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The first symptoms of liver problems are usually abdominal pain on the right side and a swollen belly, however, they can vary according to the type of problem, which can be from fatty liver, to excessive use of alcoholic beverages or diseases, like hepatitis, cirrhosis or schistosomiasis, for example.
The main signs and symptoms that may indicate a liver problem include:
- Pain in the upper right belly;
- Frequent nausea or dizziness;
- Recurring headache;
- Easy tiredness for no apparent reason;
- Ease of getting purple spots;
- Yellowish color in the eyes or skin;
- Dark urine;
- Loss of appetite;
- Yellowish, gray or whitish stools;
- Swollen belly;
- Itching all over the body.
If any of these symptoms appear, it is important to consult a general practitioner or a hepatologist to identify the cause and initiate the most appropriate treatment.
Online test for liver problems
To find out if you may have a liver problem, check what you are feeling:
- 1. Do you feel pain or discomfort in your upper right belly? No Yes
- 2. Do you experience frequent dizziness or dizziness? No Yes
- 3. Do you have frequent headaches? No Yes
- 4. Do you feel tired more easily? No Yes
- 5. Do you have several purple spots on your skin? No Yes
- 6. Are your eyes or skin yellow? No Yes
- 7. Is your urine dark? No Yes
- 8. Have you felt a lack of appetite? No Yes
- 9. Are your stools yellow, gray or whitish? No Yes
- 10. Do you feel that your belly is swollen? No Yes
- 11. Do you feel itchy all over your body? No Yes
Main causes of liver problems
Changes in the liver are more common in sedentary people who have unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as a diet rich in fat and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, for example, which can compromise the proper functioning of the liver and lead to the appearance of symptoms.
In addition, other conditions that can cause liver problems are:
- Use of drugs without medical indication, which can lead to overload of the liver and impaired function, since the liver is responsible for the metabolization of drugs;
- Virus infections, mainly hepatitis virus, which affects the liver and decreases its activity;
- Parasite infection, especially the parasite Schistosoma mansoni, which is responsible for schistosomiasis, an infectious disease in which younger forms of the parasite reach the portal circulation of the liver and develop into adulthood, which can cause enlargement and hardening of the liver;
- Portal hypertension, which is a situation in which there is increased pressure in the veins that carry blood from the abdominal organs to the liver, which can alter its functioning;
- Cirrhosis, which is the chronic inflammation of the liver in which there is hardening of the tissue of this organ, which compromises its function, and can happen due to autoimmune problems and alcohol abuse;
- Decompensated diabetes, in which increased blood glucose levels can impair liver function and lead to symptoms.
It is important that the cause of the liver problem symptoms is identified, as it is possible that the most appropriate treatment is indicated by the doctor, preventing possible complications. Learn about other causes of liver problems.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of liver problems is made initially through the assessment of signs and symptoms by the doctor, who then orders a series of tests to assess the functioning of the liver, which is called a hepatogram.
The hepatogram corresponds to a set of laboratory and imaging tests that allow to know if the liver is working or not. Among the tests included are the measurement of total, direct and indirect bilirubin, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), TGO / ALT, TGP / AST and prothrombin time, in addition to ultrasound and tomography. Learn more about the tests that evaluate the liver.
How the treatment is done
The treatment indicated by the doctor varies according to the disease to be treated, however, in milder cases, only dietary changes may be recommended. On the other hand, in the most severe cases, in addition to the change in diet, it may also be necessary to take medications that help to reduce inflammation, cholesterol and blood glucose, which are factors that can bring further complications to the liver.
In addition, you should talk to the doctor and find out if you can complement the treatment with home remedies, such as those made with boldo, lettuce or lavender.
Food to treat the liver
In case of liver problems, it is recommended to drink at least 1.5 L of water per day and to consume easily digestible and low-fat foods, such as fish, white meats, fruits, vegetables, natural juices, white cheeses and milk and skimmed derivatives.
In addition, cooked, roasted or grilled preparations should be preferred, avoiding fried foods, soft drinks, stuffed cookies, butter, red meat, sausage, sausage, bacon, chocolate and sweets in general, and it is also important to avoid the consumption of any type of drinks. alcoholic. See how the liver diet should be done.
The gastroenterologist is the specialist physician most suitable for the treatment of liver diseases, and he should be consulted if symptoms persist, even after dietary changes.
Watch the video and see more tips to treat liver problems: