The liver does a lot of heavy lifting.
It’s our largest internal organ, regulating clotting and removing toxins, but research shows that many of us live with impaired liver function and don’t even know it.
It is estimated that more than 100 million people in the United States have some form of liver disease.a broad term that describes several conditions including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatitis, and liver cancer.
Calling it a “silent epidemic,” experts suspect that between 80 million and 100 million U.S. adults have NAFLD.
As the name suggests, NAFLD is characterized by the presence of fat within the liver.
The main causes are weight gain, along with metabolic risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and obstructive sleep apnea.
This condition is also known as MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease), reflecting the association between fatty liver and metabolic syndrome. Fatty liver disease is associated with increased risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Preventive measures such as diet, exercise, and abstinence can help prevent liver disease, but problems arise because symptoms may be subtle or absent.
Dr. Bubu Vanini says the hepatologist and assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine. HuffPost“Signs and symptoms of liver disease usually do not appear until significant liver damage has occurred,” he says. Bubu Vaninia hepatologist and assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine, recently He told HuffPost US..
Experts like Vanini advise people to see a doctor if they experience the following problems:
Easy to bruise and bleed
The liver produces proteins that the body needs to form blood clots.
When the liver is damaged or malfunctions, it is more prone to bleeding and bruising, which are common side effects. According to the Cleveland Clinic.
confusion and brain dysfunction
Medical professionals must always address changes in mental status or cognitive function. Still, experts say an unexpected cause of brain fog and cognitive impairment is end-stage liver failure.
“Acute liver failure can develop in otherwise healthy people, and it can manifest as changes in mental status and personality, such as disorientation, confusion, and drowsiness,” Vanini explained to HuffPost.
Specifically, hepatic encephalopathy is a brain dysfunction caused by liver problems. According to the Cleveland Clinicthe expert says that it can occur by affecting:
- mood and personality
- behavior and impulse control
- memory, concentration, thinking ability
- Consciousness, clarity, and sleep patterns
- Coordination and motor function
- Autonomy and the ability to take care of yourself
jaundice
Vanini points out that liver disease can manifest as jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and eyes. When the body breaks down red blood cells, produces a pigment called bilirubinaccording to the National Institutes of Health.
Normally, the liver processes and removes bilirubin, but too much bilirubin can cause jaundice and cause problems with the liver.
dark urine
Persistently dark urine, despite being well hydrated, may be a sign of serious liver disease.
Just as excess of the pigment bilirubin can turn your skin and eyes yellow, your urine can turn orange or amber in color.
promotes liver cirrhosis swelling
Cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, can cause swelling in the ankles, legs, and abdomen.
According to the Mayo Clinicin cirrhosis, blood flow slows and pressure in the portal vein within the liver increases. This pressure can cause fluid to build up. When fluid accumulates in the legs, it is called edema. In the abdomen it is known as ascites.
Swelling may also indicate that the liver is not producing enough blood proteins.
