Liver Disease: Keep an eye out for these signs and symptoms to stay cautious

The liver is one of the largest body organs and has an important role in digestion and helping our body get rid of toxic substances. Obesity, the use of alcohol, and certain viruses can cause liver disease. The liver has numerous functions, therefore, a healthy liver is essential to maintain life.

Below is a list of important signs and symptoms that indicate poor liver health.

Yellowish discolouration of skin and eyes

This is one of the most important signs and is called jaundice. The liver produces colored pigments whose normal levels don’t cause discoloration. A problem in liver function can cause excess production or less removal of these pigments which get deposited in the skin and eyes giving them a yellow discolouration.

Itching

The accumulation of liver pigments leads to itching and can signal liver disease. The itching is worse during the evening and night.

Abdominal pain and digestive problems

Since the liver has an important role in the digestion of food, problems in digestion like loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain especially on the right side may signal poor liver health.

Pale stools and dark urine

The liver has metabolic functions that are responsible for the typical colour of stools and urine. If the stools become pale and the urine is a darker shade of yellow, it signals poor liver health.

Swelling of feet

A balance in blood proteins is important to avoid swelling in the feet. The liver has a role in production of these proteins and any deficiency of these proteins due to poor liver function can manifest as swelling of feet which is called edema.

Easy skin bruising

The liver is important for the clotting mechanisms of the blood and problems in liver health may affect clotting which can present as bruising without any significant trauma to the skin.

It’s important to visit your doctor if you have any of the above signs and symptoms. Getting 6 monthly liver function tests to monitor your liver function is a good way to identify liver disease in its early stages when it can be reversed.

FAQ

1- Is it possible to survive without a liver?
You cannot survive without a functioning liver.

2- Can the Liver regenerate itself?
Yes, it has the highest regenerative power for any organ in the body.