Liver disease

There are many different types of liver disease. You can help prevent some of them by maintaining a healthy weight and staying within the recommended alcohol limits, if you drink.

Types of liver disease

Some of the most common types of liver disease include:

Symptoms of liver disease

Most types of liver disease don't cause any symptoms in the early stages.

Once you start to get symptoms of liver disease, your liver is already damaged and scarred. This is known as cirrhosis.

• feeling very tired and weak all the time
• loss of appetite – which may lead to weight loss
• loss of sex drive (libido)
• yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

Other symptoms may include itchy skin, or feeling or being sick.

How to prevent liver disease

The three main causes of liver disease are:

• obesity
• an undiagnosed hepatitis infection
• alcohol misuse

• try to maintain a healthy weight for your height – try the BMI healthy weight calculator or read about losing weight
• avoid drinking too much alcohol – read some tips on cutting down

There are vaccines available for two types of hepatitis. These are recommended if you're at risk. Read about:

• who should have the hepatitis A vaccination
• who should have the hepatitis B vaccination