Top factors that can damage your Liver

Liver is one of the most important organs of your body as it is involved in numerous bodily functions. Liver damage is associated with many medical conditions like several forms of hepatitis, an infection affecting the liver. Other conditions include liver cancer, Wilson disease, and damage caused by alcohol.

Some factors that lead to the damaged Liver condition includes obesity, hepatitis, genetic diseases, Obesity and various autoimmune conditions.

Obesity happens when too much fat gets stored in liver cells. While experts don’t know exactly what causes the condition, it is also linked to metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels, and obesity.

Hepatitis

Chronic hepatitis B and C are responsible for most cases of liver cancer worldwide. Hepatitis C, the more common cause in the U.S., is spread through contact with infected blood, meaning you can get it from sharing needles, unprotected sex (though this is less common), and rarely, blood transfusions.

Genetic Diseases

Genetics can also play a role in the health of your liver, and several hereditary conditions can lead to liver disease. The hereditary disease hemochromatosis, for example, causes a build-up of iron in the body, which can cause cirrhosis and eventual liver failure.

Autoimmune Diseases

Certain autoimmune diseases can also impact liver function. When the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the liver, it’s called autoimmune hepatitis. No one knows exactly what causes the body to turn on itself, but genetic factors may play a role. This disease usually affects people assigned female at birth, and it’s also more common in people with another autoimmune disease.

Top factors affecting your Liver

Smoking

Smoking can increase the risk of liver cancer and liver cirrhosis. A 2013 study in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology found that smoking was associated with an increased risk of liver cirrhosis independent of alcohol intake. Smoking also promotes the production of cytokines, chemicals that cause even more inflammation and damage liver cells. Another concern: In people with hepatitis B or C, smoking can increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer.

Alcohol

Although other factors play a role, alcohol misuse remains a major cause of cirrhosis and subsequent liver disease. An estimated 10 to 15% of heavy drinkers will develop liver scarring. This means that drinking in moderation (or not at all) can go a long way toward keeping your liver healthy. And if you already have liver damage, it’s still important to abstain.

Soda and Sugary Beverages

Sugar-laden sodas are a notorious cause of weight gain, so it’s not surprising that they’ve also been linked to liver damage. One 2015 study published in The Journal of Hepatology found that people who drank one or more sugar-sweetened beverages a day had higher markers of fatty liver disease than those who didn’t drink any sugary drinks or who opted for diet varieties (although this doesn’t mean that diet sodas are a healthful choice). This risk was highest among people who were already obese or overweight.