The liver is a large organ located behind your right rib cage, about the size of a football. It is necessary for food digestion and the removal of toxins from the body. The liver breaks down toxins like drugs and alcohol that would otherwise harm the liver and excretes waste into the bloodstream, which is then cleansed by the kidneys....CONTINUE READING
The liver serves a critical role in the body, fighting infections, metabolising medications, converting food into energy, and ultimately acting as a poison filter. It’s a tough organ, with the ability to renew in order to keep doing its function well.
Working it too hard, on the other hand, can result in catastrophic liver damage. Inflammation, scarring, cirrhosis, malignancy, and, eventually, life-threatening liver failure can all result from repeated liver damage.
According to Healthline, below are the most common signs of liver failure one shouldn’t ignore.
1. Fluid Retention.
Cirrhosis is a condition in which the blood flow through the liver is obstructed due to a development of scar tissue. As a result, the liver is unable to complete its function properly, resulting in ascites (abdominal fluid accumulation) or even swelling in the legs and ankles.
In 50 percent of people with cirrhosis, fluid retention is the most common sign that the liver has been damaged.
2. Jaundice.
Bilirubin, a yellow-colored bile pigment, is normally easily filtered out by the liver. A build-up of bilirubin in the blood can cause a yellowish tinge to the skin and whites of the eyes if the blood isn’t handled properly. Itchy skin is sometimes accompanied with jaundice caused by liver disease.
3. Pale Stools.
Bile salts, which are regularly secreted by the liver, give faeces their normal dark hue. Stools that are pale could indicate liver disease.
Because of the same bilirubin build-up that causes jaundice, urine may seem darker as stools become lighter.
Blood travelling through the digestive tract can generate black, tarry stools, which might be an indication of liver problems. Seek medical help right away if you’re vomiting blood or have blood in your stool.
4. Bruising.
Because a damaged liver can’t create enough clotting proteins, more bruising and bleeding occurs than usual.
Not only can liver impairment produce easy bruising, but so can a range of other reasons.
5. Nausea/Loss of Appetite.
A accumulation of toxins in the circulation might cause nausea and vomiting if the liver isn’t filtering them out adequately. Chronic nausea is a frequent sign of liver disease in its early stages. Loss of appetite, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and other digestive problems are all possible signs as the damage increases.