Liver is a digestive organ that is located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, under the ribs. The value of the liver is huge. It neutralizes the substances coming from the external environment (including drugs, alcohol) or formed in the body, synthesizes blood proteins, produces bile, etc. In general, the liver carries out over 500 different functions, and its activities are still unable to be reproduced artificially.

The most common liver diseases include different types of hepatitis and cirrhosis. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can be acute or chronic. The most common hepatitis has a virus nature. To date, 6 kinds of viral hepatitis are known - hepatitis A, B, C, D, E and G.

All viral hepatitis are divided into two groups - with enteral (by mouth) or parenteral (through blood) mechanism of infection. The first group includes hepatitis A and E, which people may get by drinking infected water or by carrying the infection with dirty hands (poorly washed vegetables, etc.). The second group includes hepatitis B, C, D, and G, which can be transmitted by transfusion of contaminated blood, injections with non- sterile needles, and sexual intercourse. Hepatitis A and E are considered the most favorable, because, unlike other types of viral hepatitis, they can not take a chronic course.

Despite the fact that acute viral hepatitis are caused by different viruses, the external manifestations of these diseases are very similar - pain in the right hypochondrium, darkening of urine, discoloration of feces, jaundice. In case of symptoms, one should seek an immediate advice of an infectiologist. All of acute hepatitis B can give serious complications, and may require hospitalization.

The most unfavorable outcome of the acute hepatitis is chronization of the disease. Chronic viral hepatitis is dangerous because it gradually leads to the development of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Similar effects may occur with prolonged alcohol abuse, certain hereditary diseases, toxic liver damage, etc.

The treatment of chronic liver diseases involves a gastroenterologist or a hepatologist. The effectiveness of therapy depends on the flow and form of the disease. For example, to combat the chronic viral hepatitis is not easy, but possible, while to cure the liver affected by cirrhosis is impossible. A therapy can only slow the progression of the disease and reduce the risk of dangerous complications of the cirrhosis. A radical method of the cirrhosis treatment is liver transplantation.

To prevent and treat liver diseases, it is recommended to use hepatoprotective medicines like Essentiale Forte N and Essentiale N. Their action is aimed at restoring homeostasis in the liver, increasing body resistance to the action of pathogenic factors, normalizing functional activity, and stimulating reparative-regenerative processes in the liver.

Essentiale is used to treat liver diseases such as fatty degeneration of different etiologies, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, drug and alcohol damage. In addition, the drug is successfully used for the treatment of poisoning, toxicosis during pregnancy and abnormal liver function resulting from complications of other diseases.