There are approximately 100 types of liver disease, according to the American Liver Foundation, and they kill millions of Americans each year. The key role of filtering more than 250 liters of blood every 24 hours is performed by your liver, which is very critical to your health and energy. “Toxins would build up, you wouldn’t be able to digest your food, and drugs would never leave your body if your liver stopped working,” explains Saleh Alqahtani, M.B.Ch.B., M.S., director of clinical liver research at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Here are some warning signs that your liver is failing. Continue reading—and make sure you don’t miss these to protect your health and the health of others.
How Did I Harm My Liver?Â
While liver damage can be inherited, obesity, alcohol misuse, unprotected sex, and type 2 diabetes are just a few of the lifestyle variables that can contribute to liver failure. Damage to the liver over time can cause scarring (cirrhosis), which can progress to liver cancer and failure—but if treated early enough, the liver may be able to heal. It’s critical to recognize the indicators of liver disease so that you can get treatment as soon as possible.
1. Eyes and skin that are yellowÂ
Jaundice is a symptom of liver disease or cirrhosis, in which the liver is unable to eliminate bilirubin, the substance that causes the eyes and skin to turn yellow. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “high amounts of bilirubin may be related to inflammation, or other abnormalities of the liver cells, or blockage of the bile ducts.” “The breakdown of a significant number of red blood cells, which can happen in infants, can sometimes induce jaundice. Jaundice is often the first, and in some cases the only, symptom of liver illness.”
2. Chronic Fatigue
While weariness isn’t always an indication of liver impairment, it should never be overlooked. “You should first have a comprehensive evaluation with a medical doctor if you feel sleepiness, brain fog, or a lack of desire, among other symptoms,” advises Marcelo Campos, MD. “Anemia, sleep apnea, autoimmune disorders, infections, various hormone disturbances, mental illnesses, heart and lung issues, and kidney and liver ailments are only a few of the medical conditions that might induce comparable symptoms.”
3. Weight Loss That Isn’t ExplainedÂ
Liver disease, like colorectal cancer, is connected to unexplained weight loss. “Because the liver plays a key role in the digestive system, cirrhosis and cancer in the liver can both cause you to lose your appetite and you may lose weight,” according to the Cancer Council of New South Wales .
4.Pain in the abdomenÂ
The Cleveland Clinic claims that “Abdominal pain is a common symptom of liver disease. In your right upper abdomen, just beneath your ribcage, discomfort in your liver can feel as a slow throbbing pain or a stabbing sensation. Swelling from fluid retention and cirrhosis-related enlargement of the spleen and liver can also produce general abdominal pain and discomfort.”
Content created and supplied by: Professional (via Opera
News )