The liver is one of the most important organs of your body. Do you know why? Because it releases bile that removes waste products from your body. Apart from this, it also helps in the breakdown of fatty food items. Due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits, liver damage is quite common. It can be treated with medications and lifestyle modification in the initial stages. However, if the condition becomes severe, your liver may damage completely and require a liver transplant. If you want to avoid these complications, do not ignore the following warning signs of liver damage-
Fluid retention in the abdomen is also known as ascites and is caused due to a condition called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is scarring in liver tissue caused due to conditions like chronic alcoholism and hepatitis. Due to improper functioning of the liver and high blood pressure in the vein carrying blood to your liver (portal vein), fluids leak out of the vein into the belly and lead to ascites.
Your body weight will increase with ascites, and your belly size will also increase. Apart from this, you will notice the following symptoms-
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Shortness of breathing
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Ankle swelling
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Back pain
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Bloating
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Abdominal pain
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Indigestion
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Loss of appetite
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Constipation
Jaundice or yellow discolouration of eyes & urine is a symptom caused due to high levels of bilirubin in your blood that results in the following symptoms.
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Fever
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Abdominal pain
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Chills
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Yellowing of skin and white portion of eyes
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Darkening of urine
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Clay-colored stool
Your liver is responsible for the formation of clotting proteins, but in case of liver damage, you tend to bruise and bleed more easily than usual due to liver damage.
As there is an accumulation of toxins in your body, you feel nauseous, and as the case deteriorates, there is loss of appetite and weight loss.
Your liver is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Due to swelling of the liver, you feel dull aching pain in that quadrant. However, if there is fluid retention, it can cause generalized abdominal pain.
What to do if you have these symptoms?
Seek medical attention and consult your doctor as he will suggest you to undergo Liver Function Test (LFT) and provide you treatment based on the stage of liver disease.
Moreover, modify your lifestyle to help your liver heal. Following are some tips that can keep your liver healthy.
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Eat healthy diet to keep the liver healthy
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Maintain healthy weight
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Exercise regularly
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Avoid alcohol intake
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Hydrate your body
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Avoid alternative medications
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Avoid overuse of medications
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Get Liver Function Test done at regular intervals
If you or your loved one is suffering from liver disease, consult our top specialist now.
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There are many types of liver disease, which can be caused by infections, inherited conditions, obesity and misuse of alcohol. Over time, liver disease may lead to scarring and more serious complications. Early treatment can help heal the damage and prevent liver failure.
Your liver is your body’s second-largest organ (after the skin). It sits just under your ribcage on the right side and is about the size of a football. The liver separates nutrients and waste as they move through your digestive system. It also produces bile, a substance that carries toxins out of your body and aids in digestion.
The term “liver disease” refers to any of several conditions that can affect and damage your liver. Over time, liver disease can cause cirrhosis (scarring). As more scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, the liver can no longer function properly. Left untreated, liver disease can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.
How common is liver disease?
Overall, about 1 in 10 Americans (30 million in total) have some type of liver disease. About 5.5 million people in the U.S. have chronic liver disease or cirrhosis.
Some types of liver disease are becoming more common in the U.S. because they are related to rising rates of obesity. An estimated 20% to 30% of adults have excess fat in their liver, a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFD). This may be renamed metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) to reflect its relationship to metabolic syndrome and conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.
Different types of liver disease result from different causes. Liver disease may result from:
What are the symptoms of liver disease?
Some types of liver disease (including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) rarely cause symptoms. For other conditions, the most common symptom is jaundice — a yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes. Jaundice develops when your liver can’t clear a substance called bilirubin.
Other signs of liver disease may include:
What are the complications of liver disease?
Some types of liver disease can increase your risk of developing liver cancer. Others, if left untreated, continue to damage your liver. Cirrhosis (scarring) develops.
Over time, a damaged liver won’t have enough healthy tissue to function. Liver disease that isn’t treated can eventually lead to liver failure.
To accurately diagnose and find the cause of liver disease, your provider will also recommend one or more tests. These may include:
- Blood tests: Liver enzymes measure levels of liver enzymes in your blood. Other tests of liver function include a blood-clotting test called the international normalized ratio (INR). Abnormal levels may indicate problems with your liver function.
- Imaging tests: Your provider can use ultrasound, MRI or CT scan to look for signs of damage, scarring or tumors in your liver. Another specialized type of ultrasound called fibroscan can be used to determine the degree of scarring and fat deposition in the liver.
- Liver biopsy: During a liver biopsy, your provider uses a thin needle to remove a small sample of liver tissue. They analyze the tissue to look for signs of liver disease.
Treatment for liver disease depends on the type of liver disease you have and how far it has progressed. Possible treatments include:
- Medications: Healthcare providers treat some types of liver disease with medication. You may take medicine for viral infections like hepatitis or inherited conditions like Wilson disease.
- Lifestyle changes: You can use your diet to help manage certain types of liver disease. If you have fatty liver disease, avoiding alcohol, limiting fat and calories and increasing fiber intake can help. Alcohol-related liver disease can improve with abstinence from alcohol.
- Liver transplant: When liver disease progresses to liver failure, a liver transplant may be the best treatment option. A transplant replaces your liver with a healthy liver.
You can take steps to prevent some types of liver disease — especially those affected by your diet and lifestyle. If you are at risk for liver disease, your provider may recommend lifestyle changes including:
- Avoiding or limiting alcohol.
- Avoiding foods and drinks that contain trans fats or high-fructose corn syrup.
- Carefully managing your intake of prescription and over-the-counter medications to avoid liver damage, as medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol®) are a common cause of liver injury.
- Getting regular exercise.
- Limiting consumption of red meat.
You can minimize the likelihood of contracting viral hepatitis by practicing safe sex and not sharing needles.
With early treatment and effective lifestyle changes, many people with liver disease can avoid serious liver damage and prevent liver failure.
You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:
- Changes in the color of your urine or stool.
- Jaundice or yellowing of your eyes.
- Pain in the upper right side of your abdomen.
- Swelling in your arms or legs.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
You may want to ask your healthcare provider:
- What lifestyle changes should I make to help keep my liver healthy?
- What early warning signs of liver disease should I watch out for?
- Should I avoid any medications to help prevent liver damage?
- If I have an inherited liver disease, should my family get genetic testing?
- Will I need to have a liver transplant?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Liver disease can result from infection, an inherited condition, cancer or an overload of toxic substances. Healthcare providers can treat many types of liver disease effectively with medication or lifestyle changes. If you have severe liver disease, a liver transplant may restore your health and extend your life.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/23/2021.
References
- American Liver Foundation. Your Liver. (//liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/) Accessed 11/23/2021.
- American Liver Foundation. Liver Disease Diets. (//liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/health-wellness/nutrition/) Accessed 11/23/2021.
- Merck Manual (Professional). Evaluation of the Patient with a Liver Disorder. (//www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hepatic-and-biliary-disorders/approach-to-the-patient-with-liver-disease/evaluation-of-the-patient-with-a-liver-disorder) Accessed 11/23/2021.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Cirrhosis. (//www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/cirrhosis) Accessed 11/23/2021.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Liver Disease. (//www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/cirrhosis) Accessed 11/23/2021.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. Liver Disease. (//medlineplus.gov/liverdiseases.html) Accessed 11/23/2021.
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