Liver is situated on the upper right side of the abdomen, above the navel area. It is shaped in a triangular or cone-shape and it weighs about 3-4 pounds or 1.5 kgs. Liver plays a very important role in the overall health of a human being. There are four main lobes in the liver that further have many segments and then small lobules in it. These lobules are connected to a pipe-like structure, known as hepatic duct. This hepatic duct transfers the bile produced by the liver to other organs.Â
Liver serves a very important function of storing and cleaning the blood that paases through it. Liver processes the blood and makes nutrients (proteins, creation of cholesterol) along with the production of bile. Bile is required to break down fat present in the small intestine and also to carry the waste material out of the body. Another very important function of the liver is to convert the glucose or sugar in blood to glycogen so that it can be stored and used when required. Liver also clears the poisonous substances from blood and also clears the excess of bilirubin from blood. Bile enters the intestine and makes faeces, while the blood enters the kidneys and makes urine.Â
How to Maintain a Healthy Liver
- Avoidance of substance abuse, smoking and alcohol are some of the main factors to maintain a healthy liver. As these substances create an extra pressure on the organ to break them down and clean the blood. Excessive use of alcohol can lead to liver Cirrhosis.Â
- Regular Exercises promote great blood supply and an active lifestyle.
- Moderate consumption of fat is also required to maintain a healthy liver functioning. As excessive fat consumption can lead to fatty liver disease. Â
- Get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B to protect yourself from these liver infections.
- Salt should be consumed in moderate amounts.
- Safe sexual practice is essential to protect you from sexually transmitted disorders like hepatitis C.
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Unique facts about the liver
- Liver can regenerate itself again, which is why liver transplants are possible and successful. As the donor gives half of its liver and the rest of it gets regenerated itself.Â
- Liver serves more than 500 functions in our body thereby making it a vital organ for survival.Â
- It protects us from many deadly infections by building immunity and fighting infections.Â
- Liver is the ultimate detoxification organ that gets rid of drugs, alcohol and other poisonous substances.Â
- Liver starts creating blood even before we are born.Â
Alcoholic Liver Disease – There is development of fat and inflammation on the liver due to excessive consumption of alcohol. This disease can damage the liver and create scarring on it. If not treated well in time it can be fatal for the patient. Jaundice and tremors are the main symptoms of the alcoholic liver disease, however the early symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Depending upon the stage of liver disease, it can be treated by medicines as well as by liver transplant surgery. Avoidance of alcohol is an absolute necessity to get treated. There are four stages of alcoholic liver disease, these are –Â
- Alcoholic Fatty Liver
- Alcoholic Hepatitis
- Liver Fibrosis
- Cirrhosis of LiverÂ
If you are suffering from alcoholic liver disease, then book an appointment with Dr. Atul Jainfor the best treatment of liver diseases in Delhi.Â
Liver Cirrhosis – Cirrhosis of liver is the final stage of alcoholic liver disease. The whole liver slowly transforms into the scarring tissue. This makes it unable to function properly. When cirrhosis of the liver progresses to end-stage liver disease, then the liver transplant is the only treatment option. Long-term consumption of alcohol and liver infections like hepatitis are the main causes of liver cirrhosis. Abstinence from alcohol and surgical interventions are the mainstay of treatment to treat cirrhosis.  Â
Decompensated Cirrhosis – When complications arise in the cirrhosis of the liver, it is known as decompensated cirrhosis. In other words, when the liver stops functioning in cirrhosis, it is then called decompensated cirrhosis. Jaundice, bloated abdomen, mental confusion, weight loss, and spider veins are some of the symptoms of the decompensated cirrhosis, and a liver transplant is the only option. Dr. Jha is a hepatologist and he is known for the best liver disease treatment in Delhi including all types of cirrhosis. Â
Chronic Liver Disease – Cirrhosis of liver is also known as chronic liver disease. As cirrhosis is a long-term liver disease, it becomes chronic after some time and the complications like spider veins, early bruising, kidney failure, type 2 diabetes, etc arise. The treatment of the chronic liver disease depends upon the condition of the patient, and the stage of liver disease. Along with medicines, surgery is considered in most cases of chronic liver disease.Â
Acute Liver Failure – Acute liver failure is a rare condition in which the liver stops working after an episode of infection like hepatitis or after a case of drug overdose or poisoning. Sometimes some autoimmune diseases can be the reason behind liver failure. Consumption of a popular painkiller, acetaminophen is often associated with acute liver failure. The treatment depends upon the cause of acute liver failure, in case of drug poisoning, an antidote is given. In case of infection, medicines and supportive measures are given. If the patient is unable to recover, s/he is put on the transplant list.Â
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Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) – When chronic liver disease progresses into liver failure, it is known as acute-on-chronic liver failure. It is characterized by a bad prognosis and multiple organ failure. Patients who are alcoholics or those who suffer from hepatitis are more prone to this kind of liver failure. On-time treatment of this liver failure is very important in such cases to ensure the patient’s survival and right treatment. You can book an appointment with Dr. Jha here for the best liver disease treatment in Delhi.Â
Chronic Hepatitis B – When the patient with acute hepatitis B infection does not get treated even after 6 months, then the disease is known as chronic hepatitis B. It can be diagnosed with a blood test. Getting vaccinated is the best way to avoid getting hepatitis. Infants and children are more susceptible to chronic hepatitis B than healthy adults. With correct treatment and precautions, patients with chronic hepatitis can also live a healthy and long life.Â
Chronic Hepatitis C – It is another type of liver infection with no vaccine available till now. This disease is contagious and can spread through the direct contact of the blood of the patient. The early symptoms of hepatitis C remain unnoticeable in many cases, this leads to the development of chronic hepatitis C. Antiviral medications or direct-acting antivirals (DAA) are the treatment of choice for controlling the infection. It can also lead to liver scarring and liver failure if not treated well in time. Â
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) – When there is an accumulation of fat inside the liver in non-alcoholic patients, it is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD. In this disease, there is no damage to the liver or its functioning yet. However, the functioning can decrease in the future if proper treatment is not taken. Being asymptomatic in most cases, this fatty liver gets diagnosed in routine blood tests often. Dr. Jha says that while performing the liver disease treatment in Delhi, he has noted that Lifestyle changes play an important role along with medicines in controlling and reversing the fatty liver such as weight loss, cholesterol management, etc.Â
Non-Alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) – When a NAFLD or non-alcoholic fatty liver patient develops an infection in the liver along with a decrease in the function of the liver, it is said to have converted into NASH or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Severe weakness, weight loss, and itching on the skin can be a few signs of NASH that are often ignored or develop too slowly over the years. Medicines are used only to control the symptoms in NASH as medicines can’t reverse the damage. Lifestyle changes are suggested to the patient and surgical intervention is required in severe cases.Â
Auto-immune Hepatitis (AIH) – Autoimmune hepatitis occurs when the patient’s own immune system starts attacking the liver cells. The body starts taking the liver cells as a foreign body. Swelling and infection on the liver are the main features of the disease, it can lead to liver failure as well. Immunosuppressive medicines are given to make the body stop attacking the liver. Most patients go into the remission phase of the disease after 6 months of treatment.Â
Wilson’s Disease – It is a genetic disorder that makes the liver store the copper in the blood instead of discarding it. With time the copper gets accumulated in the liver, thereby leading to its damage. It is a rare disease but it can be life-threatening. The copper-chelating medicines, dietary advice, and liver transplant in case of complete liver damage are the treatment of choice for Wilson’s disease.Â
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) – It is a disease of the bile duct system that keeps on progressing if not treated. As the bile duct carries the bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine, the blockage of bile occurs eventually. PSC remains asymptomatic till it becomes quite severe. Symptoms like Jaundice, itching, and pain in the upper right abdomen occur in later stages only. Liver biopsy is one of the most effective ways to determine the severity of the disease. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is another way to determine the actual condition of the bile duct. The treatment of PSC ranges from medicine to surgery like other liver diseases treatment in Delhi. Â
Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) – When the bile ducts are damaged, then the bile starts getting accumulated in the liver, this leads to inflammation and scarring in the liver. The scarring and inflammation hamper the functioning of the liver which eventually develops into liver cirrhosis. Although there is no cure for PBC, the medications and lifestyle changes decrease the progression of the disease thus increasing the life expectancy of the patient. When the medication stops working, a liver transplant is the only treatment for survival.Â
Biliary Atresia – It is a genetic condition where the bile ducts are not fully developed so they get blocked. This is found in newborns when s/he develops worsening jaundice and starts losing weight as well. This can damage the liver and can be fatal if not treated before the infant reaches the age of 8 weeks. The only treatment is the Kasai Surgery where the liver is connected to the small intestine directly. Some babies still need liver transplants even after Kasai Surgical procedure in order to have a normal healthy life.
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Other Metabolic Diseases – Some other metabolic diseases of the liver include jaundice, phenylketonuria, and hemochromatosis, etc. In hemochromatosis, excess iron is absorbed in the blood from food, this can damage the liver and can cause many other liver diseases. To get the best liver disease treatment in Delhi, book an appointment with a Liver Disease specialist, Dr. Atul Jain today!
Dr. Atul Jain is the best GastroIntestinal Surgeon in Delhi and has an experience of more than 15 years in this field. Dr. Sandeep Jha practices at his Clinic Care & Cure situated at C17, opposite Indian Bank, near SBI BankMalviya Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110017. He has worked at Nirvan Superspeciality Clinic in Sheikh Sarai, Delhi and BLK Super Speciality Hospital in Pusa Road, Delhi. He completed MBBS from University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, New Delhi in 2006,MS – General Surgery from G B Pant Hospital / Moulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi in 2010 and DNB – Surgical Gastroenterology from National Board Of Examination in 2016.
He is a member of Delhi Medical Council. Some of the services provided by Dr Sandeep Jha are Liver Transplant Surgery, Liver Disease Treatments, Gall Bladder Surgery, Pancreas Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgeries, Laser Fissure Surgery,Hemorrhoids Treatment,Stoma Care,Minimally Invasive Surgery and Laparoscopy etc.
Among the finest Gastro-Onco and Liver Transplant surgeon in Delhi, Dr Sandeep K Jha in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, Delhi is known for offering excellent patient care. Dr Sandeep Jha holds an experience of more than 15 years and has extensive knowledge in the respective field of medicine. The clinic is located centrally in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, a prominent locality in the city. It stands close to Behind Central Market which not only makes it convenient for people from the vicinity to consult the doctor but also for those from other neighbourhoods to seek medical guidance. There is no dearth of public modes of transport to reach the clinic from all major areas of the city.
Dr Sandeep Jha is an esteemed member of ILTS( International Liver Transplant Society ), LTSI ( Liver Transplant society of India ), IASG( Indian Association of Surgical Gastroenterology), IHPBA-Indian Chapter ( International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association), ASI ( Association of Surgeonns of India ), SAGES ( Society of American Gastro and endoscopic Sugeons ) and this only adds to the credibility of the doctor. Services Offered: Dr Sandeep K Jha in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, Delhi has a well-equipped clinic with all the modern equipment. The clinic has separate waiting and consultation areas which allow enough space for patients to wait conveniently at the clinic. Being a specialized Gastro-Onco and Liver Transplant surgeon, the doctor offers a number of medical services. These include Gastro Intestinal Surgeon, Liver Surgery, Liver Resection, Intestine Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Gi And Hpb Surgery, Anal Fissure Surgery among others. The doctor’s consultation fee is Rs. 500. The clinic is operational between 5 to 8 PM. Payments can be made via various modes like Cash, Credit Card, UPI, BHIM etc.