Liver Disease Specialist

What is liver disease?

Your liver performs hundreds of daily functions, but its primary responsibilities are helping you to digest food, store energy, and produce bile to remove toxins and other harmful substances from your blood. Liver disease is a condition in which your liver can no longer function as it should. 

Many liver diseases are preventable with certain measures, such as making diet and lifestyle changes, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption. Hepatitis B is also a preventable type of liver disease if you’re vaccinated for the Hepatitis B virus.

What are the symptoms of liver disease?

Depending on the type of liver disease that you have, Dr. Shah can evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment plan. 

Common symptoms of liver disease include: 

• Chalky stools 
• Pain in your upper right abdomen 
• Pain in your joints 
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) 
• Loss of appetite 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Abdominal bloating or swelling 
• Fatigue 

It’s important to keep track of your symptoms closely and see Dr. Shah at The Gastroenterology Practice for a specific diagnosis and personalized treatment plan as soon as possible to prevent further complications. 

What types of liver diseases are there?

Some of the most common liver diseases include: 

• Fatty liver disease 
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is often tied to obesity
• Hemochromatosis
• Hepatitis 
• Cirrhosis (a type of late-stage liver disease)
• Liver cancer 

Cirrhosis and liver cancer are the most severe types of liver diseases.  

How are liver diseases diagnosed?

To diagnose liver diseases, Dr. Shah asks about your medical history and symptoms. Then, he performs a comprehensive physical exam. This may include palpating your abdomen and checking your skin and eye color for signs of jaundice. 

Dr. Shah may order blood tests, a CT scan, an MRI, or ultrasound, to gather more information about your condition. He might also take a biopsy of your liver and the surrounding tissue to examine it closely under a microscope. 

How are liver diseases treated?

At The Gastroenterology Practice, Dr. Shah determines what type of liver disease you have and discusses underlying factors that caused it. He may recommend a treatment plan that can eliminate your current risk for liver disease or help manage your condition if you already have it.  

Treatments for liver disease may include:

• Medications 
• Diet and lifestyle changes, such as lowering cholesterol levels, losing weight, avoiding alcohol, and staying hydrated
• Liver transplants 
• Liver surgery 

The specific treatment approach depends on the type of liver disease, whether you have any complications (like abdominal bleeding), and your current symptoms. 

To schedule an appointment for liver disease help, call The Gastroenterology Practice in Queens, New York, or book online today.