The liver does a lot for your health, and as one of the body’s largest organs, it’s responsible for metabolic functions, such as converting nutrients from your diet so your body can use them and making sure toxic substances are removed before they can cause harm.
But when your liver is not in good condition and not working properly, there are some messages that try to tell you that something is wrong, and these are 18 warning signs that are very important to avoid, so do not ignore them so that you can enjoy them. . Longer life:
1) Loss of appetite
According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the most common signs of liver damage is loss of appetite, which causes you to be bothered by non-existent hunger.
2) Uncontrolled sleep schedules
There are many reasons that can disrupt your sleep patterns, but a 2012 study published in the Egyptian Journal of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis found that one possible cause is liver cirrhosis, which can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep.
3) Memory
You don’t have to worry about forgetting where you left your car keys, but if your memory has noticeably deteriorated recently, there may be a reason for that. When you develop liver failure, your organs cannot properly remove toxins from your blood, which can cause them to build up in your brain. Also known as hepatic encephalopathy.
4) Constant fatigue
Have you felt tired lately, despite your best efforts? This can be caused by liver disease, and one of the most common signs of liver damage is chronic fatigue which, according to a study published in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, can be caused by changes in neurotransmission in the brain.
5) Itchy skin
The Mayo Clinic states that primary cholangitis is a chronic disease that destroys the bile ducts in the liver. It does not have very obvious symptoms, but one of the first signs is itchy skin. Your skin may just be dry, but if this becomes frequent and normal for you, it may be worth getting checked, especially since itchy skin is also an indicator of cirrhosis, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
6) Yellowing of the eyes
Seeing the whites of your eyes turn yellow — or experiencing your skin yellowing — can be quite frightening, but it has a powerful explanation: It’s called jaundice and it’s due to a high level of bilirubin in the body, a yellow-colored substance. Pigment secreted by the liver, according to the clinic. cleveland. If you notice a color change, it could be due to several different signs of liver damage, ranging from cirrhosis to hepatitis B.
7) Sudden weight gain or loss
If you suddenly gain weight for no reason, your liver may be to blame. This may be a sign that you have cirrhosis, a slowly progressing disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, blocking blood flow through the liver and preventing the organ from working properly.
While suddenly gaining weight can be a sign of liver damage, losing weight can be a symptom as well. Noticing a low weight on the scale isn’t just a sign of cirrhosis — according to the Mayo Clinic, it’s also a warning of hepatitis C, a viral infection that leads to liver inflammation.
8) Redness of the palm of the hand
Have you noticed that your palm suddenly became red for no reason? The cause may be non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition according to the Mayo Clinic that involves storing too much fat in liver cells and which affects people who barely drink alcohol or avoid it altogether.
9) Breast enlargement
One of the most shocking warning signs of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is enlarged breasts if you are a man. It’s a very confusing proposition, but there is an explanation. The growth of excess breast tissue is believed to be caused by an imbalance in the hormones estrogen and testosterone.
10) Personality disorder
Just as hepatic encephalopathy causes memory loss, all those toxins that build up in your brain can also reduce mental function, making you not act like your normal self.
11) Ease of injury
As you age, your body can begin to bruise more easily due to thinning of the skin. If there is no real explanation as to why you are showing more bruises on your body, even though you are still relatively young, it could be a sign of liver damage. .
12) Swelling in the legs and ankles
According to the Mayo Clinic, liver disease can be caused by everything from alcohol abuse to obesity, and one common warning sign is something you might not expect: swelling in the legs and ankles.
13) Confusion and lack of concentration
Hepatic encephalopathy caused by liver failure can affect your ability to understand things, and can lead to feeling confused about things that wouldn’t normally confuse you.
The American Liver Foundation also says that if you feel like you’re having trouble concentrating regularly, that could also be a warning sign of liver failure.
14) Pain is more frequent than usual
Even though you’re not exercising more than usual, what’s causing your whole body to ache? One possible cause is primary biliary cholangitis, which in addition to causing itchy skin can also lead to bone, muscle or joint pain.
15) Feeling bloated
If your bloating can’t be blamed on eating a heavy meal, it may be due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen known as ascites. Abdominal swelling is one of the warning signs of liver damage.
16) Urine color
Seeing dark urine in the toilet after going to the bathroom can come as a complete shock to you, and it is also a sign of liver damage.
The Mayo Clinic says that while bilirubin is responsible for yellowing of the eyes or skin, it can also change the color of urine.
17) Easy chills
If you have a chronic case of chills that no amount of warm blankets can cure, it may be a sign of cholestasis caused by liver disease.
18) Dry mouth and eyes
There are many different causes of dry eyes or dry mouth, from your age to the medications you take, but one possible cause is more serious: Primary biliary cholangitis is known to cause the problem, the Mayo Clinic says, but fortunately it’s common. a reason. Early symptoms of chronic diseases.
