20 telltale signs that indicate you have an unhealthy liver

The liver is one of the vital organs in the human body. It plays a crucial role in our health as it filters the blood, stores essential vitamins and minerals, and produces bile to aid digestion. 

However, when the liver malfunctions, it can lead to a range of health problems, according to Espresso.

Here are 20 early signs that indicate that your liver is not healthy.

1. Digestive Problems

If you face frequent digestive issues like bloating, gas, and indigestion, it can be a sign that you have an unhealthy liver. If you experience persistent discomfort, consult a doctor to rule out any underlying liver problems.

2. Heavy Liver

A heavy liver can be a sign of fatty liver. It also indicates a cancerous liver. If you feel a persistent heaviness in your upper right abdomen, seek medical attention.

3. Stomach Pain

If you face persistent pain in the upper right abdomen, it can be a sign of liver cancer or cirrhosis. If the pain extends to the right shoulder, seek immediate medical attention.

4. Palpable Mass

If you have a palpable mass beneath the thoracic cavity, it can indicate a swollen liver, which can be a sign of liver cancer or cirrhosis.

5. Extreme Fatigue

If you are feeling extremely fatigued for several days, it can be a sign of an unhealthy liver. If you are unable to complete daily activities, consult a doctor.

6. Decreased Appetite

If you have lost your appetite, it can be a sign of liver problems like cirrhosis, hepatitis, or liver cancer.

7. Jaundice

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes. It indicates an excessive accumulation of bile pigments in the blood and tissues. This can be a sign of hepatitis, liver damage, liver cancer, or Gilbert's syndrome.

8. Pale Stools

Pale stools can indicate that your liver is not functioning properly. If you notice a persistent change in stool colour, consult a doctor.

9. Dark Urine

Dark urine can be a sign of acute hepatitis or liver damage. If your urine has been tea-coloured for several days, seek medical attention.

10. Itchy Skin

Itchiness can be a sign of liver trouble, particularly primary biliary cholangitis or other liver diseases.

11. Frequent Fever

A persistent or recurring fever can be a sign of hepatitis A or other liver problems.

12. Nosebleeds

Frequent nosebleeds can be a sign of cirrhosis or liver damage.

13. Reddish spots on the skin

Reddish spots on the skin can indicate fulminant hepatitis or liver damage.

14. Increasing disorientation

Confusion or disorientation can be a sign of fulminant hepatitis or cirrhosis.

15. Diarrhea

Chronic diarrhoea can be a sign of liver problems like cirrhosis or liver cancer.

16. Constipation

If you are suffering from having constipation, it can be a sign of liver cancer or irritable bowel syndrome.

17. Bad breath

Bad breath can be a sign of hepatitis or chronic liver disease.

18. Small white bumps near the eyes

Small white bumps near the eyes can be a sign of primary biliary cholangitis, a chronic liver disease.

19. Difficulty speaking

If you have difficulty speaking or expressing yourself, it can be a sign of Wilson's disease, a hereditary and potentially fatal illness that causes copper to accumulate in the liver.

20. Weak voice

If you have a weak voice or difficulty controlling saliva, it can also be a sign of Wilson's disease.