OVERVIEW:
“Liver disease” refers to any one of many diseases that affect the health of the liver, the body’s largest organ that performs more than 5,000 functions, including converting food into energy, filtering toxins (such as alcohol), and producing bile to aid digestion. Types of liver disease include:

• Viruses that cause liver inflammation, such as Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, which are transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), in which fat accumulates in the liver; a rapidly growing disease almost exclusive to the overweight and the obese
• Liver cancer, typically caused by Hepatitis B or C, chemical or toxic exposure, alcohol abuse, or a birth defect
• Cirrhosis, the blockage of blood flow due to the scarring and hardening of the liver
• Alcohol liver disease that inflames the liver due to alcohol abuse
• And many other liver-related diseases

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, in 2004 513,000 people were hospitalized for chronic liver disease or cirrhosis, while 26,549 died from their liver condition. A 2006 UC San Diego study found that as many 6.5 million overweight and obese U.S. children could have NAFLD. Liver disease can cause or contribute to jaundice (yellowing of eye whites and skin), liver enlargement, high blood pressure in one’s veins, bleeding in one’s esophagus or stomach, blood abnormalities, and more.

Several risk factors can contribute to a person’s likelihood to develop liver damage or disease, such as:

• Exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and chemicals or toxins 
• Excessive alcohol use
• Excessive use of acetaminophen
• Having used an unsterilized needle for drug injections, tattoos, or piercings
• A history of unprotected sex
• Obesity, diabetes, or high triglycerides
• Having received a blood transfusion prior to 1992 or been exposed to others’ blood, such as in military service
• Having had an abnormal liver test

Wikipedia: Liver Disease Information


HOW TO GET INSURANCE:

Life insurance: Insurance options can be limited for those afflicted with liver disease. If you apply for a policy that does require medical information, ensure that all your health records are up to date as they will be used to determine your premium. Some firms, though, provide guaranteed coverage and allow you to apply for a policy without a medical exam or health questions. A no-hassle policy may be your best bet.

Health insurance: As with other chronic diseases, it is important to hold onto you health insurance policy so that you can afford consistent medical care and treatment. If your policy lapses, you may find it difficult to get health coverage, or that you are subject to pre-existing condition waiting periods, which can last as long as a year. Also, insurance companies will consider you a high-risk patient and either charge you very high premiums or not offer you coverage at all. If you already have health insurance coverage, you may want to seek supplemental coverage to offset your treatment costs.


NUTRITION, EXERCISE, AND WELL-BEING:
To help optimize your liver function, watch your diet and ensure that you eat plenty of carbohydrates to maintain your blood sugar and your energy level. Depending on your weight and how your liver is doing, you may also need to reduce or increase the amount of protein—if not the sources of it—that you consume daily. Generally, people with liver disease need to decrease their fat intake too. It’s important to take daily vitamins as prescribed by your doctor to get adequate nutrients. You may also need to change the amount of sodium, alcohol, and liquids in general to achieve better health and prevent your disease from worsening; this all depends on your type of liver disease. If you can, schedule an appointment with a nutritionist or a dietitian who is knowledgeable about liver disease, and talk to your doctor about exercise.

Learn more:
MedPlus: Diet – Liver Disease
nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
USDA: Diet and Disease: Digestive Diseases and Disorders
fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display


PATIENT RESOURCES:
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
aasld.org
American Liver Foundation
liverfoundation.org
Hepatitis International Foundation
hepfi.org
MedlinePlus: Liver Diseases
nlm.nih.gov
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC): Cirrhosis of the Liver
digestive.niddk.nih.gov
National Institute of Health: Institute and Center Resources
health.nih.gov
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services: Liver Diseases
healthfinder.gov
Video: Your Liver. Your Life. (American Liver Foundation)
yourliver.org