How do you know if your liver is dying?
The liver is a 3-pound, dark reddish-brown organ that is
located in the upper right side of the abdomen, above the stomach. In addition
to generating bile and digesting food, it also helps the body fight infections,
detoxify the blood, aid in blood clotting, control blood sugar levels, and maintain
hormonal balance. The health of the liver can be impacted by a number of
things, including excessive alcohol consumption, a poor diet, being fat, and
Many medical diseases, including cirrhosis, chronic liver
disease, alcoholic hepatitis, viral hepatitis, and hepatitis (liver inflammation),
can affect the liver.
To learn the warning signs and symptoms of liver illnesses,
please keep reading. Learn what you can do to maintain the health of your liver
are the warning signs and symptoms of fatty liver disease and hepatitis C?
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affects almost 100 million
Americans. In addition, 900,000 Americans have hepatitis B and another 2.5
million Americans have hepatitis C. Cirrhosis and chronic liver disease affect
over 4.5 million Americans.
Although these numbers are shocking, about 50% of those who
have underlying liver disease are asymptomatic. Due to a wide range of
nonspecific common symptoms, including itching, fatigue, lack of energy,
appetite loss, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and low
sexual desire, a liver disease commonly goes undiagnosed.
Certain signs and symptoms of liver disease and liver
failure, including yellowing of the eyes and skin, bleeding from of the
gastrointestinal tract, pale feces, dark urine, fluid retention, or mental
confusion, are more noticeable.
It is crucial to seek medical counsel, a diagnosis, or
treatment if you experience any of these symptoms.
WHAT AFFECTS LIVER FUNCTIONS?
Alcohol-related liver disease can be brought on by excessive
alcohol consumption, which can harm the liver (ARLD). Heavy drinking that
doesn't stop can cause cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and ultimately liver
failure. The liver can heal itself, though, if you quit drinking or cut back to
Fatty liver disease, also known as nonalcoholic fatty liver
disease, can be brought on by being overweight or obese (NAFLD). The risk is
higher in persons who smoke, do very little to no exercise, have high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, type 2 diabetes, and other medical
disorders. If NAFLD is ignored for a long period of time, it may result in
chronic liver damage.
Inappropriate dosages of some medications, such as
over-the-counter pain relievers including acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and
aspirin, can result in severe liver damage. These drugs shouldn't be used to
treat hangover symptoms since alcohol can interfere with liver function and
lead to potential negative effects if it's still in the bloodstream. Steroids,
antivirals, antifungals, statins (medications to decrease cholesterol), and
other medications can also have an effect on liver cells. Before using any
drug, always seek medical advice. Your doctor may occasionally order lab tests
to monitor your liver if medicine can change how well it works in your liver.
The liver may have a tougher time performing its functions
if you consume diets heavy in salt, sugar, trans fats, refined carbs, and
saturated fats. This may eventually cause liver inflammation (hepatitis), which
may result in scarring (cirrhosis).
medical professionals evaluate liver function?
By monitoring the concentration of particular molecules in
the blood, doctors can determine whether the liver is working normally. This
contains bilirubin, liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT), and proteins (albumin,
globulin, and total protein) (a pigment that is left over when blood cells
break down). Tests for liver function can identify inflammation, infection,
scarring, as well as other types of liver disease.
I examine the health of my liver at home?
Your liver puts forth a lot of effort to keep you healthy. The liver can experience health issues of its own when you consume excessive amounts of alcohol, eat unhealthily, don't exercise, or get viral infections.
As previously indicated, many persons with liver disease are
symptom-free or only have vague symptoms. This increases their risk of
developing catastrophic illnesses like liver failure and liver cancer.
Understanding the symptoms of a liver problem is crucial.
could be in peril. If you experience any of the following
issues, you should visit your doctor:
- Fluid retention: This
is a typical symptom of liver illness, such as cirrhosis (scar tissue in the
liver). It may appear as an enlarged belly or swollen legs.
- Jaundice: A
indication of liver illness is dark urine and/or a yellowish tinge to the skin
and eye whites.
- Gastrointestinal bleeding: Liver disease may be present if you vomit blood or notice blood in your stool.
health issues: Toxins that can reach the brain cannot be
filtered by the liver in those with chronic liver disease. Hepatic
encephalopathy may result from this and produce symptoms like confusion, memory
loss, lethargy, and even coma.
The only method to determine whether your liver is
functioning properly is to have it examined by a medical specialist. Based on
your symptoms and a physical check, your doctor will assess you. They will
offer medical guidance for additional examinations, which might include liver
If you are a heavy drinker, have diabetes, are overweight or
obese, have high triglyceride levels, or have high blood pressure, your doctor
may encourage you to undergo regular tests of your liver function.
Your doctor may prescribe additional tests, such as an
ultrasound scan or biopsy to look for liver damage, if the liver function tests
are abnormal or outside of the normal range.
can I do to maintain the health of my liver?
You should: if you want your liver to remain healthy in the
- Have a little alcohol occasionally.
- If you're overweight or obese, you should lose weight.
- 30 minutes a day of exercise should be logged at least five days per week.
- Have a nutritious diet that's heavy in fiber-rich meals, fruits, and vegetables.
- Finished sugars and processed meals.
- Do not misuse or abuse drugs, and take them as directed.
On the plus side, liver illness might take years to
manifest. The liver is capable of self-repair; therefore you can prevent
lasting liver damage if you can identify it in time.
possible to heal liver damage?
Yes, liver damage is reversible due to the liver's
exceptional capacity to regenerate itself after suffering from damage by
replacing harmed tissue with new cells. There are steps you may take to repair
liver cells and tissue if you worry that your liver health may be impaired or
if you have early signs of liver disease.
In actuality, even after 90% of the liver has been removed,
the organ can recover to its original size. For instance, by refraining from
alcohol for a prolonged length of time, damage caused by the fatty liver disease
may be repaired. Yet, maintaining your body and its essential organs is still
critical. On the best way to begin repairing liver damage, your doctor can
offer medical guidance.
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