6 signs of impaired liver function

The liver is the body’s main filtration system, converting toxins into waste, cleaning the blood and metabolizing nutrients and medications to provide several important proteins. This organ has the ability to regenerate after damage. However, many diseases such as viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer can impair function, making it difficult for this organ to recover.

Dr. Vu Truong Khanh, Head of the Department of Gastroenterology, Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi, said early signs of liver damage help determine the cause and treat promptly.

Jaundice

Jaundice occurs when the liver cannot process bilirubin (a yellow substance created when red blood cells break down) in the blood, due to too many broken down or damaged red blood cells. According to Dr. Khanh, jaundice can be a sign of diseases such as viral hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, infectious mononucleosis, hepatitis caused by alcohol and drugs or functional foods.. .

Signs of jaundice can be due to other causes such as autoimmune disorders, rare genetic metabolic defects, antibiotics, oral contraceptives, antipsychotics, gallstones, cholangitis, cancer. biliary tract cancer, pancreatic tumor. Besides jaundice, patients may have yellow sclera (whites of the eyes) and mucous membranes that turn yellow.

Fatigue, loss of appetite

The liver’s job is to metabolize nutrients and detoxify the body. When there is a problem, the nutrient metabolism function is affected, causing the body to lack energy, the patient feels tired and has anorexia. This can be a sign of hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure… The liver has a reduced ability to detoxify, leading to increased ammonia levels in the blood, causing a feeling of fatigue. .

Dark urine

Urine is a mixture of water, electrolytes, and waste that the kidneys filter from the blood. People who are healthy and drink enough water have colorless or light yellow urine. On the contrary, urine is concentrated and turns dark yellow.

According to Dr. Khanh, dark urine can also be a sign of impaired liver function due to stagnant bile flow, unable to metabolize bilirubin to effectively transfer bile to the small intestine. Increased bile in the blood causes symptoms of dark urine, jaundice, pale stools, indigestion…

Progressive liver disease can easily affect blood flow, hormones, and nutritional status. People with dark urine along with other symptoms need to see a doctor for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Pale stools

Stools are dark yellow due to bile pigments secreted by the liver. This symptom is often blockage of the bile drainage system, increased portal vein pressure causing gastrointestinal bleeding.

Bruises on the skin

Another role of the liver is to produce proteins that help blood clot. If the liver is damaged, this function is impaired, causing protein production to be affected, making blood difficult to clot, thereby causing bruising. In addition to bruises, patients may have nosebleeds or unusual bleeding gums. Bruises on the skin can be a sign of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver failure.

Dr. Khanh recommends that people with many bruises of unknown cause, accompanied by signs such as jaundice, edema, prolonged fatigue, need early examination, liver function tests, blood clotting tests and ultrasound. . Early identification of the cause for early treatment contributes to improved health and quick recovery.