Do you know what your liver does for you and how your health would suffer if your liver were diseased or dysfunctional? At Hunterdon Digestive Health Specialists in Hillsborough, NJ, Dr. Anubha Sinha, is dual-certified in gastroenterology and hepatology. She specializes in early detection and treatment of liver disease; so you know your hepatic health is in good hands.
What is the liver, and what does it do?
Ancient civilizations once thought this quadruple-lobed abdominal organ was the seat of human emotions. Today, we know it as critical to waster elimination, filtering blood impurities, and directing metabolic and digestive processes. It produces bile, a fluid that breaks down fats and processes drugs and alcohol.
Situated on the right side of your abdomen, the liver is indispensable. However, people have lived for years with just a portion of their liver. Still, others have undergone successful liver transplants.
What are the common liver diseases?
You've heard of Hepatitis A, B, and C. Viral and communicable, these liver infections escalate with drug and alcohol usage, reports the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Another familiar liver problem is cirrhosis. A liver plagued by this progressive and often deadly disease has a hardened, scarred and bumpy (hobnail) texture. People struggling with drug and alcohol addiction often develop cirrhosis of the liver.
Similar to cirrhosis, but unrelated to alcoholism, is fatty liver disease. With this chronic condition, the liver accumulates so much fat from diet and inactivity that it becomes dysfunctional. In its earliest stages, this inflammatory condition can be reversed.
Finally, liver cancer is both a primary cancer and one which results from metastasis, or spread, from another site, such as the lung or breast. The (CDC) reports that liver cancer occurs more in men than women and has been rising in frequency since 1980.
What are the symptoms of liver disease?
There are many symptoms of liver disease, and early on, they can be so mild that they may be missed or misdiagnosed. However, as problems progress, these signs and symptoms become detectable and troublesome:
- Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and the sclera, or white part, of the eyes
- Extreme fatigue
- Bleeding
- Itching
- Ascites, or fluid accumulation in the abdomen, which leads to distention
- Organ failure
Diagnosing liver disease
In her Hillsborough, NJ, medical practice, your gastroenterologist uses symptomology and liver function blood tests to confirm a diagnosis of liver disease. Dr. Sinha also orders imaging tests such as CAT scans and MRIs to gather as much information as possible to confirm a diagnosis and plan individualized treatment.
Your best liver health
Dr. Anubha Sinha and her team at Hunterdon Digestive Health Specialists will help you achieve your best GI health. With care focused on your unique situation, you're assured of the best possible care. Call either the Flemington or Hillsborough office for a consultation: (908) 788-8200.