Liver Health: 8 Warning Signs of Liver Problems You Should Never Ignore
Persistent fatigue, yellowing of the eyes, sudden weight loss, a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen… Is your liver trying to warn you? This vital organ, often overlooked, deserves our full attention. Discover the characteristic symptoms of liver disease with the expertise of our hepatologist.
Few people know the exact location of this important organ, yet the liver performs crucial functions for our body: it processes toxins from the blood, produces bile, and stores vitamins and minerals essential for metabolism. That’s why liver health is so important! Especially since liver diseases often go unnoticed and are diagnosed late. How can you recognize the warning signs of a diseased or congested liver? Let’s explore eight symptoms of liver dysfunction with Professor Patrick Marcellin, an expert in hepatology.
1. Feeling of heaviness in the abdomen
“The liver is a quiet organ that usually doesn’t cause pain. However, in liver disease, it can enlarge and become severe. Persistent heaviness without an obvious cause isn’t always liver-related, but it can indicate a liver problem, especially in cases of excessive alcohol consumption or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,” explains the hepatologist. A medical consultation is necessary to determine whether the problem is intestinal, digestive, or hepatic, through a thorough clinical examination and specialized blood tests.
2. Chronic fatigue despite rest
“Severe fatigue that persists during periods of relaxation or despite adequate rest can signal more or less serious liver conditions, such as liver congestion, fatty liver disease, or even chronic hepatitis,” explains Professor Patrick Marcellin. “This is not classic muscle fatigue, but rather asthenia, manifesting as a general lack of interest, lack of energy, low mood, or even a depressive syndrome.” Discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor may order complete liver function tests, including transaminase and gamma-GT measurements, to assess liver function. Important: Intense fatigue can result from many other conditions, such as iron deficiency anemia, viral infection, or various nutritional deficiencies.
3. Black stools
The presence of black blood in the stool (tarry or tarry stools) or hematemesis (red or black) are often symptoms of advanced liver disease. “A damaged liver can become fibrotic and hardened. In this situation, blood flowing from the intestines to the liver through the portal vein is obstructed. It is forced to bypass the liver and cannot be properly cleansed. This blood flow can cause esophageal veins to dilate, forming esophageal varices, which can rupture and lead to gastrointestinal bleeding.” Blackish vomit or tarry stools are an immediate
8 Warning Signs Your Liver Is Full of Toxins and Causing Weight Gain
