Liver Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan

The liver is a vital organ located in the upper right side of your abdomen, just below the diaphragm. It is the largest internal organ in the human body, weighing about 1.5 kg in the average adult. All blood coming from your digestive system passes through the liver before circulating to the rest of the body, making liver health essential for overall wellness.

In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, liver disease is increasingly common, especially non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is linked to obesity, diabetes, and sedentary lifestyles. Local health systems such as Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health regularly diagnose and manage liver conditions in adults and children.

What Does the Liver Do?

The liver performs hundreds of critical functions that keep your body working properly. Some of the most important include:

Metabolism and Energy Regulation

  • Converts carbohydrates from food into glucose, which your body uses as immediate energy.
  • Stores extra glucose as glycogen.
  • When blood sugar drops (for example, between meals or overnight), converts glycogen back into glucose to keep your blood sugar stable.

Protein Processing

  • Uses amino acids from dietary protein to make important body proteins, including:
    • Hormones
    • Enzymes
    • Transport proteins

The Liver Produces Important Body Proteins Such as Albumin

  • Albumin helps maintain fluid balance in your blood vessels and tissues.
  • The liver also produces most of the clotting factors that help your blood clot properly and prevent excessive bleeding.

Fat Digestion and Vitamin Absorption

  • Produces bile, a greenish fluid that helps digest dietary fats.
  • Bile is stored in the gallbladder and released into the small intestine when you eat.
  • Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K need bile to be properly absorbed.
    • This is especially important in Michigan winters, when vitamin D levels can be low due to limited sun exposure.

Detoxification and Waste Removal

  • Converts toxic ammonia (a by-product of protein metabolism) into urea, which is excreted in urine.
  • Filters and processes medications, drugs, and alcohol:
    • Uses special enzymes to neutralize or convert them into forms that can be safely removed from the body.

Common Liver Diseases in Grand Rapids

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (“fatty liver”) is the most common cause of liver disease in the United States and is frequently seen in West Michigan, where obesity and type 2 diabetes are prevalent.

NAFLD occurs when fat builds up in liver cells. It can:

  • Cause cell enlargement (steatosis)
  • Lead to inflammation and cell damage (steatohepatitis, or NASH)

Over time, this damage can progress to scarring and cirrhosis.

People at higher risk in Grand Rapids include those who:

  • Are overweight or obese
  • Have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
  • Have high cholesterol or high triglycerides
  • Have metabolic syndrome or a sedentary lifestyle, especially during long, cold winters

Excessive alcohol intake can cause:

  • Fatty liver
  • Alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation)
  • Progressive scarring and cirrhosis

Grand Rapids has many social venues, breweries, and restaurants, and regular heavy drinking can quietly damage the liver over many years.

Hepatitis (Liver Inflammation)

“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by:

  • Viral infections (hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E)
  • Alcohol
  • Medications or toxins
  • Autoimmune disorders

Viral hepatitis (especially hepatitis B and C) can lead to chronic liver damage, cirrhosis, and liver cancer if not treated. Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B and are recommended by local public health agencies such as the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health.

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is the end result of many chronic liver conditions. It involves:

  • Extensive scarring of the liver
  • Formation of nodules (liver nodules)
  • Progressive decline in liver function

As scar tissue replaces healthy liver cells, the liver becomes stiff and cannot do its job. Cirrhosis can eventually lead to liver failure and serious complications.

Common causes of cirrhosis:

  • Long-term alcohol misuse
  • Chronic hepatitis B or C
  • Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
  • Some inherited or autoimmune liver disorders

Less Common (Often Inherited) Liver Conditions

Although rare, several inherited conditions can cause serious liver damage:

  • Hereditary hemochromatosis

    • The body absorbs and stores too much iron.
    • Excess iron damages the liver, pancreas, heart, and other organs.

  • Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

    • A genetic disorder that can cause cirrhosis of the liver and lung disease.

  • Wilson’s disease

    • The liver cannot properly excrete copper.
    • Copper builds up in the liver, brain, and other organs.
    • Without treatment, it can be life-threatening.

  • Autoimmune liver disorders

    • The immune system mistakenly attacks liver cells or bile ducts.
    • Can lead to chronic inflammation, scarring, and cirrhosis.

Local specialists in Grand Rapids—particularly at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health—can diagnose and manage these rare conditions.

Symptoms of Liver Disease

Symptoms of liver disease vary depending on the cause and stage. Some people have no symptoms until the disease is advanced.

Possible signs and symptoms include:

  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Loss of appetite or unintentional weight loss
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right side
  • Swollen ankles or legs (oedema)
  • Abdominal swelling due to fluid (ascites)
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
  • Dark urine, pale or clay-colored stools
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Itchy skin
  • Anaemia (low red blood cell count)

Changes in Mental State

When the liver is severely damaged, toxins can build up in the blood and affect the brain, causing:

  • Altered sleep patterns (awake at night, sleepy during the day)
  • Confusion or difficulty concentrating
  • Drowsiness or personality changes

This condition is called hepatic encephalopathy and is a medical emergency.

Complications of Advanced Liver Disease

Without timely treatment, chronic liver disease may lead to serious complications:

Hepatic Encephalopathy

  • Scar tissue blocks normal blood flow through the liver.
  • Toxins (especially ammonia) are not removed properly and circulate to the brain.
  • Can cause confusion, disorientation, and even coma.

Ascites and Oedema

  • Liver disease can cause the body to retain sodium (“salt”) and fluid.
  • Fluid can build up in the abdomen (ascites).
  • Swelling can also occur in the legs, feet, and back (oedema).
  • Risk of infection in the abdominal fluid (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis).

Gastrointestinal Bleeding

  • Cirrhosis can block normal veins that pass through the liver.
  • Blood is forced into other veins along the stomach or esophagus (varices).
  • These veins can rupture and bleed heavily, which is a life-threatening emergency.

Liver Failure

  • Liver cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced.
  • The liver can no longer perform its essential functions.
  • May require intensive care and, in some cases, liver transplantation.

Liver Cancer

  • Cirrhosis and certain forms of hepatitis increase the risk of primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).
  • Regular monitoring with imaging and blood tests is important for high-risk patients.

How Liver Disease Is Diagnosed in Grand Rapids

If you have symptoms or risk factors for liver disease, your healthcare provider in Grand Rapids may recommend:

Medical History and Physical Exam

  • Review of medications, alcohol use, and lifestyle habits.
  • Discussion of family history of liver disease or inherited conditions.
  • Physical exam to check for:
    • Liver enlargement
    • Abdominal swelling
    • Jaundice
    • Signs of chronic liver disease

Blood Tests

Blood tests (often called “liver function tests”) can:

  • Measure liver enzymes that indicate inflammation or damage
  • Check bilirubin levels (linked to jaundice)
  • Evaluate albumin and clotting factors (to assess liver function)
  • Screen for viral hepatitis and autoimmune markers
  • Assess iron, copper, and other markers for inherited conditions

These tests are widely available through hospital labs at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health, and independent labs throughout Kent County.

Imaging Tests

  • Ultrasound scan of the abdomen

    • Uses sound waves to create images of the liver and surrounding organs.
    • Checks size, shape, texture, and blood flow.
    • Helps detect abnormal lumps, fat accumulation, or fluid build-up (ascites).

  • Transient elastography (FibroScan®)

    • A specialized ultrasound that measures how stiff the liver is.
    • Helps estimate the amount of scarring (fibrosis) without a biopsy.

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or CT scan

    • Provides more detailed images.
    • Often used to evaluate liver tumors, blood vessels, and complex conditions.

Liver Biopsy

  • A small sample of liver tissue is removed with a needle.
  • Examined under a microscope in a laboratory.
  • Helps confirm the type and severity of liver disease.

Liver biopsies and advanced imaging are typically performed at major medical centers in Grand Rapids.

Treatment Options for Liver Disease

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the liver condition. Common approaches include:

Lifestyle and Diet Changes

  • Avoiding alcohol completely if you have liver disease or are at high risk.
  • Avoiding any drugs that might damage the liver (including certain over-the-counter pain relievers and herbal supplements) unless approved by your doctor.
  • Following a well-balanced, nutritious diet, often with:
    • Limited saturated fat and added sugars
    • Emphasis on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins
    • A low-salt (low-sodium) diet if you have fluid retention or ascites
  • Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
  • Staying physically active year-round, even during cold Grand Rapids winters (indoor exercise, walking at malls or community centers, home workouts).

Medications

Depending on the specific liver disease, medications may be used to:

  • Treat viral hepatitis (antiviral drugs)
  • Reduce inflammation or suppress abnormal immune responses (for autoimmune liver disease)
  • Manage complications such as:
    • Fluid build-up (diuretics)
    • Hepatic encephalopathy
    • Portal hypertension and varices

Never start herbal medicines or supplements for “liver detox” without talking to a healthcare provider. Some can cause serious liver injury.

Procedures and Surgery

  • Endoscopic procedures to treat bleeding varices.
  • Surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy for liver cancer.
  • Liver transplantation for end-stage liver failure or certain cancers, typically coordinated through regional transplant centers in Michigan.

Local Liver Health Resources in Grand Rapids

Residents of Grand Rapids and Kent County have access to multiple liver care resources:

  • Spectrum Health – Hepatology and gastroenterology clinics, advanced imaging, and liver disease management.
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids – Comprehensive liver and digestive health services.
  • Metro Health and Mercy Health – Evaluation and management of liver conditions, including fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and cirrhosis.
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health – Vaccinations (hepatitis A and B), screening programs, and public health education.

If you have risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, heavy alcohol use, a family history of liver disease, or abnormal liver tests, consider asking your Grand Rapids primary care provider for a liver evaluation or a referral to a liver specialist (hepatologist).

Key Points About Liver Health in Grand Rapids

  • The liver is essential for metabolism, detoxification, digestion, and protein production.
  • The main roles of the liver include helping to regulate body metabolism, process nutrients, and remove toxins.
  • The most common cause of liver disease is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (fatty liver), strongly linked to obesity and diabetes—both common in West Michigan.
  • The liver produces important body proteins such as albumin and blood clotting factors.
  • Conditions that can prevent the liver from performing its vital functions include:
    • Fatty liver disease (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
    • Viral hepatitis
    • Cirrhosis
    • Liver cancer
    • Autoimmune and inherited disorders
  • Early diagnosis and lifestyle changes can significantly improve outcomes.
  • Local health systems in Grand Rapids offer comprehensive testing, imaging, and treatment for liver disease.

If you notice symptoms of liver problems or have concerns about your liver health, contact a healthcare provider in Grand Rapids promptly for evaluation. Early care can prevent serious complications and protect your long-term health.