liver damage: World Liver Day is observed every year on 19th April and with the theme of 2023- “Be alert, do regular liver check-ups, fatty liver can affect anyone”, adopt a healthy lifestyle and ignore the signs There is an increasing need not to do which can create a dangerous situation.
Zee English spoke to Dr. Ajay Kumar, Chairman-Pan Max & HOD – Institute for Digestive and Liver Diseases, BLK-Max Super Specialty Hospital, New Delhi about the warning signs of liver damage and the measures to be taken to prevent it Did.
Signs and Symptoms of a Damaged Liver
“The most common symptom of a damaged liver is no symptoms. There may be subtle signs of loss of energy, appetite, fatigue, muscle loss, etc. It is only the tests that show liver disease.
Once liver disease sets in, symptoms can be quite obvious such as jaundice, fluid in the abdomen, vomiting of blood, altered sensorium, etc.,” says Dr. Ajay.
1. Fluid Retention
2. Jaundice
3. Injuries
4. Nausea and loss of appetite
5. Abdominal pain and bloating
Other common symptoms are:
– breathlessness
– ankle swelling
– back pain
– Swelling
– stomach ache
– Indigestion
– loss of appetite
– constipation
– Fever
– stomach ache
– chills
– Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
– dark color of urine
– clay colored feces
Causes of severe liver damage
Dr Ajay explains that the common causes of severe and painful liver damage are as follows:
i) Infections: Viruses, Hepatotropic viruses like Hepatitis A, B, C and E, Dengue virus, Parasites like Falciparum malaria
ii) wine
iii) Medicines used to treat tuberculosis, epilepsy, some antibiotics etc.
iv) Drugs like anabolic steroids are used by people who do gym regularly to build muscles.
Daily Habits That May Contribute to a Damaged Liver
There are many unhealthy habits that people have in their daily lives that can increase their chances of liver damage. A person may not even know they have liver damage because it can happen slowly and without any symptoms. Nevertheless, these unhealthy practices can seriously affect the liver over time. Since the body cannot function properly without the liver, it is a serious condition.
– excessive alcohol
– not drinking enough water
– overdose of drugs
– smoking
– sleep deprivation
– eating highly processed foods
Too much sugar in the diet
– Engaging in unprotected sex
– being very depressed or stressed
– not getting enough exercise
What You Can Do o Reverse Liver Damage
A healthy lifestyle in the form of exercise, and a balanced diet are all good habits to keep your liver healthy. “Two cups of black coffee can help keep the liver healthy,” explains Dr. Ajay. Damage can be attributed to lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption (regular alcohol consumption is just as harmful), and certain medications. Abuse is encouraged. Anabolic steroids found in some supplements used in the gym can be harmful.
How is liver disease diagnosed?
To accurately diagnose liver disease and find the cause, your provider will also recommend one or more tests. These may include:
– blood test
– Imaging Tests
– liver biopsy
Experts say you should contact your healthcare provider if you experience – a change in the color of your urine or stool, jaundice or yellowing of your eyes, pain in the upper right side of your stomach, or your hands or Leg swelling.
“A healthy, balanced diet high in protein and low in saturated fat is the key to a healthy liver,” concluded Dr. Ajay Kumar.