Liver pain may occur after drinking alcohol in the evening. Other than that, you probably don’t think much about this basic organ.
After your skin, your liver is the second largest organ in your body. It filters toxins from your blood and helps convert food into energy. These are important functions that show that a healthy liver is essential for overall health.
There are many types of liver diseases, such as cirrhosis, inflammation of the liver, cysts, cancer, and alcohol-related diseases.
Even if you avoid alcohol, which is harmful to the liver, you will still be susceptible to alcohol-related fatty liver disease. NAFLD is one of the most common causes of liver damage in America. According to the American Liver Foundation, between 79,000 and 90,000 Americans are currently living with NAFLD. NAFLD can lead to cirrhosis of this vital organ, progressing to the point where a liver transplant is required.
Risk factors for NAFLD include obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. The good news is that liver toxicity from NAFLD can be prevented or reversed. According to the American Liver Foundation, you can prevent NAFLD by:
- Eat foods rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy proteins.
- Limit your intake of foods high in sugar, saturated fat and salt.
- Make exercise a part of your daily routine.
- Maintain a normal weight.
- Diabetes management.
- Reduce your cholesterol intake.
- Avoid alcohol consumption.
Unfortunately, NAFLD is asymptomatic, but the disease can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH causes symptoms, and if you experience any of the following, see your doctor. Untreated NASH can lead to cirrhosis and scarring of the liver, which can put you at risk for more serious problems.
If your liver is suspected to be toxic, your doctor may do blood tests to check for certain proteins and enzymes in your blood. Such analysis will show what this important organ produces and filters.
THERE ARE 6 SIGNS THAT THE LIVER IS NOT HEALTHY
JAUNDICE
Yellowing of the skin, nails and/or the whites of the eyes indicates poisoning. Jaundice indicates that the disease has turned into cirrhosis and requires urgent medical attention.
DESTROY ENERGY AND SOUL
Toxic liver disease can cause fatigue, weakness, and lack of energy. Fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite are the first symptoms of liver failure and require immediate medical attention. The American Liver Foundation says that toxins build up in your brain, causing problems with memory, concentration and sleep. Without treatment, it can even lead to confusion.
CALL FOR FOOD
Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are associated with liver cancer. Patients may lose weight due to nausea. Leptin is a hormone released by the body to make you feel full after eating. Elevated leptin levels can cause anorexia in patients with liver toxicity. One study suggested the use of AST (aspartate aminotransferase, a specific blood enzyme) as a diagnostic tool for NASH and NAFLD in addition to blood tests.
HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD TYPES
Obesity can cause high blood pressure and high cholesterol, but both are symptoms of underlying liver disease. Your doctor will check your cholesterol levels regularly, so if you have high cholesterol levels, get a blood enzyme test to look for other signs of the disease.
Blood clotting faster than normal may be due to liver cirrhosis or fibrosis.
SKIN SENSITIVITIES AND SKIN PROBLEMS
Itchy skin or spider veins may be associated with edema or swelling under the skin. The skin becomes red or red. The skin of a diabetic patient turns bronze when organ failure occurs.
Swelling of the abdomen or legs
Swelling of the lower extremities or bloating can indicate liver toxicity, which can lead to fluid retention during inflammation. Swelling is painful due to pressure on the skin and surrounding tissues.
In overweight or obese patients, swelling may be masked by abdominal fat, and doctors may miss the underlying cause. One study found that pediatricians are underdiagnosing obese children with liver disease, even when they have risk factors for becoming overweight.
If you are concerned about your liver health, ask your doctor. Before that, define the problem