Your liver is one of the largest organs in your body and is located in the upper right part of your belly under the ribs. The liver is responsible for many functions that are essential for life and this is why you should keep your liver in top working condition and be aware of early signs of liver damage.

The main responsibilities of the liver are:

• Making bile which is required for digestion of fats
• Removal of toxins from the body (not only environmental toxins, but also of metabolic waste)
• Helping to regulate the hormone activity
• Building protein
• Production of biochemicals necessary for digestion

Everything we eat must be processed by the liver before it can be distributed throughout the body. Due to its wide range of functions, the health of our body is directly related to the liver functioning at its peak. Although the liver can replace damaged cells, if enough cells are lost, the liver may not be able to function properly.

The Causes for liver damage

Liver problems usually occur gradually and over many years. The most common cause for liver problems is long term alcohol consumption. Other causes are:

• Various viruses including many type of hepatitis
• Malnutrition
• Reactions to certain medications
• Overuse of certain medications (conventional and alternative)
• Exposure to harmful chemicals
• Inherited disorders of iron and copper metabolism
• Diseases like liver cancer and fatty liver caused by obesity
• Diabetics have an increased risk of liver disease

Even smoking can dramatically increase the risk for not only lung cancer, but also liver cancer. Certain chemotherapy drugs can damage cells in the liver, and even too much of vitamin A can cause liver damage.

Symptoms of liver damage

Abdominal pain – especially where the liver is located, in the upper right part of the belly under the ribs.

General fatigue and confusion – you may feel very weak or tired. The physical feeling can also turn into mental disorientation or confusion. If it occurs along with other related symptoms, it may indicate a liver problem.

Diarrhea, constipation or intestinal bleeding – there are noticeable changes in bowel movement. You may have periods of constipation or diarrhea or change in the stool color or traces of blood in it.

Itchy skin – due to bile salts that are deposited in the skin. The itchiness is persistent and can develop into a flaky rash.

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) – this is a symptom of a liver damage that occurs due to a bile pigment (called bilirubin) in the blood and tissues of the body that cannot be eliminated from the body and begins to accumulate under the skin. Sometimes the fingernails or the finger tips can turn yellow. Jaundice is often seen in liver disease such as hepatitis or liver cancer.

Dark yellow urine – Due to increased levels of the bile pigment in the body that cannot be eliminated by the damaged liver. People may associate it with dehydration, but if they drink enough fluids, it should not happen.

Nausea and vomiting – Due the interruption to the digestive system, you may suffer from heartburn, nausea and vomiting.

Loss of appetite / weight loss – in advanced stages of liver disease, there might be appetite loss that can lead to a serious weight loss.

Swollen abdomen or legs – in progressing stages of liver disease (called Cirrhosis) there is a common complication of fluid retention (edema) in the abdominal cavity, but the swelling can also occur in the ankles and legs. When there is a massive fluid in the abdomen, the belly looks like a belly of a pregnant woman and it can also cause pressure in the lungs making it difficult to breathe