Liver diseases can progress for many years without any obvious signs. Significant damage is already done by the time jaundice or fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity appears. There is a group of people at high risk of developing liver problems who should undergo examination after consulting a doctor.
Doctors note that the liver is a constantly functioning organ, but problems with it are only discovered when the disease has already developed significantly. The main reason for this is that even with serious liver damage, pain or other symptoms may be absent in the initial stages. During routine medical check-ups, many people are found to have serious problems such as liver fibrosis or cirrhosis.
Dr. Prashant Vilas Bhangui, Senior Director of the Liver Transplant Department at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon, provided information on this issue. He emphasized that factors such as obesity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, and chronic hepatitis B or C infection increase the risk of liver disease. Under these conditions, fat can accumulate in the liver, inflammation can occur, and fibrosis can gradually develop. Therefore, people suffering from obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure are strongly advised to undergo liver tests. Timely testing allows for the detection of diseases ranging from liver cirrhosis to hepatitis.
To check the state of the liver, blood tests, hepatitis tests, and, if necessary, non-invasive methods to determine the presence of liver scarring are performed. However, it is important to remember that normal liver enzyme levels do not guarantee the complete health of the organ. In such cases, in addition to a blood test, further examinations should be undergone upon the doctor's recommendation.
If liver disease is detected in time, its root causes can be treated, and further disease progression can be prevented. In some cases, improvement in the condition of liver scarring is possible. Therefore, one should not wait for symptoms to appear. It is necessary to be aware of one's risks, undergo examinations upon the doctor's advice, and take care of liver health in a timely manner.
