Liver disease: This symptom in your day-to-day life can be an indicator of a liver problem

Several factors pose risk to the liver health of which excessive alcohol consumption is a prominent one. Alcohol related liver disease, commonly known as ARLD, is the damage caused to the liver due to years and years of continuous and heavy alcohol consumption. This damage leads to a severe condition called Cirrhosis.

Read: Early signs of neurodegenerative diseases caused by COVID, according to a study

Lifestyle habits like alcohol use, obesity impair the liver's functioning ability. Infections due to viral attacks are also responsible for abnormal functioning of the liver.

Years of alcohol overconsumption can cause inflammation and swelling in the liver leading to a condition called cirrhosis.

In case of an infection or a disease, the liver's basic function like removing toxins from blood, maintaining blood sugar level, production of bile, production of proteins for blood plasma and all other important bodily functions is impaired.

Just like every other disease associated with major body organs like heart and brain, liver diseases are not easy to spot initially. They do not show distinct symptoms.

However there are certain effects of these diseases on the day to day activity of the human being once it starts developing in the body. But the effect of these symptoms are so mild and common that it goes unnoticed.

Hard to believe, but brain fog or confusion is associated with ARLD. Periods of confusion, inability to focus on common things, frequent mood changes, poor judgment ability are some of the indications towards a liver issue.

If you are experiencing mood swings and are unable to concentrate on even daily activities, considering your lifestyle habits, it is important to consult a doctor.

The other symptoms that are distinct to liver disease are:

• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Swelling in ankles
• Abdominal swelling
• Loss of appetite
• Yellowish eyes and skin
• Drowsiness
• Vomiting blood
• Passing blood in stools; dark bowel movement
• Increased thirst

Several complications can arise if you have ARLD:

Portal hypertension and varices: Otherwise known as alcoholic hepatitis, this happens when the liver is scarred to a higher extent. At this stage the blood is unable to pass through the liver. As a result of which the blood uses smaller blood vessels to reach the heart; thus weakening the smaller blood vessels which eventually rupture causing bleeding. These blood then come out as vomit or are passed through stools.

Ascites: This is when fluid builds up around the abdomen. While this can be treated, a major problem associated with this is the infection of the fluid which can impair the kidney and can also be fatal.

Hepatic encephalopathy: This happens when the liver is unable to remove toxins from the blood. In this the blood contains a higher amount of toxins as the liver is unable to filter. This requires hospital admission.

There are several factors which pose a threat to the normal functioning of the liver. Ranging from genetics to pathogenic attacks, these factors are potentially enough to bring down one of the biggest functioning organs of the body.

The risk factors are:

• Viral attack
• Obesity
• Genetic
• Autoimmune disease
• Fatty accumulation in liver
• Certain medications
• Type 2 diabetes

While it is always said that one should visit doctors and do regular health checkups after a certain age, it is advisable to check every symptom with a doctor.

Do not allow a symptom to go on its own; in that way you are allowing ample time for the disease to grow. Timely medical intervention can save you from the severity of the disease.