Liver Health & Complications: Hepatitis Treatment, Cirrhosis and Fatty Liver Explained

The liver is a large organ on the upper right side of the abdomen. It processes nutrients, clears substances from the blood, makes proteins that help blood clot and produces bile for digestion. Because it has many jobs and can repair itself to a degree, early liver trouble often causes few or no noticeable symptoms.

Several conditions can strain the liver. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver and has many causes, including viruses (hepatitis A, B and C), alcohol, certain medicines and the immune system. Fatty liver disease means extra fat has built up in liver cells. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver that develops over time after long-lasting injury from causes such as chronic viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease or heavy alcohol use.

Hepatitis A is generally an acute illness that usually resolves on its own. Hepatitis B and C can become chronic infections that persist for years, sometimes without symptoms. That is one reason liver disease and hepatitis are so often discussed together, and why talking with a clinician about screening matters.

Liver conditions have traditionally been approached by first finding the cause. Clinicians commonly start with a health history, a physical exam and blood tests, sometimes followed by imaging such as ultrasound or other studies that look at the liver's structure and stiffness. In some cases a clinician may discuss other ways of assessing the liver.

Care then depends on the cause. Hepatitis C can often be treated and cleared with modern antiviral medication, and hepatitis B is effectively managed with antiviral therapy and monitoring for many people. Fatty liver disease has traditionally been addressed with attention to nutrition, physical activity, weight and related conditions like blood sugar and cholesterol. Alcohol-related liver disease involves discussing alcohol use with a clinician.

When cirrhosis is present, care traditionally focuses on protecting the remaining liver function, watching for complications and managing them. Vaccination against hepatitis A and B is another long-standing part of prevention. Whether any test, vaccine or medication is appropriate is a decision for a licensed clinician after an evaluation.

The right doctor, such as a primary care clinician, a gastroenterologist or a liver specialist (hepatologist), may help you understand what your symptoms or test results could mean and which questions are worth asking. A visit generally includes questions about your health history, medicines and supplements, alcohol use, family history and possible past exposures, followed by an exam and possibly lab work or imaging.

It can help to bring a list of your medicines and supplements, any prior lab results and notes about symptoms. Some people find it useful to ask: What might be causing this? Should I be screened for hepatitis B or C? Is vaccination something to consider for me? What do my liver tests show, and how often should they be rechecked? Which warning signs should prompt me to call?

A good provider will explain things in plain language and discuss options without judgment. You can browse independent licensed doctors through Providers.plus. Many people with higher-risk backgrounds, including certain birth cohorts, people who received blood transfusions before 1992, people who have injected drugs and people born in regions where hepatitis B or C is more common, find that screening is a simple, routine conversation.