Liver Disease Diagnosis & Treatments in Manhattan
What Is Liver Disease?
Liver disease is any disturbance of liver function that causes illness, or causes the liver to fail to perform its designated functions. Liver disease is also referred to as hepatic disease and this specific branch of medicine is known as hepatology.
A doctor who is board-certified in liver diseases is specially trained in the prevention, diagnosis and management of diseases that affect the liver, as well as the gallbladder, biliary system and pancreas.
What Is The Function Of The Liver?
The liver is responsible for many critical functions in the body, including:
- Production of bile which is required in the digestion of food
- Storing extra glucose (sugar) as glycogen, and then converting it back to glucose when the body is in need of energy
- Blood clotting
- Production of amino acids
- Processing and storage of iron which is necessary for red blood cell production
- Manufacturing of cholesterol required for fat transport
- Conversion of waste products
- Metabolizing medications into their active ingredient
Symptoms Of Liver Disease
Signs and symptoms of liver disease vary from person to person and may include:
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Abdominal pain/swelling
- Itchy skin
- Dark colored urine
- Pale colored stool
- Chronic fatigue
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Bruising easily
Risk Factors For Developing Liver Disease
Liver disease can be genetically inherited or caused by a variety of other factors that damage the liver. Risk factors for liver disease include:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Exposure to other people’s blood and body fluids
- Exposure to certain chemicals or toxins
- Heavy alcohol use
- Drug use with shared needles
- Tattoos
- Body piercings
- Unprotected sex
Diagnosing Liver Diseases
Determining the exact cause and type of liver disease is the first step to getting the right treatment. In order to diagnose liver disease, a comprehensive physical examination and medical history is performed, which may also include a blood test, MRI, or CT scan and a tissue analysis or liver biopsy.
Treatments Options For Liver Disease
Liver disease treatment will depend on your diagnosis. Some liver problems may be treated with lifestyle modifications while others may be treated with medication or require surgery. If liver damage is severe, treatment may require a liver transplant.
Types Of Liver Disease
Common types of liver disease include:
- Hepatitis A, B and C
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis
- Primary biliary cirrhosis
- Wilson’s disease
- Hemochromatosis
- Liver cancer
- Liver adenoma
- Cirrhosis (from chronic alcohol abuse)
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Schedule A Consultation
Park Avenue Medical Professionals offers comprehensive liver disease treatment (hepatology) services on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Our board-certified NYC liver disease specialist has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating all types of acute and chronic liver diseases. Learn more about our hepatology services by contacting our office at 212.427.2000. You can also make an appointment by filling out this form.
