What is Liver Disease?

Your liver is an amazing organ that you simply cannot survive without. This football sized body part, which is located in your lower right abdominal area, removes toxins from your body and helps you digest and absorb nutrients from the foods you eat.

Symptoms of Improper Functioning

How can you tell if your liver is functioning correctly? According to the Mayo Clinic, if it’s not, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Yellow toned skin and eyes
• Pain in the abdominal region
• Urine that is dark yellow in color or stools that appear pale
• Tiredness
• No appetite or sick feeling in your stomach

Causes

There are many different possible causes of liver disease. For instance, if you have hepatitis, Gilbert’s syndrome or Wilson’s disease, you may have a higher risk of liver related issues.

One of the most prominent known, and preventable, causes of liver disease is excessive alcohol consumption. Because the liver is responsible for removing the toxins found in the alcohol, it is constantly overworked when someone drinks a lot on a regular basis.

There are also certain risk factors that may predispose you to contracting liver disease. For example, if you have a job in the health industry and you work around other people’s bodily fluids, you are at a higher risk because you may come into contact with infected bodily fluids. Or, if you have a body piercing or tattoo, you’re also at a higher risk.

Some prescription medications, herbs and supplements may increase your likelihood of liver disease as well because they’re full of all sorts of substances that your liver may recognize as toxins. Obesity will also increase your risk.

Prevention

So, how can you prevent liver disease? Limit your alcohol consumption, wear protective gear if you work around other people’s bodily fluids, use medications as intended and stay at a healthy weight.

All of these things will help you keep your liver functioning healthy and strong.