is common in people who are overweight or obese. Therefore, people with this disease are highly recommended to maintain an ideal body weight by following a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
To treat liver disease, patients are advised to reduce consumption of foods high in saturated fat, sweet foods, and fast food. This is because these types of foods can trigger the accumulation of fat in the liver and cause fatty liver to get worse.
4. Consuming herbal ingredients
Herbal concoction of ginger, turmeric, and dandelion root, is believed to have properties to repair liver damage due to hepatitis, cirrhosis, and fatty liver.
However, how to treat liver disease by utilizing these herbal ingredients is still not clear about its efficacy and safety. Therefore, further research is needed to ensure the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine as a treatment for liver disease.
Patients with liver disease who want to consume any herbal ingredients need to consult a doctor first. This is important so that the doctor can determine whether the drug is safe for consumption or not.
If consumed carelessly, some types of herbal medicine can actually aggravate liver disease.
How to treat liver disease with medical treatment
For liver disease that is quite severe, the patient requires medical treatment according to the type of liver disease he suffers. The following are some ways to treat liver disease medically that can be done by a doctor:
Drugs
The doctor will give medicine according to the type of liver disease suffered by the patient and the cause. To treat hepatitis due to viral infections, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, doctors can give you antiviral drugs and injections of interferon.
Meanwhile, to treat inflammation of the liver due to alcohol consumption or autoimmune disorders, doctors can give corticosteroids. Doctors can also give other drugs such as antihypertensive drugs and albumin for people with cirrhosis or liver failure.
Operation
Surgery generally needs to be done in patients with certain liver disorders, such as gallstones and tumors or liver cancer. To treat gallstones that appear along with liver problems, the doctor may perform surgery to remove the gallbladder or cholecystectomy.
In the case of a tumor or liver cancer, surgery is needed to remove the tumor or cancer and save the healthy and functioning part of the liver. Usually, liver cancer surgery procedures will be accompanied by chemotherapy and radiation therapy (radiotherapy).
Paracentesis
In addition to surgical procedures, another medical procedure that doctors may perform is paracentesis. Paracentesis is a medical procedure performed to remove excess fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity (ascites). This action is usually carried out in patients with liver disease who already have cirrhosis.
Liver transplant
Doctors will perform a liver transplant if the patient's liver disease has caused liver function failure. This method of treating liver disease is also generally recommended for people with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, biliary atresia, liver cancer, fatty liver, and Wilson's disease.
Liver disease that is detected at an early stage and treated early has a better cure rate, when compared to advanced stage liver disease which has caused various complications.
Therefore, you need to immediately consult a doctor if you experience symptoms of liver disease. If you are diagnosed with liver disease, your doctor will determine how to treat liver disease according to the cause and your overall health condition.