How Do I Check If My Liver is Functioning Properly?

Dr.Saurabh Singhal, 2 mins read

Everyone must know from his childhood that the liver is the largest and one of the most important organs of our body. It is located in the upper right part of your abdomen, just under the rib cage. It is responsible for doing several jobs that help keep you healthy. The main function of liver is to filter toxins from blood, breaks down nutrients from food and storage of energy. It also helps in digesting fats by making a fluid called bile.

Because the liver plays such a vital role in your health, it’s important to make sure it is working properly. But how do you know if your liver is ok?

Common Signs of Liver Problems

Following are a few symptoms that could mean your liver is not working well:

• Fatigue or weakness
• Yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Dark urine or pale stool
• Pain in the upper right abdomen
• Swelling in the legs or abdomen 
• Nausea or vomiting
• Itchy skin or easy bruising 

How to Check Liver Health?

Below are the list of tests which a doctor generally prescribe to check how well your liver is working:

1. Blood Tests (Liver Function Tests): These measure enzymes, proteins, and substances in your blood. High or low levels can suggest liver damage.
2. Ultrasound or Imaging Tests: These help doctors look at your liver and detect swelling, plaque buildup, or tumors.
3. Fibroscan: A special scan that checks for liver stiffness, which may mean scarring or fibrosis.
4. Liver Biopsy: In some cases, doctors may take a small sample of liver tissue to look at under a microscope.

How We Can Keep Our Liver Healthy?

1. Eat a healthy diet: we should include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats in our daily diet.
2. Avoid too much alcohol: Too much alcohol can damage liver cells over time. 
3. Stay active: Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, which supports liver health.
4. Avoid smoking and illegal drugs: Quit smoking and intake of illegal drugs.
5. Get vaccinated: Vaccines for hepatitis A and B can prevent infections that harm the liver.
6. Be careful with medications: Some medicines and supplements can damage the liver if taken too much or for too long.

Conclusion

Your liver works hard to keep your body healthy, so it’s important to take care of it. You should recognise the signs of trouble, get regular health checkups, and follow a healthy lifestyle. If you have concerns regarding your liver or anyone in your family has any liver related issues, you can meet our liver expert at Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka, for the best liver care and treatment.