Liver disease: what to know and what to do
Your liver works nonstop — it cleans your blood, stores energy, and helps digest food. It can regenerate, but repeated damage adds up. This page gives straight facts: common causes, warning signs, quick checks you can ask your doctor about, and clear steps to protect your liver day to day.
Common signs and what to check
Watch for yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, very pale stools, ongoing fatigue, belly pain or swelling, and unexplained weight loss. If you notice persistent itching or easy bruising, tell your doctor. These are not the only signs, but they’re red flags that deserve prompt attention.
Basic tests your doctor may order include liver function tests (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin) and an abdominal ultrasound. For deeper checks, they might suggest a FibroScan or blood tests for viral hepatitis. If you’re taking prescription drugs, over-the-counter meds, or herbs, ask whether they can affect your liver — some common meds and supplements can raise liver enzymes.
How to protect your liver — simple steps
Cut back on alcohol. Even regular moderate drinking speeds up liver damage in people with fatty liver or hepatitis. If you’re overweight, losing 5–10% of body weight can significantly reduce fat in the liver and improve tests. Aim for steady, realistic changes — small losses add up.
Check your medicines. Some drugs require liver monitoring; others are safe but still worth reviewing. For example, certain cholesterol meds and older diabetes drugs may need occasional liver tests. Don’t stop any prescription on your own — talk to the prescriber first. Also be cautious with herbal supplements: products like some traditional herbs and concentrated extracts can injure the liver.
Get vaccinated for hepatitis A and B if you’re not already immune. Avoid high-risk behaviors that spread hepatitis (unsafe injections, unprotected sex with new partners, sharing needles). If you travel or work in healthcare, ask your provider about specific precautions.
Eat a balanced, mostly whole-food diet and move more. Cutting added sugar and refined carbs helps reduce fatty liver. Regular activity — even brisk walking 30 minutes most days — supports weight loss and liver health.
If you try lifestyle changes and tests show ongoing problems, your doctor may refer you to a liver specialist (hepatologist). Urgent care is needed for severe belly pain, confusion or sudden jaundice. For questions about medications or buying drugs online, check reliable sources and pharmacy reviews — unsafe products can harm your liver.
Want to read more? Browse our tag posts on drug safety, medication guides, and lifestyle tips that affect liver health. If something feels off, don’t ignore it — early action makes a real difference.