How your gastroenterologists in Chicago, IL, can help when you have liver disease

Liver disease can make life difficult. Having a doctor who specializes in liver disease treatment can give you peace of mind, knowing you are being treated by the best.

The gastroenterologists at Summit Digestive & Liver Disease provide a wide range of GI services, including diagnosis and treatment of liver disease. They have six convenient locations in Chicago IL, including Lincoln Park, South Loop, South Loop Endoscopy Center, Ravenswood, Summit Surgical, and Humboldt Park.

Your liver works hard to keep you healthy by eliminating toxins and waste products from your body. When your liver function is compromised from liver disease, the toxins can build up in your body and cause damage.

Liver disease can be caused by:

• Genetic factors
• Exposure to a virus
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
• Having a reaction to a drug
• Eating a poor diet and being overweight
• Poor diet and obesity
• An autoimmune disorder

In its early stages, you might not experience any signs or symptoms. In many cases, signs and symptoms don’t appear until a later stage of the disease. When you do experience signs and symptoms, they can include:

• Jaundice
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal bloating
• Weakness and fatigue
• Poor appetite and weight loss
• Swelling and edema in your extremities
• Mental impairment
• Physical impairment

Liver disease is classified into four stages, which are:

Stage 1 liver disease, which is inflammation in your liver. Chronic inflammation can enlarge your liver.

Stage 2 liver disease, which is scarring or fibrosis of the liver caused by chronic inflammation.

Stage 3 liver disease, which is cirrhosis of the liver, caused by severe liver scarring. 

Stage 4 liver disease, which is liver failure. 

Your gastroenterologist can help you feel better when you have liver disease. Regular visits with your gastroenterologist can help keep liver disease from becoming worse.

To find out more about the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of liver disease, call the gastroenterologists at Summit Digestive & Liver Disease in Chicago, IL. You can reach them in any of their office locations in Lincoln Park, South Loop, South Loop Endoscopy Center, Ravenswood, Summit Surgical, and Humboldt Park, by calling (630) 889-9889. Call now.