No pain to warn The liver suffers dangerously quiet

Precaution: Liver diseases are often treatable even in old age
Around ten million Germans have elevated liver values. This also increases the risk of developing liver disease over the course of life. These illnesses are usually heavy and thus life-threatening. The problem: The sick liver does not hurt, it suffers silently. Therefore, preventive examinations become even more important.

Liver diseases are faster in old age
"The typical preventive medical check-ups in older people are mainly related to colorectal cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer", explains Prof. Dr. med. Michael P. Manns, CEO of the German Liver Foundation in a recent release. "This is problematic, because especially in old age diseases of the liver are faster than in the youth. Therefore, early diagnosis is crucial in the elderly. "

Since a sick liver causes no pain, the disease is usually recognized late. An early diagnosis, however, would greatly improve the chances of recovery. Mostly the morbid liver can be recognized by the "liver values" GPT and GOT. (Image: Stock Photos-MG / fotolia.com)

The liver suffers mute
Especially when it comes to a sick liver, because this suffers mute, does not hurt and rarely leads to clear symptoms. Therefore, a disease of this organ often remains unrecognized for a long time. For example, due to a fatty liver or a hepatitis infection, chronic inflammation of the liver may develop unnoticed. After many years, this can cause cirrhosis of the liver or even liver cell cancer.

Pay attention to the liver values
An abnormal liver can usually be recognized by the "liver values". Especially the GPT and the GOT value are important. The earlier a liver disease is detected, the better the chances of recovery or cure. Especially for the elderly, this diagnosis of liver disease as early as possible is important because the diseases and thus the damage to the liver progress more rapidly in old age.

Medicines for hepatitis C are also effective in seniors
The early diagnosis of liver disease in seniors is also important because many liver diseases can still be treated well even in old age. Current results from the German Hepatitis C Registry show that patients older than 70 years can be effectively and safely treated with the new drugs for hepatitis C as well. (Ad)