The 5 Biggest Early Warning Signs Of Liver Damage

Your liver, which is the largest internal organ in your body, is responsible for a lot. It regulates blood clotting, removes toxins like alcohol from your bloodstream, helps in the production of bile and so much more.

But your liver can get damaged and have reduced functioning due to illness or lifestyle habits. In fact, liver disease is fairly common, affecting 4.5 million adults in the United States.

Liver disease is a very broad term that encompasses many different conditions that impair normal liver function, according to Dr. Douglas Weine , a gastroenterologist at Hackensack Meridian Health Center. Liver conditions include non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis or even cancer.

Sometimes, these symptoms will happen immediately, but not always.

“Signs and symptoms of liver disease do not typically present until there is significant liver damage,” said Dr. Bubu Banini , a hepatologist and assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine.

So, how do you know when something is wrong with your liver? And how can you figure out what it is? We spoke to hepatologists about the five most common warning signs of liver disease and what to do if you spot these issues:

1. Yellowing of the skin or eyes

“A subtle sign of liver disease is yellowing of the white of the eyes or skin, known as jaundice,” Banini said.

This happens when there’s excess bilirubin, a pigment that is created during the natural breakdown of red blood cells in the body. Bilirubin is typically processed by the liver and removed from the body, but too much of it can cause jaundice and indicate liver issues.

While high levels of bilirubin aren’t always a huge issue for adults, the underlying issue causing it can be, which is why it’s crucial to talk