Everyone has an efficient detoxifier in their body: the liver. However, this detoxification system can sometimes malfunction. Various forms of hepatitis, as well as a long-term greasy diet and excessive alcohol consumption, are common causes of liver problems. The U.S. website for 'Prevention' magazine recently summarized seven signs of liver function decline.
1. Abdominal Pain
Pain or swelling in the upper right abdomen is a sign that the liver is in danger. The liver spans most of the abdominal cavity and is wedge-shaped, with its fatty end located on the right side. If it becomes diseased or inflamed, the patient can feel it.
2. Yellowing of the Eyes or Skin (Jaundice)
A healthy liver processes old blood cells and produces a yellow compound called 'bilirubin.' If liver function declines, bilirubin builds up in the blood, causing the skin and eyes to turn yellow. Dark urine and pale stools are also signs of jaundice.
3. Joint Pain
Symptoms similar to arthritis (such as joint pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and loss of appetite) are symptoms associated with liver disease, especially autoimmune hepatitis. This condition occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks cells and liver tissue, and it is more common in women.
4. Bruising on the Skin
An important function of the liver is to synthesize clotting factors. Liver disease is often complicated by coagulation disorders, putting patients at risk of bleeding. Bruises and bleeding points are often visible on the skin.
5. Spider Angiomas
Liver damage can lead to a decreased ability to inactivate estrogen, causing capillaries to dilate and form spider-like spots, which are commonly found on the upper body.
6. Mental Confusion
A diseased liver can cause excess copper to accumulate in the blood and brain, leading to mental confusion similar to dementia. This confusion is more often associated with advanced liver disease.
7. Muscle Wasting
While the abdomen becomes enlarged (ascites) and the ankles swell, accompanied by thinning and weakness in the limbs, it could be a fluid imbalance caused by liver disease. This muscle wasting can also occur above the cheeks and near the temples. These are also mostly symptoms of advanced liver disease.