How can lifestyle, genes and environment affect health?Liver disease
Our genomes interact with our environment to create our phenotypes. While some aspects of our environment are beyond our control, scientists are realising that lifestyle interacts with the genome too.
The liver performs many vital functions, from removing toxins from the body to controlling cholesterol and blood glucose levels.
There are three types of liver disease:
alcohol-related - caused by years of drinking too much alcohol
fatty liver disease - caused by a build-up of fat in the liver cells, usually in people who are overweight or obese
inherited liver disease - a faulty version of the HFE gene causes a build-up of iron in the liver
Alcohol and liver function
Drinking excess alcoholA depressant that can be found in wines, spirits and beers. Also known as ethanol. can damage the liver, the organ responsible for processing and breaking down alcohol.
The liver can regenerateTo restore something to its original form. For example, a catalyst is regenerated at the end of a reaction. Certain tissues and organs can regenerate themselves by producing new cells. its cells, but long-term alcohol abuse causes serious damage:
the patient begins by feeling sick, experiences weight loss, loss of appetite, there is a yellowing of the eyes, confusion, drowsiness and vomiting of blood
alcohol causes lipids to build up in the liverThe large organ, beside the stomach, which has many functions, including processing substances absorbed by the digestive system and a role in the storage of the body's carbohydrate. - fatty liver disease
alcohol damage leads to alcoholic hepatitisInflammation or swelling of the liver, for example because of infection by a virus or drinking too much alcohol., which can lead to death
cirrhosisScarring of the liver, which can be caused by alcoholism or hepatitis. of the liver can develop - the liver becomes scarred and loses its ability to function
changes are now irreversible and the reduced ability to process alcohol can also lead to brain damage