Signs your liver is healthy

 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 some drugs.

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 as well.

What 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

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 safe amounts.

Weight

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.

Drugs

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.

Diet

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).

How do 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.

How can 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:

1. 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.
2. Jaundice: A indication of liver illness is dark urine and/or a yellowish tinge to the skin and eye whites.
3. Gastrointestinal bleeding: Liver disease may be present if you vomit blood or notice blood in your stool.
4. Mental 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.

Is my liver healthy?

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 function tests.

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.

What can I do to maintain the health of my liver?

You should: if you want your liver to remain healthy in the long run.

1. Have a little alcohol occasionally.
2. If you're overweight or obese, you should lose weight.
3. 30 minutes a day of exercise should be logged at least five days per week.
4. Have a nutritious diet that's heavy in fiber-rich meals, fruits, and vegetables.
5. Finished sugars and processed meals.
6. 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.

Is it 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.