What it is
Liver health care covers the monitoring, evaluation and ongoing management of the liver, an organ that helps process nutrients, filter the blood and make proteins the body needs. Doctors often start with blood tests that reflect liver function and liver enzymes, sometimes along with imaging.
Cirrhosis is advanced scarring of the liver that can develop slowly over many years when the liver is repeatedly injured. Common causes include chronic hepatitis B or C, long-term heavy alcohol use, and fatty liver disease. Many people with early liver scarring have no obvious symptoms, which is one reason monitoring matters.
Fatty liver disease means extra fat has built up in the liver. It is often linked to weight, blood sugar and cholesterol, though not always. Evaluation generally aims to understand how much the liver may be affected and what is contributing to it. Abnormal enzymes can have many causes, and a licensed clinician is the person to sort out which applies.
How it’s traditionally been approached
Traditionally, the first step has been looking for the cause. This often includes a health history, a physical exam, blood work, and screening for viral hepatitis such as hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis A is generally short-term and self-limited, while hepatitis B and C can become chronic infections.
Imaging such as ultrasound and other non-invasive tests of liver stiffness have commonly been used to look at the liver's structure and scarring. In some situations, clinicians have also used a biopsy. Which tests make sense is a decision for a licensed clinician after an evaluation.
Management has typically focused on addressing the underlying cause, regular follow-up, and watching for complications. Modern antiviral medications can often treat and clear hepatitis C, and hepatitis B is often effectively managed with antiviral therapy and monitoring. Lifestyle factors, vaccination and other medicines are usually discussed with a provider. Specialists such as hepatologists and gastroenterologists often take part in this care.
How the right doctor may help
The right doctor may help you make sense of your results and put them in context. A first visit generally includes a review of your history, medicines and supplements, alcohol use, family history, and any earlier lab or imaging results. Honest answers help the clinician see the whole picture without judgment.
A doctor may also talk with you about whether screening or vaccination for hepatitis is appropriate for you. This can be especially relevant for people in groups with a higher chance of exposure, such as certain birth cohorts, people who received a blood transfusion before 1992, people who have injected drugs, and people born in regions where hepatitis B or C is more common. Any such step is a conversation with your own clinician.
Questions worth asking include: What do you think is causing my results? Which tests do you recommend, and why? Could a virus be involved? How often should my liver be checked? Which symptoms mean I should call you? Are there medicines or supplements I should ask about before taking? Do I need a specialist? Providers.plus lists licensed providers if you are looking for one.
The whole-person view
The body, mind and stress affect each other, and this is true for the liver as well. Living with a long-term condition, waiting on test results, or facing a cirrhosis diagnosis can bring worry, low mood, poor sleep or changes in eating habits, all of which can in turn affect how a person feels day to day. Many people find it helps to treat emotional well-being as part of overall care.
Body-based support, such as the approaches offered by Somatic Experiences, may help some people notice and ease stress held in the body. Talk therapy, such as through Therapists.plus, may help with the worry, grief or stigma that can come with a liver diagnosis. These are complements to medical care and not replacements for it, and no single approach is right for everyone.
Keep in mind
- Licensed professionals should guide all decisions about testing, medicines and management of liver conditions. Nothing on this page is a diagnosis or treatment plan.
- Medicines, supplements and procedures differ in regulatory status, and some products marketed for liver health are not FDA-approved to treat liver disease. Ask a provider about any product before you use it.
- Seek emergency care right away by calling 911 for confusion, severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, or significant yellowing of the skin or eyes with fever. This site is not for emergencies.
- If you are in emotional crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Doctors
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Frequently asked questions
What does a doctor do for abnormal liver enzymes?
A doctor looks for the cause of the abnormal liver enzymes, which can range from medicines and alcohol to fatty liver disease or viral hepatitis. This usually starts with a history, an exam and follow-up tests. Many causes are manageable, and a licensed clinician can explain what your results mean.
Can cirrhosis be managed?
Many people live with cirrhosis under ongoing medical care. Management generally focuses on addressing the underlying cause, regular monitoring and watching for complications. How this looks for you depends on your health and is decided with your clinician.
Is hepatitis treatment available for liver damage caused by a virus?
Yes, hepatitis treatment is available for chronic viral hepatitis. Modern antiviral medicines can often treat and clear hepatitis C, and hepatitis B is often effectively managed with antiviral therapy and monitoring. Whether treatment is right for you is something only a licensed clinician can decide after an evaluation.
What is fatty liver disease evaluation?
Fatty liver disease evaluation is a process a clinician uses to find out whether fat in the liver is causing irritation or scarring and what may be contributing. It can include blood tests, imaging and a review of your health history. The results help guide the next steps in follow-up.
Who should ask about hepatitis screening?
Anyone can ask a clinician whether hepatitis screening makes sense for them. It is often discussed with people in certain birth cohorts, those who had blood transfusions before 1992, people who have injected drugs, and people born in regions with higher hepatitis B or C prevalence. Screening is simply a conversation and a test, not a judgment.
What kind of doctor should I see for liver problems?
A primary care clinician is often a good starting point, and they may refer you to a hepatologist or gastroenterologist who focuses on the liver. You can look for licensed providers through Providers.plus. Bring your recent lab results and a list of your medicines and supplements to the visit.
Educational resource. Hep Programs shares general information and connects people with independent doctors. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk with a licensed professional about your health.