Liver Disease Specialist

The Gastroenterology Group, Inc

Gastroenterology Practice located in Akron, OH

An estimated 4.5 million adults in the United States have liver disease. To lower your risk of permanent liver damage, the board-certified doctors at The Gastroenterology Group can order diagnostic testing.. The team helps you make diet and lifestyle changes that support your liver health, and they also provide long-term care plans to prevent your liver disease from getting worse. To get help managing your liver disease, call the office in Akron, Ohio, today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.

Liver Disease Q & A

What is liver disease?

Your liver sits on the right side of your abdomen under your rib cage. It’s about the size of a football. Its primary roles are digesting food and eliminating toxins from your body.

Several things can contribute to liver disease, including viral infections like hepatitis A, B, and C. You could also be at risk of liver disease because of:

Cancer
Obesity
Type 2 diabetes
Autoimmune disorders
Genetic disorders
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (buildup of fat in the liver)

If you drink excessive alcohol, you can develop a liver disease that progresses into cirrhosis, scarring on your liver. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition.

When should I seek treatment for liver disease?

You can have a liver disease without symptoms, especially in the early stages. As the disease worsens, you might experience symptoms like:

Itchy skin
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Persistent fatigue
Abdominal swelling and pain
Dark urine and pale stools
Yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice)
Swelling in your legs and ankles

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at The Gastroenterology Group if you have any of these symptoms, especially if you have risk factors for liver disease. Early diagnosis is essential to protect your liver’s long-term health and function.

The medical team can use blood tests, CT scans, and ultrasound technology to identify changes in your liver. You might also need a liver biopsy, a minimally invasive procedure that uses a long needle to take a tissue sample of your liver for further testing.

How is liver disease treated?

Your initial treatment plan for liver disease usually includes lifestyle and diet changes to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. If you drink alcohol, you need to stop.

These changes can give your liver time to heal itself. The Gastroenterology Group team continues to monitor your liver function. They focus on helping you manage your condition to prevent it from turning into permanent liver damage and failure.

Those who have liver disease that becomes liver failure will need a liver transplant to prevent complications, including premature death.

Call The Gastroenterology Group office today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for symptoms of liver disease or book an appointment online.

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