Liver & Kidney Information
The Kidney & Kidney Dysfunction
The liver and kidney are two of the body's vital organs which need to be looked after. Any dysfunction or disease of the liver or kidney can cause serious health problems. However, by following a simple, healthy lifestyle, we can look after these organs. The information contained on this page gives you up to date details on how we can help to maintain optimal functioning of the liver and kidney.
The Liver & Liver Dysfunction
What is the liver? Diseases of the liver
Symptoms of liver disease Maintaining liver health
What is the liver?
The liver is the largest glandular organ of the body and it lies on the right hand-side of the abdomen. In adult males, the liver weighs approximately 1.8kg (~4lb) and in adult females around 1.3kg (~3lb). At any given time, the liver contains approximately 1 pint of blood which is about 13% of your total blood volume.
The liver is estimated to have about 500 functions. Some of these include filtering harmful substances such as alcohol from the blood, making bile to help break down fats, storing energy, producing urea (the main component of urine), storing vitamins A, D, K & B12 and maintaining a healthy blood glucose level. In addition to this, the liver also produces around 80% of the body's cholesterol.
Diseases of the liver
Liver disease is a term that encompasses numerous diseases of the liver with some of the more common including hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease and cancer of the liver.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is characterised by inflammation of the liver and there are different types of this condition such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The causes of hepatitis can include viral infection, excess alcohol intake, drug abuse and the body's own immune system which can 'attack' the liver. Long-term hepatitis can lead to liver damage.
Cirrhosis
Long-term, continuous damage to the liver can lead to cirrhosis which is when scar tissue replaces some of the liver tissue. This leads to progressive loss of liver function and this progression can take years to develop to the point where the symptoms become noticeable.
Ultimately, if left untreated, cirrhosis can lead to liver failure and this condition kills around 4,000 people every year in the UK. One of the most common causes of cirrhosis of the liver is long-term, excess alcohol intake but it may also be caused by hepatitis infection amongst other things.
Fatty liver disease
A healthy liver contains no, or very little, fat. Fatty liver disease occurs when there is a build up of fat (triglycerides) in the liver. Although fatty liver disease used to be thought of as rare, it is now one of the most common forms of liver disease and it can lead to more advanced conditions. The build up of fat may, over in the long-term, cause inflammation and/or scarring of the liver which could lead to cirrhosis.
The cause of fatty liver disease is still under much investigation but we know that obesity, diabetes and excess alcohol intake may all increase a person's risk of developing this condition.
Cancer of the liver
Liver cancer can be 'primary' or 'secondary'. Primary liver cancers are those that start in the liver and the most common cause of these is cirrhosis of the liver. Secondary liver cancers first develop elsewhere in the body and then spread to the liver.
Secondary liver cancer is much more common than primary liver cancer in the UK. It is thought that about 15,000 people will develop secondary liver cancer every year with around 2,600 developing primary liver cancer.
Symptoms of liver disease
One of the most commonly recognised symptoms of liver dysfunction or disease is jaundice. Jaundice is characterised by a yellowing of the skin and potentially of the whites of the eyes too - it is caused by a build up of a substance caused bilirubin. Bilirubin is produced by the breakdown of red blood cells and it is normally removed from the body by the liver. However, when the liver is malfuntioning, bilirubin builds up in the body.
Other symptoms associated with liver dysfunction are normally present before jaundice sets in and these include:
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Flu-like symptoms e.g. tiredness, aches & pains, fever, loss of appetite
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Digestive problems e.g. reflux, indigestion, intolerance to fatty foods/alcohol
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Unstable blood sugar levels, craving for sugar or hypoglycaemia
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Elevated LDL cholesterol, reduced HDL cholesterol &/or elevated triglyceride levels
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Nausea &/or sickness
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Stomach ache
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Diarrhoea
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Dark circles under the eyes &/or red, itchy eyes
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Dark urine
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Caoted tongue &/or bad breath
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Excessive sweating &/or offensive body odour
If you think that you may be experiencing symptoms of liver dysfunction, you should consult your GP as soon as possible.
Maintaining liver health
There are several things that you can do to maintain optimal liver health. The following guidelines will help you to make sure that you are living a 'liver-friendly' lifestyle.
Limit your alcohol intake
One of the main threats to your liver's health is excessive alcohol intake. It is therefore important that everybody tries to moderate their alcohol intake - regularly consuming more than the recommended amount can damage the liver. The Government guidelines state that:
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Men should drink no more than 3 to 4 units of alcohol per day and less than 21 units per week
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Women should drink no more than 2 to 3 units of alcohol per day and less than 14 units per week
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Everyone should have at least 2 alcohol-free days in a row per week
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Binge-drinking (saving up all of your units for 1 or 2 nights of the week) should be avoided
Maintain a healthy weight
It is also important that we maintain a healthy weight in order to prevent liver dysfunction. Being overweight increases the risk of fatty deposits building up in the liver which can lead to fatty liver disease. This disease causes inflammation and scarring in the liver. To reduce your risk of fatty liver disease you can:
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Maintain a healthy weight
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Eat 5 portions of fruit and veg every day
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Drink 1-2 litres of water per day
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Cut down on fatty, sugary foods
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Take part in at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day
Preventing viral infection
There are vaccines which will protect you against Hepatitis A & B and you should speak to you GP if you think that you need this protection. Vaccination is recommended if you are travelling to certain areas of the world and if your job places you at increased risk of infection.
There are also steps that you can take to help you avoid infection, these include:
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Avoid sharing razors, nail scissors and toothbrushes
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Cover wounds, especially when playing sport
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Take care if having a tattoo or piercing - make sure you use a licensed studio and ensure that all equipment is sterilised
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Use a condom when having sex
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If you are a drug user, never share equipment
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Try to ensure that sterile equipment is used if you receive medical treatment abroad
The Kidney & Kidney Dysfunction
What is the kidney? Kidney disease Types of kidney disease
Symptoms of kidney disease Maintaining kidney health
What is the kidney?
The human body has two kidneys, located one on either side of the spine at the rear of the abdomen. Each kidney weighs approximately 125g-170g in adult males and 115g-155g in adult females. The primary function of the kidneys is to produce urine and excrete waste products such as urea & ammonium as well as excess fluid from the body.
The kidneys also play a vital role in regulating electrolyte (sodium & potassium) levels and they produce certain hormones that affect the function of other organs. For example, hormones produced by the kidneys help to regulate blood pressure and control calcium metabolism.
Kidney disease
When the kidneys are unable to function properly, they become unable to remove toxins, waste products and fluids from the body. This scenario is known as kidney disease and it is normally a chronic condition which affects around 5,000,000 people in the UK.
Any damage that occurs to the kidney, due to chronic kidney disease, is permanent but it is likely to happen gradually over time with very few people going on to experience kidney failure. However, it is important to diagnose kidney disease as early as possible so that treatment can start before too much damage occurs. Therefore, if your BlueSkies Health MOT revealed that you had markers of kidney dysfunction in your urine, it is important that you contact your GP for further investigation.
Chronic kidney disease is most likely to affect people who are over 55 years of age but, as symptoms are normally mild in the early stages, many people may have kidney disease without knowing it. However, diagnosis is crucial as soon as possible because kidney disease also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Kidney disease can be genetic/inherited so if there is a family history of this condition, you should be aware of it. However, it is most likely to be caused by other long-term conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. You are more likely to develop kidney disease if you are over 55 with the risk increasing as you age past this point. Men are more likely to develop kidney disease than women and people of South Asian or Caribbean origin are more at risk too.
Types of kidney disease
Kidney dysfunction not caused by long-term conditions may be the result of one of the following conditions.
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Inflammation of the kidneys (glomerulonephritis) - this occurs when the tiny filtering units in the kidney (glomeruli) become inflamed. This condition can happen suddenly following other infections and it may disappear just as quickly. However, the inflammation can be gradual causing progressive loss of kidney function.
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Polycystic kidney disease - this is the most common form of inherited disease. Cysts develop in the kidneys which enlarge over time and can result in serious kidney damage and, potentially, kidney failure.
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Kidney stones - these are very common and can cause sever pain if they pass. Kidney stones can be caused by inherited disorders which cause excess absorption of calcium and urinary tract infections.
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Urinary tract infections - these can impact upon kidney function if they spread to these organs.
Symptoms of kidney disease
The symptoms of kidney disease are fairly mild in the early stages which is why it is important to undergo regular screening if you are at increased risk. Some conditions may cause pain in the early stages but this is not guaranteed. The signs and symptoms of more advanced kidney disease include:
- Weakness, tiredness or fatigue
- Increased frequency of urination, especially at night
- Itchiness of skin which may worsen over time
- Pale skin that bruises easily
- Muscular twitches, cramps, pains and restless leg syndrome
- Pins and needles in the hands and feet
- Sickness, nausea and loss of appetite
- Swelling (oedema) of the face, arms, abdomen and legs
Other indicators of kidney disease include high blood pressure, blood &/or protein in the urine.
Maintaining kidney health
There are several steps that you can take to maintain optimal kidney health. The guidelines below look at lifestyle changes that will help you to maintain kidney health throughout your life.
Avoid high blood pressure & diabetes
By eating well, limiting your salt intake, avoiding excessive alcohol intake, keeping physically active and maintaining a healthy weight, you can limit your risk of developing high blood pressure & diabetes. Avoiding these two chronic conditions will aid you in maintaining optimal kidney health.
For more information on diabetes, please click here and for more information on high blood pressure, please click here. If you think you are at risk of high blood pressure or diabetes, it is important that you get yourself checked regularly.
Don't smoke
Not smoking, or stopping smoking, is one of the most important things that you can do to reduce your risk of kidney disease. Smokers are approximately three times more likely to suffer from kidney dysfunction.
NB The information on this page should not supersede that given by your GP or medical professional.