Early Symptoms of Liver Problems that You Shouldn't Avoid

31 Aug, 2021

The liver is the heaviest internal organ and also the largest gland in the human body. It averagely weighs between 3 and 3.3 pounds. It is situated in the right upper part of the abdominal cavity, just below the diaphragm. Its primary function is to digest food and get your body rid of harmful substances.

However, it is also a potential target of many severe diseases. These diseases can be a result of various factors like viruses, excessive alcohol consumption, and obesity. In addition, these diseases can be inherited (genetic) as well.

Over time, continuous liver damage can result in scarring (cirrhosis), which can cause a life-threatening situation of liver failure. However, timely action may provide the liver time to heal itself.  

Some Important Facts About Liver Disorders

Diseases like hepatitis C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer are continuously increasing as per the American Liver Foundation. In addition, they state that at least 10 percent of American people are encountering some liver disorder. 

The three major risk factors that may lead to death from liver disorder are alcohol abuse, obesity, and viruses related to hepatitis. Other causes include cancer, genetic or metabolic illness, and autoimmune diseases.

Unfortunately, signs related to most liver disorders are not visible until severe damage is done, which also may be irreversible. Population-based research states that more than half of adults having cirrhosis didn’t know that they have liver disease. Another study says that African and Hispanic Americans have a greater risk of developing a liver disorder.

Risk Factors to Consider

The liver is a primary part of the human body's digestive system that processes everything a person eats or drinks, including medication. But because of its multiple capabilities, viruses, toxins, and contaminants can easily make it their target. This is why the liver needs to be maintained and taken care of properly. Another essential thing to keep in mind is that liver is one of the toughest parts of the human body. Hence, it is slow at complaining. 

The chances of attaining a liver disease increases when males don’t limit their alcohol consumption to 21 small drinks and females take more than 14 small drinks in a week. This means that men should limit their drinks to 2 a day, and females should limit it to 1 glass. In addition, it would be great to give your liver rest for two days a week, so your liver can heal. 

Unfortunately, one would have to avoid alcohol altogether if he develops a fatty liver. One should also ignore alcohol for at least six months in case of acute viral hepatitis so the liver can recover completely. 

However, people having liver problems are often not aware as they don’t experience any significant or visible symptoms.

Symptoms that tell Your Liver is Functioning Poorly:

Jaundice-

Jaundice leads to the darkening of urine with the eyes showing a yellow tint. This is a prevalent sign for not only liver disorders but also other diseases. An unhealthy liver will result in jaundice, which in turn will lead to bilirubin formation. Bilirubin is a pigment formed due to the breakdown of red blood cells to build up the bloodstream. A liver that is functioning normally will absorb the bilirubin and transform it into bile that will be excreted as stool by the body. 

Itching- 

An early sign which tells you that you might be at risk is itchy skin. If your body encounters a liver disorder, your skin will accumulate a high quantity of bile salt under it, resulting in itchiness. Nevertheless, not all with high bile salt levels feel itchy. People having a stable level of bile salt can also have itchiness.

Bleeding-

Another alarming sign of the liver disorder is bleeding symptoms. You will either witness blood in your vomit or your stool. This excessive bleeding is due to increasing pressure in the portal veins. Portal veins carry transport blood to the liver from the digestive organs. 

Loss of appetite-

Liver damage can lead to loss of appetite, which in turn can result in loss of weight as the liver is a crucial part of the digestive system. That is why people suffering from chronic liver disorder experience nausea, abdominal pain, and weight loss.

Confusion and memory problems-

As a sick liver would not be able to filter out toxins within the blood, these harmful toxins will reach inside the brain and can lead to confusion or memory loss. As a result, mood swings, concentration difficulty, memory loss, and personality changes can also be experienced. 

Menstrual and hormonal issues-

Abnormalities in the reproductive function and in the menstrual cycle can also be experienced because of an unhealthy liver. The reason being that a sick liver does not have enough strength to initiate the production or breakdown of hormones which can further result in enlargement of breasts and shrinking of testicles in men.

Symptoms like excessive menstrual bleeding or missed periods can be signs of the menstrual cycle being affected in women. However, the good news is that liver functioning can be controlled to a great extent with a restricted diet and healthy drinks.

How you can Boost your Liver Health – Suggestions

Along with reducing the amount of alcohol you consume, follow these tips to enhance your liver health:

• Consume healthy food items that are rich in whole grains and lean proteins. Avoid things having high sugar content, refined carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats. 
  
• Exercise regularly to reduce the excessive fat present in your body, especially in your liver.
• Take medications with utmost care as some medicines can stress your liver, such as acetaminophen, ephedra, and statins.
• Take vaccinations for hepatitis A and B to seek protection from hepatitis, and utilize condoms or any other protection method during intercourse. Also, don’t reuse needles or any other injectable material.
• Go for regular checkups. Visiting your doctor at regular intervals can help him identify any underlying threat at an early stage.
• Make sure any blood transfusion done is safe to avoid encountering hepatitis.

The Bottom Line

There have been certain significant developments in treating liver disorders. However, there is no precise cure yet. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle to prevent liver disorders and get vaccinated against certain viruses that can cause harm to the liver. 

The liver is one of the essential parts of the human body. However, there are many daily life things and routines that may be causing harm to it and can result in severe issues if left unchecked. Are you or any of your known facing any liver-related issues? Get in touch with the best and most reliable medical professionals at Central Valley Medical Providers.

Feel free to discuss your liver-related or any other medical problem with your primary care physician.  To find out more, talk to one of our customer service representatives at (877) 216-4215/local: 559.450.6334.