Photo: Thirdman

How do you know if your liver is struggling?

If signs and symptoms of liver disease do occur, they may include: Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice) Abdominal pain and swelling. Swelling in the legs and ankles.

mayoclinic.org - Liver problems - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Which is better for prostate saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol?

Saw palmetto contains some beta-sitosterol but also comes with additional plant-based compounds. The primary difference here is the potency. When...

Last updated Dec 4, 2022

What vitamin is good for urethritis?

These steps may help reduce the chance of getting UTIs: Drink plenty of water every day. Drink cranberry juice. Large amounts of vitamin C limit...

Last updated Apr 14, 2020

Promotion

Overview

The liver Open pop-up dialog box Close The liver The liver The liver is your largest internal organ. About the size of a football, it's located mainly in the upper right portion of your abdomen — beneath the diaphragm and above your stomach. A small portion extends into the upper left quadrant. The liver is an organ about the size of a football. It sits just under your rib cage on the right side of your abdomen. The liver is essential for digesting food and ridding your body of toxic substances. Liver disease can be inherited (genetic). Liver problems can also be caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses, alcohol use and obesity. Over time, conditions that damage the liver can lead to scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition. But early treatment may give the liver time to heal.

Symptoms

Liver problems Open pop-up dialog box Close Liver problems Liver problems Liver problems that can occur include fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. The liver and its cells — as seen through a microscope — change dramatically when a normal liver becomes fatty or cirrhotic. Liver disease doesn't always cause noticeable signs and symptoms. If signs and symptoms of liver disease do occur, they may include:

Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice)

Abdominal pain and swelling

Swelling in the legs and ankles

Itchy skin

Dark urine color

Pale stool color

Chronic fatigue

Nausea or vomiting

Loss of appetite

Tendency to bruise easily

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you. Seek immediate medical attention if you have abdominal pain that is so severe that you can't stay still. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Email ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry

Causes

Is it worth taking turmeric supplements?

Turmeric — and especially its most active compound, curcumin — have many scientifically proven health benefits, such as the potential to improve...

Last updated Apr 28, 2022

What is the best vitamin for prostate health?

So, for natural prostate health, taking the right quantities of these nutrients is crucial. The most commonly discussed nutrients are vitamin D,...

Last updated May 23, 2021

Promotion

Liver disease has many causes.

Infection

Parasites and viruses can infect the liver, causing inflammation that reduces liver function. The viruses that cause liver damage can be spread through blood or semen, contaminated food or water, or close contact with a person who is infected. The most common types of liver infection are hepatitis viruses, including:

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

Immune system abnormality

Diseases in which your immune system attacks certain parts of your body (autoimmune) can affect your liver. Examples of autoimmune liver diseases include:

Autoimmune hepatitis

Primary biliary cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Genetics

An abnormal gene inherited from one or both of your parents can cause various substances to build up in your liver, resulting in liver damage. Genetic liver diseases include:

Hemochromatosis

Wilson's disease

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Cancer and other growths

Examples include:

Liver cancer

Bile duct cancer

Liver adenoma

Other

Chronic alcohol abuse

Fat accumulation in the liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)

Certain prescription or over-the-counter medications

Certain herbal compounds

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of liver disease include:

Heavy alcohol use

Obesity

Type 2 diabetes

Tattoos or body piercings

Injecting drugs using shared needles

Blood transfusion before 1992

Exposure to other people's blood and body fluids

Unprotected sex

Exposure to certain chemicals or toxins

Family history of liver disease

Complications

Complications of liver disease vary, depending on the cause of your liver problems. Untreated liver disease may progress to liver failure, a life-threatening condition.

Prevention

To prevent liver disease:

mayoclinic.org - Liver problems - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

How many miles should I walk a day to lose 10 pounds?

"This means to lose 1 pound, you'll need to walk roughly 35 miles or 70,000 steps. Over the course of a week, this means targeting 10,000 steps a...

Last updated Apr 24, 2019

How do you calm down prostatitis?

The following remedies might ease some symptoms of prostatitis: Soak in a warm bath (sitz bath) or use a heating pad. Limit or avoid alcohol,...

Last updated Sep 30, 2020

Promotion

Can a prostate be removed without surgery?

Prostate artery embolization gaining popularity as a treatment for BPH. UCI Health is now offering a non-surgical treatment for men with prostate...

Last updated Nov 9, 2018

Promotion

Is turmeric Good for baldness?

Turmeric contains a natural substance called Curcumin. Curcumin counters the overproduction of a hormone known as DHT (dihydrotestosterone). It is...

Last updated Mar 16, 2021