A doctor has explained five signs that could mean you have serious liver damage.
Now, your liver is responsible for a whole bunch of bodily functions including the regulation of blood clotting, helping in the production of bile and removing toxins like alcohol from your bloodstream - so it's more than ideal that you take care of it.
But the largest internal organ in your body can suffer damage and therefore have reduced functioning due to a number of factors, including illness or lifestyle factors.
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Dr Bubu Banini, a hepatologist - someone who specialises in treating acute and chronic liver diseases - and assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, told HuffPost: "Signs and symptoms of liver disease do not typically present until there is significant liver damage."
According to the NHS, there are 100 types of liver disease, which collectively affect an estimated 2 million people in the UK.
And experts like Dr Banini are now urging the public to check in with their GP if they experience any of the following symptoms.
Bruising and bleeding easy
A damaged liver is less able to produce enough enough clotting proteins in the body. This means that if you get injured, you'll be more likely to bruise or bleed.
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According to the British Liver Trust, a condition like cirrhosis, which is the scarring of the liver caused by long-term liver damage, can result in 'easy bruising and difficulty in stopping small bleeds', however, they say this is a later symptom when the liver is 'struggling to function'.
Brain dysfunction and confusion
Now, while many of us experience brain fog every now and then - it's important not to ignore any major and persisting changes when it comes to your mental health as it could be a sign of liver problems or a number of other issues.
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Dr Banini further explains: "A person who is otherwise healthy can develop acute liver failure that could manifest as changes in mental state or personality such as disorientation, confusion or sleepiness."
Jaundice
"A subtle sign of liver disease is yellowing of the white of the eyes or skin, known as jaundice," Dr Banini continues.
This process happens due to an excess of bilirubin - a yellow-ish substance that's created when red blood cells break down in the body.
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Bilirubin helps to clear out waste products from aging or damaged red blood cells.
It's usually processed by the liver and removed from the body but if your liver is unable to break it down, it can cause jaundice which indicates possible damage to your liver.
Dark urine
Ever heard of the phrase 'if you pee clear, cheer'?
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Well, it's got some truth to it as dark urine commonly tells us that we need to be drinking more water.
However, it can also be a symptom of more than just dehydration and it's typical for people with liver conditions to have dark wee.
Again, this has something to do with bilirubin. It builds up in the body and can turn your wee a dark orange or brown colour.
"If your urine is darker than this and/or red or brown, then dehydration may not be your problem," the NHS warns.
Swelling
While the swelling of your ankles and feet may be down to a number of issues - but it could also indicate cirrhosis.
The NHS says that the 'scar tissue prevents the liver working properly', however, your liver can keep working even when you have cirrhosis, however, the condition can potentially lead to liver failure, which could warrant some serious complications that end up being life threatening.
What to do if you think you have liver damage
According to the NHS, treatment for early cases of liver damage can involve lifestyle changes, like cutting out alcohol and losing weight for instance, but this is dependent on the type of liver damage.
In the case of severe symptoms, however, Dr Banini recommends immediately seeking medical attention, where you can be referred to a liver specialist for further testing.
Find out more about liver disease on the official NHS website here.
Topics: Health, Life, Advice, Alcohol, Food and Drink
Rhiannon Ingle