Liver Disease

Overview

Liver disease covers a range of conditions affecting the liver's ability to process nutrients, filter toxins, and produce essential proteins. Common causes include fatty liver disease (increasingly linked to metabolic health), alcohol-related damage, viral hepatitis, and autoimmune conditions.

Symptoms

Early liver disease often causes no symptoms. Later signs can include fatigue, abdominal discomfort (upper right side), yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice), swelling, itching, and easy bruising.

Risk Factors

Excess alcohol intake, obesity and metabolic syndrome, viral hepatitis, certain medications, family history, and autoimmune conditions.

Common Blood Tests

Liver function tests (ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin) assess liver health; additional tests may check for viral hepatitis or autoimmune markers depending on suspected cause.

Lifestyle Information

Limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, managing blood sugar and cholesterol, and avoiding unnecessary medications that stress the liver all support liver health, particularly for fatty liver disease.

When to seek medical advice

See a doctor for persistent fatigue, abdominal discomfort, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or if you have risk factors and haven't had liver function checked.

Sources