What is liver failure?
Liver failure occurs when the liver can no longer perform its vital functions, which can lead to brain damage, coma and even death. What functions does the liver perform? Your liver is a vital organ, necessary to sustain life. The liver breaks down nutrients from food for use in the body and metabolizes drugs and hormones. It synthesizes proteins for clotting blood and albumin to keep blood volume and blood pressure normal. It also replaces the proteins that your body normally breaks down. Another important liver function is manufacturing bile, which helps the body digest fats. All of these important liver functions are decreased or lost when the liver is damaged. Since it plays such an integral part in the body’s nutrition, liver failure can cause complications such as muscle wasting and fluid retention.
