The human liver is the largest organ in the human body. It is integral to the workings of the human body, so much that liver damage could lead to death.
So how do you know your liver id having trouble? Here are some signs:
1. Frequent nausea
One clear sign is feeling nauseous after a meal. These might just be a sign of malaria, but when the liver is involved, the nausea is as a result of the production of bile.
This bile helps to emulsify (or break down) fats so that they can be digested. When the liver is malfunctioning, a feeling of nausea is one of the warning signs.
2. Loss of appetite
Another sign is the lack of appetite.The lack of appetite is closely linked to nausea and general stomach upsets. If you notice continuous lack of appetite, then you need to go for a medical checkup.
3. Tiredness
Feeling exhausted and tired when you have not done anything particularly strenuous is a sign that there might be a liver problem.
When the liver is not healthy, it cannot detoxify the blood efficiently. One of the treatment methods used by doctors to check if fatigue is due to liver disease is the Fatigue Impact Scale. This assesses how fatigue impacts physical and mental activities and is often used to measure progress after treatment starts.
4. Confusion and disorientation
Confusiona and disorientation is caused by a condition known as hepatic encephalopathy. This condition is usually caused by toxins building up.
Normally the liver filters this toxins, when we take medicine and when we eat protein which produces ammonia. When the liver is not working well, then this toxins build up.
5. Urine color
If you get to the point where you realize, your urine is really dark, the it is time to seek urgent medical help.
Although, darker urine may be a result of medicine or a shortage of fluid intake. But when the color is much darker than usual and you have white stool, this may be an indicator that liver disease is present.
6. Itching
Itching is likely to be viewed as normal, but sometimes it is a symptom of cirrhosis, the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the liver.
Scratching might just make it worse, so if you experience an itch that covers your body or a localized itch that lasts for days, call your doctor.