Liver disease is any disturbance of liver function that causes illness. Liver disease is also referred to as hepatic disease. The liver is the second largest organ in the body. It works hard performing hundreds of complex functions including: fighting infections and illness; removing toxins, such as alcohol, from the body; controlling cholesterol levels; helping blood to clot (thicken); and releasing bile, a liquid that breaks down fats and aids digestion. Liver disease doesn’t usually cause any obvious signs or symptoms until it’s fairly advanced, and the liver is damaged. Diseases that may affect the liver include hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), cirrhosis (scarring), fatty liver, and liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). Symptoms of liver disease may include: bleeding or easy bruising, swelling, fatigue, and jaundice (yellow coloring to the skin and whites of the eyes). If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com, for your peace of mind.