Poor diet can also lead to liver damage. The liver is a crucial point in the breakdown of fatty substances, so a diet chronically high in cholesterol taxes the liver's reserves and can complicate the process of breakdown. This is also another causative factor of fatty liver disease. As the liver is inundated with fats, it cannot produce enough bile to filter them all, resulting in damage. 

 

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver, which is often also caused by viruses, most notably hepatitis A, B, and C. These viruses attack the liver and kill the cells, resulting in fat deposits and plaque formation. Hepatitis A will clear up with time, but B and C are chronic and often lead to severe liver damage and death if left untreated. There is also autoimmune hepatitis, where the immune system attacks the liver without cause, but the damage is often mild and may heal when the condition resolves. Sclerosing cholangitis is another cause of hepatitis, and results from autoimmune attack on the bile ducts within and outside the liver.

Liver damage can also be drug induced, be it street drugs or medications, and caution is often used when dealing with a medication that has been known to cause hepatic toxicity. Blood tests are often performed to monitor the functions or enzymes in the liver, as well as clotting time since the liver, when functioning poorly, does not produce the right things to contribute to blood clotting. Certain medication may be discontinued should the liver show signs of malfunction, where continued use could lead to liver damage and liver cancer. 

Liver damage carries with it abdominal pain and swelling, and is notoriously difficult to treat. However, by minimizing risk factors and reducing the amount of harmful substances that are introduced to the liver, liver damage can be prevented, and progression can be slowed.